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Tourism plays a major role in our island economy. With visitor numbers steadily on the rise, it's our kuleana as a community to ensure that each visitor has the best experience possible when visiting our island.
Hawaii's 15-airport system is critical to serving our residents and visitors. Despite this fact, our airports fail to deliver when it comes to service, customer experience and infrastructure.
This is why the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association supports legislation to create a new governance system for the state's airports. If passed, this legislation would create an independent airport corporation, one that would help our airports become better managed and better operated.
The independent airport corporation model is not novel. It's been adopted in top visitor destinations in other states. A Hawaii airport corporation would be self-sustaining; no use of taxpayer dollars to improve and modernize airports.
If lawmakers truly want our tourism industry to continue to succeed, they will strongly consider passing this legislation.
Lisa H. Paulson
Executive Director
Maui Hotel & Lodging Association