Workforce Development
Encouraging Hawaii’s high school and college-age students to choose tourism as their career is an important part of HTA’s mission.
Sustaining tourism success depends on the young people of Hawaii helping carry the industry forward and becoming the next generation of leaders. HTA is helping support programs that show Hawaii’s youth they can have a career where their energy, insight, and opinions are needed to help move the state forward.
HTA supports the L.E.I. (Leadership, Exploration, Inspiration) Program on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the island of Hawaii, which brings 1,000 teens from throughout the state in direct contact with hotels, businesses, and tourism industry leaders. In the program, the future engages the present.
HTA also offers support with certification and training programs to help elevate the current industry workforce development through the University of Hawaii’s community college system.