What's Being Discussed

The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) Administrative Standing Committee is meeting virtually on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. The main topics are:

• CEO Search Update: The committee will review the status of the search for a new HTA President & CEO. The application deadline has been extended to October 30, 2026. Interviews are planned for November, with finalist recommendations going to the full board and the Governor in December.
• CEO Performance Evaluation: The committee will begin developing a formal evaluation process for the President & CEO, including reviewing past evaluation examples and a standard state performance appraisal form.
• Approval of past meeting minutes from the June 17, 2026 meeting.

The board may also hold a closed executive session to discuss legal matters, hiring considerations, and confidential information related to Hawaiʻi's tourism industry.

Decisions Expected

• Approval of the June 17, 2026 meeting minutes
• Direction on the CEO search timeline and next steps
• Initial decisions on how the CEO evaluation process will be structured

Who Should Pay Attention

• Tourism industry professionals interested in HTA leadership
• Anyone who applied or is considering applying for the HTA President & CEO position
• General public who want to weigh in on HTA leadership and governance

Public testimony is welcome. Oral comments via Zoom are limited to five minutes per person. Written testimony can be emailed to Carole.m.hagihara@hawaii.gov.