Ex-Officio

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.

Oʻahu DMAP is on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/oahudmap.

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

• The only official royal palace on U.S. soil is ʻIolani Palace, the final residence of the last two reigning monarchs of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. The palace is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and located in Honolulu.
• Global WWII history is anchored at Pearl Harbor (Puʻuloa) on the island of Oʻahu, starting with the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial. To understand the history of WWII in the Pacific theater, to honor the many who perished and to inspire and teach future generations, Pearl Harbor is home to four key historical attractions:  Pearl Harbor National Memorial (Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and the USS Arizona Memorial), Battleship Missouri Memorial, Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.
• The Royal Hawaiian Band, known as the “King’s Band” was founded in 1836 by King Kamehameha III. It is the oldest and only full-time municipal band in the country.  Visitors can catch performances Friday’s at ʻIolani Palace.
• Oʻahu is considered the birthplace of surfing and the sport of surfing is attributed to the Hawaiian people. The small town of Haleʻiwa on Oʻahu’s legendary North Shore is affectionately known as the Mecca of Surfing, as the largest purse in surfing competition takes place annually along the surf beaches of Oʻahu’s North shore starting in November attracting professional surfers from around the world. Waikīkī was home to the legendary ambassador of surfing, Duke Kahanamoku, who introduced surfing around the world. He was an incredible waterman winning three Olympic gold and two silver medals collectively in the 1912, 1920 and 1924 Olympics in swimming for the United States.  
• Oʻahu is home to one of the most recognizable Hawaiian landmarks, Lēʻahi. When foreign travelers and traders first encountered the extinct crater in the 1700s, on Oʻahu Southeastern shore, they mistook the glistening calcite crystals in the rocks to be diamonds, thus for centuries the iconic landmark was called Diamond Head. Today, Diamond Head State Monument is reintroducing her Hawaiian name, Lēʻahi
• The Island of Oʻahu has been and continues to be the filming location of many popular movies and television shows. More movies and television shows have been filmed on Oʻahu than any of the other Hawaiian Islands.  

The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s (HTA) Community Enrichment Program (CEP) supports Hawaiʻi’s Community-based projects, programs, and events that enhance resident and visitor experiences. HTA’s Signature Events Program (SEP) attracts attendees and participants from outside the state of Hawaiʻi with extensive national and international marketing and has a significant economic impact as measured by the number of out-of-state participants. HTA is partnering with the Hawaiʻi Visitors & Convention Bureau (HVCB) and its Island Chapters to administer the 2023 CEP and SEP process. 

Upcoming CEP events on Oʻahu:

• Waialua Town Interpretive History Signage & Walking Tour
• West Oʻahu Ocean Safety Project
• 10th Annual Mōʻiliʻili Summer Fest 2023, Honolulu's Largest Bon Dance:  July 1, 2023
• Moonlight Mele 2023:  July 14 & August 11, 2023
• The Lūʻau – Hawai‘i’s Largest Grass Volleyball Tournament:  July 16, 2023
• 2023 Hawaiʻi ʻUkulele Festival:  July 23, 2023
• Waimea Valley Summer Concert 2023:  August 12, 2023
• Mendokusai at Kumu Kahua Theatre:  August 17-September 17, 2023
• 19th Annual Korean Festival:  August 19, 2023
• 41st Annual Okinawan Festival:  September 2-3, 2023
• 47th Annual Intertribal Powwow:  September 9-10, 2023
• 2023 Honolulu Century Ride & Aloha Fun Ride:  September 24, 2023
• 2023 Hawaiʻi’s Woodshow, Na Lāʻau o Hawaiʻi:  October 13-29, 2003
• 2nd Annual Ehuloa Health & Wellness Festival:  October 21, 2023
• Honolulu Pride:  October 21, 2023
• 17th AccessSurf Hawaiʻi Anniversary:  November 4, 15 & 19, 2023
• Braddah Mel's Waterman Surfing Championship:  December 1-30, 2023

Visit hvcb.org/cep for more information about the Community Enrichment Program and the Signature Events Program.