Column: Resorts, hotels can educate visitors to Hawaii

Tourism will continue to be an important contributor to our economy, as it is with so many other desirable locations throughout the world. Rather than limit the number of visitors, there are some things we can do to manage them through education and an improved delivery of enriched experiences.

The lure of the islands today is basically the beaches, the beauty and for some, shopping. We can place greater emphasis on what Hawaii has to offer such as cultural events like the Hawaii Film Festival, Hawaii Triennial, and Hawaii Food and Wine Festival. These are just a few events that appeal to another segment of the traveling public whose destinations center around culture.

We have much to offer these visitors that we can build upon — a symphony that can invite world- renowned conductors; world-class institutions such as Bishop Museum, Honolulu Museum of Art and Hawaii State Art Museum; and a new state- of-the-art Academy for Creative Media that can attract speakers and professionals in the new world of digital media, as well as showcase what our students are doing.

Building awareness of the fragility of our islands and the Native Hawaiian culture that so wonderfully distinguishes us is part of Hawaii Tourism Authority’s destination management plan, and it is vital.

Some may say that the only reason that resort and hotels resist vacation rentals is profit, but Joe Ibarra, general manager of the Kahala Hotel & Resort, pointed out an important distinction about resorts in the July 18 article on tourism by Allison Schaefers (“There’s too many visitors,” Star- Advertiser):

“Ensuring that visitors engage with trained hospitality professionals allows my employees a work opportunity and a platform for us to educate our visitors and how to properly enjoy our islands.”

Resorts and hotels are at the front line of educating our visitors after the airport. We have a great responsibility to offer more than a lei and a mai tai. At Prince Resorts Hawaii and all our hotels and golf courses, we give our staff the freedom to demonstrate the aloha spirit through personal actions. We empower our employees to take the time to show our guests what hospitality means here. This gives guests a rich, emotional connection with our greatest asset — our people — and raises the awareness and respect and shared responsibility for our unique island home.

We in the visitor industry can do more. We can provide much more education about how to care for our natural resources and the reasons behind it; we can let them know the values behind the shaka and what the lei means. Would the visitor who tried to touch a monk seal have trespassed if she knew that only 1,400 of the endangered animal still exists?

We can share the reverence that we must have for our culture and island resources to guide those who may only know Hawaii as sun and sea. It is our kuleana.

Kisan Jo is president of Prince Resorts Hawaii.