Update from the Volunteers Meetup on August 30

We had a great meeting yesterday with a record 13 Kama'aina (locals) in attendance. Lots of new faces and lots of great suggestions and volunteers.

The focus of this meeting turned out to be getting more Sponsors. We've been having to do a LOT of education in the local business community as to what a PodCamp and WordCamp actually are and how New Media and the Social Web can help the local economy, specifically the Tourism Industry.

Tourism is down and the number of visitors to Hawaii continues to fall as gas prices and travel in general is becoming more expensive. As the Tourism and Government agencies try to figure out how to revive the tourism industry, we in the New & Social Media industry already know the answer:

• Build personal and genuine relationships with potential visitors via Social Media channels.
• Create blogs, Internet TV shows, Audio and Video podcasts, and share the daily life and experience of living and working in the Hawaiian Islands.
• Support PodCamp Hawaii and other UnConference-type events that help to educate local businesses and people on the value of Social Media and the free tools available online.
• Stop advertising the glossy picture of the "Perfect Hawaiian Vacation" and instead present the real, authentic experiences of our wonderful people, cultures, and beautiful landscapes from all around the islands and not just Waikiki.
• Engage the local, thriving New Media community and invite us to the discussions and planning meetings. We CAN help!

And speaking of helping, if you would like to help and/or learn more about how New & Social Media can help promote Hawaii Tourism and how we're working to do just that with PodCamp Hawaii, please email us at podcamphawaii@gmail.com, follow us on Twitter, and join our Email Newsletter to receive automatic updates about the upcoming PodCamp Hawaii Conference and Volunteer opportunities.

Many Mahalos to the following people who spent 2 hours of their own time on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon to come out to beautiful Kaka'ako Park for the Volunteer Meetup.

PodCamp Volunteers, Kyle Nishioka, Ruby Menon, Roxanne Darling and Todd Cochran. Photo: Roxanne Darling via Flickr