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The Hawaii Tourism Authority approved an $88.3 million annual budget Thursday after meeting for more than two hours behind closed doors.
HTA Chief Operating Officer Randy Baldemor said the executive session was allowed under state law HRS 201B, which permits the agency to discuss information that must be kept confidential to protect Hawaii’s competitive advantage in executive session. The board invited state Rep. Richard Onishi, chairman of the House Committee on Tourism, to watch the secret session.
“The budget shows our strategies and what we would be investing in specific projects,” Baldemor said. “Obviously, if other destinations knew that, they could outspend us or put us at a competitive disadvantage.”
An itemized budget was not immediately available. However, following its executive session, the board said this year’s budget includes up to $1 million in funding that was allocated by the state Legislature to address homelessness in tourist and resort areas in conjunction with the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association. The $1 million is to be matched dollar for dollar by the private sector.
