Caroline Anderson

Caroline Anderson has over two decades of experience at the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA), where she has been an integral part of the agency since 2000. As Interim President & CEO, she is responsible for the overall management and direction of the state’s lead tourism agency, working closely with HTA’s Chair and Board of Directors and guiding the staff to fulfill the agency’s mission. As the Director of Planning, she leads HTA’s comprehensive planning efforts, overseeing initiatives such as the state's Tourism Functional Plan, HTA's Strategic Plan, HTA's Strategic Tourism Management Plan, and county-specific Destination Management Action Plans. Caroline is also responsible for program evaluation and administering HTA’s tourism workforce development efforts, ensuring that the state's tourism strategies are both effective and sustainable.

Previously, as Director of Community Enrichment, Caroline played a key role in managing programs that support community-based tourism projects and enhancing Hawai‘i’s visitor offerings and experiences. She also led capacity-building initiatives to strengthen organizations in the tourism sector. Earlier in her career, she served as HTA's Brand Manager, where she was responsible for overseeing marketing and branding efforts in the U.S., Europe, and Latin America.

Born and raised in Hawai‘i, she enjoys being a part of Hawai‘i’s dynamic tourism industry and collaborating with the community, visitor industry partners, and other state and county agencies for the betterment of Hawai‘i.

Education:
• Masters Degree, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Urban and Regional Planning
• Bachelor of Science Degree, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa School of Travel Industry Management

Awards:
• 2025 J. Desmond Slattery Professional Marketing Award (Travel & Tourism Research Association). Honors a professional for significant contributions to travel marketing at a national or state level.
• 2021 Pacific Business News (PBN) Pineapple Awards Honoree. Recognizes the contributions of professionals in Hawai‘i's tourism sector.