Sen. Glenn Wakai charged the Hawaii Tourism Authority isn’t doing enough with the opportunities to promote the state at this week’s NCAA basketball tournaments involving University of Hawaii teams.
Wakai (D, Kalihi-Salt Lake), chairman of the Economic Development, Environment and Technology Committee, chided the HTA before a vote Friday on a bill that would create a comprehensive statewide Sports and Entertainment Authority to help bring events here and promote tourism.
The committee forwarded the bill with a 5-3 vote.
HTA representatives said after the meeting that they have been working with UH this week to create a presence at both the men’s tournament that opened in Spokane, Wash., on Friday and the women’s event in Los Angeles, where the Rainbow Wahine open today, but the efforts ran into conflict with NCAA policies and logistics.
The HTA said it had sought to send hula halau to both venues, as well as Hawaiian singers to perform but were advised the initiatives would not be permitted under NCAA policies.
It also said 1,000 ti leaves were shipped to Spokane for Friday’s men’s game, but an airline misdirected them to Anchorage, Alaska, instead.
“It was really hard, not just with the logistics, but also with the NCAA (restrictions),” said Charlene Chan, director of communications for HTA. “We had halau all in place to go up to both the men’s and women’s events. But, as with the Hawaiian singer, it just didn’t materialize because of those NCAA issues.”
UH athletic director David Matlin said he and HTA CEO George Szigeti talked about possible initiatives Monday, and UH approached the NCAA on the HTA’s behalf about a halftime or pregame hula as well as a Hawaiian singer performing and possibly doing the national anthem.
But, Matlin said, “They have pretty strict (guidelines) on who can be on the floor. They keep it to just (student) performers.”
Citing an online calendar of events surrounding the tournament in Spokane, Wakai said, “Look at all the activities going on this weekend in Spokane. If (the) HTA was creative and diligent, they could have sponsored one of these events or perhaps created a Hawaiian event with a local hotel/restaurant. There are fans from eight corners of America in Spokane. After making (calls) to the NCAA and (getting) gonged, HTA gave up instead of thinking of other opportunities. We need marketers who deliver results, not excuses.”
Chan said, “I think we did as much as we could in a short amount of time.”
After being rebuffed by the NCAA, Chan said, “We got together, and we got ti leaves to be sent for both the men and the women.”
She said 1,000 ti leaves will be on hand for the Rainbow Wahine today and the men Sunday.
