Tourism Authority Funds 24 Maui Events

Teena Rasmussen, Coordinator, Maui County Office of Economic Development. Photo by Wendy Osher.

By Sonia Isotov

The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) has selected more than 100 events and programs statewide to receive funding under its County Product Enrichment Program (CPEP) for 2012.

The HTA is in partnership with the City and County of Honolulu, and the counties of Hawai‘i, Maui and Kaua‘i.

On Maui, 24 cultural and community events will receive funding from the HTA for specific events or year round series events.

The CPEP program is a HTA’s initiative that support Hawaii’s community programs and events and provide visitors with unique experiences throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

The Maui Marathon is one of the community events funded again this year by HTA CPEP grants. Courtesy, Maui Marathon.

The HTA, together with the four counties and their visitors’ bureaus, are working with the recipients of the programs to better align themselves with the branding of their respective island.

“The wide-range of events selected this year showcase what makes Hawai‘i a special place to visit and live, while also helping to draw visitors during the slower shoulder spring and fall season,” said Mike McCartney, president and chief executive officer of the HTA, in a written statement.

“In working with the counties, we were also able to select programs that are unique to each of the Hawaiian Islands and highlight our diverse and rich culture and heritage.”

This year, the HTA funded various sporting events through CPEP, such as the Maui Marathon, which provided even greater diversity to Hawaii’s tourism profile.

The Japanese Cultural Society’s Maui Matsuri Festival is also funded by HTA CPEP grant funds. File photo.

CPEP was created in 2002 as a partnership between the HTA and the counties to strengthen and diversify Hawaii’s tourism product and provide a quality visitor experience. Through the program, the four counties receive HTA funding and other resources for tourism product enrichment activities to support projects in the niche areas of agritourism, cultural tourism, ecotourism, edutourism, health and wellness tourism, sports, and technotourism in their respective counties.

The HTA CPEP awardees on Maui for 2012 includes: