Foundational Technical Assistance Workshop: Kona
Description
This Foundational Technical Assistance (FTA) Workshop is designed for Hawaiʻi Island businesses, entrepreneurs, cultural practitioners, nonprofits, stewardship organizations, and community initiatives interested in better understanding and engaging with Hawaiʻi’s visitor industry.
This registration is for Day 1 of the two-day event. Day 1 will be hosted in Kona, and Day 2 will be hosted in Hilo. Content of the workshop's two days complement one another, but participants may register for either day individually or attend both. Those who register for Day 1 will receive a discount code that can be used for Day 2 in Hilo.
Day 1 (Kona): Finding Your Place in Hawaiʻi’s Visitor Industry
Understanding Hawaiʻi’s Visitor Industry, Visitors & Opportunities
Learn how Hawaiʻi’s visitor industry works, where opportunities exist, who Hawaiʻi’s visitors are, and what influences their choices. Through practical activities and insights from industry professionals, you’ll identify the visitors who are the right fit for what you offer and strengthen how you reach and communicate with them.
Day 2 (Hilo): Creating Visitor Products, Experiences & Opportunities
Designing Things Visitors Want While Staying Rooted in Place, Community & Culture
Explore how to develop or strengthen visitor-facing products and experiences that advance your goals while remaining rooted in Hawaiʻi as a place, community, and culture. Work through practical considerations including product and experience design, pricing and viability, and visitor engagement.
FTA is part of HTA’s Technical Assistance & Capacity Building (TACB) programs, supporting the development of a more regenerative visitor industry by strengthening local businesses and nonprofits, fostering meaningful visitor experiences, and helping ensure tourism creates greater value for Hawaiʻi’s people, places, and culture.
Agenda
- 8:30 am - 9:00 am
Registration, Coffee & Talk Story
- 9:00 am - 9:30 am
Welcome & Setting the Day's Foundation
The workshop begins by grounding you in you own goals rather than tourism itself. O ke kahua ma mua, ma hope ke kūkulu. “First the foundation, then the building.”
- 9:30 am - 10:30 am
Understanding Hawaiʻi’s Visitor Industry
We'll build a practical understanding of Hawaiʻi’s visitor industry, the resources tourism brings into Hawaiʻi, and the many ways businesses and organizations participate in the industry.
- 10:50 am - 12:00 pm
Visitor Industry Panel and Q&A
Industry professionals share how their sectors work, how they connect with visitors, and how your business or organization can work with them.
- 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunch & Networking
- 1:00 pm - 2:20 pm
Understanding Our Visitors
We'll explore who visits Hawaiʻi, what they are looking for, where they encounter opportunities, and what influences what they choose to do and buy.
- 2:40 pm - 4:40 pm
Storytelling, Marketing & Communications
We'll explore how to communicate what they offer in ways that capture the interest of the visitors you want to reach and give them a reason to choose you.
- 4:40 pm - 5:00 pm
Reflections & Next Steps
Speaker Lineup
Speaker announcements coming soon.
FAQs
- I don’t live on Hawaiʻi Island. Are workshops available on my island?
FTA workshops will also be offered on:
Maui: October 30–31
Oʻahu: November 13–14
Kauaʻi: December 4-5
Check out the other events by clicking our host name.
- Can I attend virtually?
No. These are in-person workshops, and virtual participation is not available.
- Do I have to attend both days?
No. Each day is designed as a standalone workshop, so you may register for either day individually. However, we strongly encourage attending both if you can.
The workshops are designed to build on one another, with Day 1 helping you understand Hawaiʻi’s visitor industry, visitors, and opportunities, and Day 2 helping you apply that understanding to strengthen what you offer.
A discounted two-day registration is available.
- Are meals included with registration?
Yes. Registration includes a light continental breakfast and coffee (such as pastries) and lunch each day.
- What time should I arrive?
Please plan to arrive between 8:30 and 9:00 AM for check-in, coffee, and networking. The workshop will begin promptly at 9:00 AM.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
