HONOLULU -- With the tourism outlook in Hawaii at its bleakest in many years, the Hawaii Tourism Authority met Monday with urgency not seen in years.

Members were faced with dire statistics -- arrivals from the mainland down about 30 percent; arrivals from Japan down 45 percent.

Discussion

Can Anything Be Done To Save The Island Economy?

"From where we are now, to where we need to be -- to get to 105 percent of what it was previously -- is a long way to go," Keith Vieira of Starwood Hotels said.

Members of the authority tossed around ideas for a marketing plan that could cost about $20 million. Suggestions included:

Free admission at attractions -- or discounts from vendors

Festivals celebrating Hawaii

More events like "Brunch on the Beach"

A lottery for airplane visitors only

"Things being done sooner is better than a perfect plan later," Victor Lim of the Hawaii Restaurant Association said. "Because a perfect plan later, we'll be dead."

The plan would involve all of the sectors of the tourism industry. Of the roughly $20 million figure, $10 million would come from the tourism special fund, about $5 million from refiguring visitors bureau and tourism authority allocations and $5 million from the private sector.