While we’re busy thinking about tech, energy, globalism and diversification in Hawaii, we also need to take a look at the sea changes in tourism in Hawaii, the primary engine of our state’s economy.

What are the investment opportunities? It's a $12 billion industry, but how much more can it grow? Will it continue to be the driver of economic expansion or do we need a third leg of the stool?

How will the new tourism use, integrate and collaborate with our tech community and participate in our long-awaited diversification. Is this a zero sum game or is there a common interest?

How will it integrate the bed and breakfast phenomenon, and the prospect of gambling? How will it adapt to current notions of ecotourism, energy tourism and adventure tourism?

How will it cope with the changing models of time sharing, shopping, entertainment, transportation and charter flights from China?

What are its interisland challenges, including the cost of interisland airfares, the anti-tourism policies emerging on Molokai and the possible closing of the hotels on Lanai?.

How will it capitalize on the enhanced diplomatic and trade exposure we had with APEC? How will tourism, especially tourism from China, connect with our local real estate market?

Like it or not, tourism is Big Business and changing and influencing Hawaii as never before. Tourism is a discussion we need to have, a discussion that's timely, a discussion that's coming up soon at ThinkTech.

The Hawaii Venture Capital Association and ThinkTech will address these issues in a joint program known as “Tourism in Hawaii 2012” on Thursday, February 23rd at the Plaza Club. There will be two discussion panels:

First Panel - NEW INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT DIRECTIONS IN HAWAII TOURISM

Moderator:
Rick Egged (The Waikiki Improvement Association)

Panelists:
Greg Dickhens (Kyo-ya)
Mike McCartney (The Hawaii Tourism Authority)
Rob Solomon (The Outrigger Enterprise Group)
Rob Stephenson (The Molokai Chamber of Commerce)

Second Panel - NEW DIRECTIONS IN TOURIST SERVICES, EVENTS AND ATTRACTIONS

Moderator:
Allison Schaefers (Star-Advertiser)

Panelists:
Mike Carr (The USS Missouri)
Chris Resich (Mary Charles & Associates)
Randy Tanaka (The Hawaii Convention Center)
Susan Todani (Kamehameha Schools)

There will be provocative discussions and Q&A, our usual stellar crowd of entrepreneurs, investors and service providers and the networking these luncheons are known for. For further information, see hvca.org or thinktechhawaii.com, or call Gail Caveney at (808) 262-7329.