Hawai‘i Tourism Authority Launches “Festivals of Hawai‘i” App

Festival of Hawaii App - Home Screen. Photo courtesy of Hawaii Tourism Authority.

By Sonia Isotov

The Hawaii Tourism Authority, the state’s official tourism agency, has launched its first smartphone application featuring the Festivals of Hawai‘i, which provides details on more than 100 events throughout the islands.

The free app is available for download on iTunes for iPhone, iPod and iPad devices.

Locals and visitors alike can search for events by island and type of event, and then use the GPS and Google Maps to get directions. Users can select of any of the six Hawaiian Islands and then from the four most popular categories of Hawaiian, Arts & Music, Cuisine and Sports. The full range of 12 categories include additionally: Ethnic Culture, Agriculture, Education, Nature/Eco-Tourism, Signature Events, Health/Wellness, Technology, and Other.

“This app helps to simplify life for travelers who are looking for things to do in our islands,” said HTA Tourism Brand Manager Michael Story, in a written statement. “As technology evolves, we will continue to look for new and innovative ways to deliver information to Hawai‘i residents and visitors alike.”

Festival of Hawaii App - Maui Sample. Photo courtesy of Hawaii Tourism Authority.

“Festivals of Hawai‘i brings together our residents and visitors to celebrate cultures and traditions in our islands,” added HTA president and CEO Mike McCartney. “This new mobile app is an effective marketing tool that not only delivers helpful information but also shares our unique island experiences and provides a taste of our rich cultural diversity to the world.”

With the roll-out of this first phase of the mobile app which features festivals and events, HTA will turn its focus to widen the searchable database to include other events happening in Hawai‘i. All events featured in the app are imported from www.gohawaii.com/FestivalsofHawaii.