Governor Josh Green has just signed a legislative template that change the way we manage tourism in this city.
The Senate's bill in 1571 turns the Board of Directors of the Hawai'i Tourism Authority into an advisory board again, no longer to become a political board after the government and the supervision were criticized.
A problem with the priority list is the contract for the repairs of the Hawaii Convention Center.
Keith Regan, the state compatroller of the accounting and general services department, has the task of taking over the project of the flagship.
Regan can be well positioned for this because he previously worked at the HTA before taking over the job as director at DAGS. He said the deadline for offers may have to be extended on June 20.
Interview highlights
On Dags who enter to support the repair project
Keith Regan: We were asked to support the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the DBTT (Department of Economic Affairs, Economic Development and Tourism) as well as the congress center when it turned out that this special project needed additional support. And in view of a certain background, especially my background, after working for the Hawaii Tourism Authority for many years and was involved in some CIP work (Capital Improvement Plan) to support these activities within the center, the reason why they reached it was that they were familiar with the congress center. We also do that at DAGS. We take care of large CIP projects, build buildings, we take care of complex projects such as this roof project and we have a team of people in our operation who have this experience and knowledge and this background.
On the current phase of the project
Regan: We check the documents created. I think there were 34 documents that were part of this RFP (application application application) for the roof project, and then some additional contract documents on which they worked before they got in to get in. We have to spend some time. We literally sat down with the HTA and the congress center and its consultants last week to carry out preliminary topics in connection with the roof project. … We are asking a few weeks to check these documents. During this time we will go back and forth with the HTA and the congress center. We will have some questions about what we look at in these documents, and hopefully the project will not be too delayed. … it is a complex project and a critical project for the state. We recognize that. I realize that with my background, as I have said for many years, there was there that this congress center was important and critical for our economy and not in these ball rooms.
In the period of the project
Regan: I think it will be about a two -year process. This is a big undertaking; This will not be done in one or two months. It will require extensive work on the roof, essentially remove the materials, get into the base pan, which is there, the lazy material that could be underneath that leaves something out, and then return the entire water sealing material and the concrete and the paving stones and everything else. … we are in agreement with what the congress center, HTA and DBTT proposed in connection with the closure of the center.
About the value of the Hawai'i Convention Center
Regan: I think it has proven to be a multi -purpose facility, including use during crises. We saw that during the hurricane season this facility had been given up in the past as accommodation, including enormous support for Covid when we had to complete the entire unemployment insurance company of DLIR (department for work and industrial education) and withstanding the convention center. I think the facility itself has really proven that it is much more than just a congress center.
On the possible effects of tariffs on the project, which currently costs between 55 and 60 million US dollars
Regan: There is a lot of material in this project that may be exposed to tariffs, and we always hear a kind of back and forth that from Washington via steel and aluminum, correct and this 50% tariffs and now they are switched on, and now they are gone or now they are 20% or whatever they may be. It definitely makes some concern within the project team.
This story was broadcast The conversation on June 4, 2025. The conversation is broadcast on weekdays at 11 a.m.