Appointment Follows the Retirement of Longtime Kauaʻi Tourism Leader Sue Kanoho
HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) announces the appointment of Samira Siale as island director of the Kauaʿi Visitors Bureau, effective 16 April 2026. Siale succeeds Sue Kanoho, managing director of the Island Chapters and executive director of the Kauaʿi Visitors Bureau, who will retire after 29 years of dedicated service.
“We are deeply grateful to Sue Kanoho, whose decades of leadership helped establish a foundation of trust and credibility that will continue to shape this work for years to come,” said Dr. Aaron J. Salā, president and CEO of HVCB. “Samira brings a strong track record of building alignment across Kauaʻi’s visitor industry, and that matters at a time when this work continues to demand deep coordination between community, industry, and place. She understands the responsibility that comes with representing Kauaʻi, and I am confident in her ability to lead with excitement, discipline, and care.”
A Kauaʿi resident, Siale brings more than a decade of on-island experience to the role, including her current position as executive director of the Hawaiʿi Lodging and Tourism Association – Kauaʿi Chapter. “I have spent my career building connections across every sector of this island, and I am deeply honored to bring that work to the Kauaʻi Visitors Bureau,” said Siale. “My focus will be advancing a tourism model rooted in community well-being, cultural respect, and the long-term health of Kauaʻi as a destination.”
HONORING THE LEGACY OF SUE KANOHO
Kanoho joined the Kauaʿi Visitors Bureau in 1997 and built one of the most enduring records of service in Hawaiʿi’s tourism industry. Throughout her tenure, she championed Kauaʿi with unwavering commitment, overseeing advertising, public relations, travel trade promotions, and the Kauaʿi Destination Management Action Plan, while later expanding her reach statewide through oversight of the Island Chapters. She will conclude her service on 30 April 2026.
“It is time for me to fulfill my promise to my husband to retire and travel,” said Kanoho. “I am so grateful for the work I have been able to accomplish over the years with our partners and my team at the Island Chapters and HVCB.”
ABOUT HVCB
The Hawaiʻi Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) is a private, nonprofit, regenerative destination leadership enterprise stewarding the future of tourism in Hawai’i. Grounded in cultural intelligence and community connection, HVCB builds global partnerships, crafts transformative visitor experiences, and leads with innovation to ensure tourism enriches local lives, protects island ecosystems, and advances Hawai’i as a model for the world. For visitor information, visit gohawaii.com. For more about HVCB, visit hvcb.org or follow updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
