Kauaʻi Visitors Bureau

The Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau (KVB) is an island chapter of the Hawaiʻi Visitors & Convention Bureau (HVCB). HVCB is contracted by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) for destination marketing in the United States. KVB supports our international partners in Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, and Oceania (Australia and New Zealand), and collaborates with island partners – in government, hospitality, and other industries – and the community to implement the island’s Destination Management Action Plan (DMAP). For more information, visit: gohawaii.com/kauai.

Island Chapter Staff Directory

Sue Kanoho Managing Director, Island Chapters - Executive Director, Kauaʻi Visitors Bureau

skanoho@hvcb.org

Phone

808-245-3971

"My most cherished memories include witnessing an eruption of Pele at Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, snorkeling with Manta Rays in Kona on Island of Hawaiʻi, a helicopter landing at Manawaiopuna Falls on Kauaʻi, and every time I see a rainbow!"

Maile Brown Director of Marketing, Kauaʻi Visitors Bureau

maile@hvcb.org

Phone

808-245-3971

"Waimea Canyon is truly one of my favorite places in Hawaiʻi because it is so beautiful."

Patricia Ornellas Destination Manager, Kauaʻi Visitors Bureau

patti@hvcb.org

Phone

808-245-3971

"My two favorite places are on Kauaʻi – Kalāheo because it is where my home and heart is and Kōkeʻe – the beauty and serenity… being there realigns and revitalizes me."

Lani Kaui Sales Coordinator, Kauaʻi Visitors Bureau

lkaui@hvcb.org

Phone

808-245-3971

"Kauaʻi is my favorite place in Hawaiʻi because I love the small communities, shared cultures, and the beauty of our island to enjoy."

Christy Lagundino Office Assistant, Kauaʻi Visitors Bureau

clagundino@hvcb.org

Phone

808-245-3971

"I was born and raised on Kauaʻi and am very proud to call this island my home. I feel blessed to be surrounded by my ʻohana and the Aloha spirit."

Island Chapter Advisory Board

Jim Braman Kauaʻi Chapter Chairperson

General Manager, The Cliffs at Princeville

Fred Atkins

General Partner and Managing Director Kauaʻi Kilohana Partners, Kilohana Plantation

Chandra Bertsch

General Manager, The Shops at Kukuiʻula

Stacie Chiba-Miguel

General Manager, The Shops at Kukuiʻula

Ike Cockett

General Manager, Hilton Garden Inn Kauaʻi Wailua Bay

Jon Gersonde

General Manager, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay

Sharolyn Kawakami

Resort Manager, Koʻa Kea Hotel & Resort

Jill Lowry

Executive Director, Anaina Hou Community Park

Thomas Nizo

Coordinator, West Kauaʻi/Waimea Town Celebration

Laura Richards

Marketing Consultant, Hanalei Colony Resort

Ex-Officio

Invited Guests (non-voting)

Nalani Brun

Director, County of Kaua‘i, Office of Economic Development

Robert "Bob" Crowell

Harbormaster, State of Hawai‘i – Harbor’s Division

Craig Davis

Kaua‘i Airports District Manager, Hawai‘i Department of Transportation, Airport Division

Mark Perriello

President, Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce

Samira Siale

Executive Director, Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association-Kaua‘i Chapter

Destination Management Action Plan

The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA), in partnership with the counties and the respective visitor bureaus, developed community-based Destination Management Action Plans (DMAPs) that aim to rebuild, redefine and reset the direction of tourism over a three-year period. The focus is on stabilization, recovery, and rebuilding to the desired visitor industry for each island. The actions put forth in the DMAPs are guided by an island-based Steering Committee for each island, and includes a collaborative process which encourages participation and vital input from the community, visitor industry and other sectors. The DMAPs identify areas of need as well as actionable solutions for enhancing the residents’ quality of life and improving the visitor experience across the islands.

HTA’s 2020–2025 Strategic Plan is organized around four interacting pillars—Natural Resources, Hawaiian Culture, Community, and Brand Marketing, with more emphasis on addressing tourism impacts and greater destination management. In it, HTA defined Destination Management to include: attracting and educating responsible visitors; advocating for solutions to overcrowded attractions, overtaxed infrastructure, and other tourism-related problems; and working with other responsible agencies to improve natural and cultural assets valued by both Hawaiʻi residents and visitors.

Kauaʻi DMAP is on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kauaidmap.

View the Kauaʻi Destination Management Action Plan below, or visit the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority website to discover how destination management and stewardship is advancing in our islands.

Awards and Recognition

#1 Kaua‘i, The Best Islands in Hawai‘i – Hawai‘i Magazine
Hanalei (#2) & Pō‘ipu (#5) listed as 5 Best Towns in Hawai‘i – Hawai‘i Magazine
Kapa‘a named Favorite Beach Town, Hawaiian Islands, The Trazees, by Trazee Travel

Island Chapter Links

Kauaʻi Offers 2023 - Ready for a beautiful getaway? Kaua‘i is here for you.
Kamaʻāina Offers 2023 - You don’t have to fly thousands of miles for a little adventure.

Contact the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau for information on how to submit an offer on KauaiKamaaina.com and/or Kauaispecials.com.

Did you know?

No new structure can be built more than four stories high, the height of a mature coconut palm tree.
Kaua‘i has been the location for many popular movies, including South Pacific, Blue Hawaii, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, Tropic Thunder, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, The Descendants, Jurassic World, Hobbs & Shaw and Disney’s Jungle Cruise.
Kaua‘i has more beach per coastline than its neighbor islands.
Kaua‘i has the only navigable rivers in Hawai‘i.
The National Tropical Botanical Garden is headquartered on Kaua‘i. Only five exist in the US, and three are located on Kaua‘i. Its goal is to advance scientific research, public education and plant conservation.

Kauaʻi Visitors Bureau Updates