Hawaii Tourism Authority

News Releases

07-25-2005

HTA Announces 14th Annual Keep It Hawaii Recognition Awards

HONOLULU - Rex Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), the state agency for tourism, has announced the 2005 winners of the HTA's Koa and Kahili Awards. "The Keep it Hawaii Recognition Awards honor the authentic portrayal of the Hawaiian culture, demonstrated commitment to honor and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture and community, and creative and responsible efforts to showcase the native Hawaiian culture, providing visitors and residents with opportunities to experience the true culture," stated Johnson.

Now in its 14th year, the Keep It Hawaii program has been moved to the HTA for management. At the same time, the "Hawaii Tourism Strategic Plan: 2005-2015" (State TSP) brought renewed emphasis on the need to address the Hawaiian culture. With these changes has come a program transformation including refinements to the criteria, categories and standards; and nomination, judging and awards processes. Nominations were judged by members of HTA's Hawaiian Cultural Program Advisory Council on Authenticity, Usage, Uniqueness, Educational Value, Longevity and Commitment into the Future.

The prestigious Kahili Award was presented in the three designated categories: Business, Individual, and Community Organization; one each for each of the four counties, as follows:

Business Awardees:

City and County of Honolulu: Mutual Publishing (Ku'e: Thirty Years of Land Struggle in Hawaii)
County of Hawaii: Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows (Ke Kumu O Mauna Lani, Mauna Lani Resort's Historic Tours, and Turtle Independence Day)
County of Maui: The Ritz Carlton, Kapalua (Celebration of the Arts)
County of Kauai: No Kahili Award given in this category

Individual Awardees:

City and County of Honolulu: Kawaikapuokalani Hewett
County of Hawaii: George Lanakilakeikiahialii Naope
County of Kauai: Ken Robert Emerson
County of Maui: Francis Palani Sinenci
County of Maui: Pilipo Solatario

Community Organization Awardees:

City and County of Honolulu: Bishop Museum Press (Publications)
County of Maui: Kipahulu Ohana (Hawaiian Living History Farm and Cultural Tours)
County of Hawaii and County of Kauai: No Kahili Awards given in this category

In addition, a new Koa Award was added to recognize those signifying a long-term and exemplary commitment to perpetuating and preserving Hawaii's host culture. The inaugural winner of this Award is Hawaiian Airlines for sponsoring Aloha Festivals.

"While the nominees and awardees of the 2005 Koa and Kahili Awards represent a diversity of people in the community who continually strive to perpetuate the Hawaiian culture, the HTA also recognized the need to honor those who have spent, literally, a lifetime towards this effort with little to no acknowledgment," stated Johnson. "The increasing importance of the Hawaiian culture and community in maintaining Hawaii's uniqueness as a destination has continued to be recognized as a high priority issue for Hawaii's visitor industry future and for the well-being of Hawaii's community as a whole." As a result, the HTA established the He Kuleana Ke Aloha Awards to annually recognize a business, individual or community organization which has demonstrated ongoing responsibility, personal commitment and dedication to honoring and perpetuating the Hawaiian culture for generations to come. This year's Hawaii Tourism Authority He Kuleana Ke Aloha Awards are presented to Winona Desha Beamer, Genoa Keawe, Mary Louise Kekuewa, the Merrie Monarch Festival, the Prince Lot Hula Festivals, the Kaanapali Beach Hotel and the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau.

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For more information, contact:
Muriel Anderson
Director of Tourism Programs
Hawaii Tourism Authority
(808) 973-2269