Locomoji add a fun and sociable touch to the GoHawaii app. // © 2016 Hawaii Tourism Authority
Feature image (above): The GoHawaii app includes tips for staying safe in ocean waters. // © 2016 Hawaii Tourism Authority/Tor Johnson
Information about Hawaii activities, festivals, weather and safety tips awaits travel agents and their clients on GoHawaii, a new smartphone app from the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA).
Designed as one-stop mobile reference guide for the destination’s six major islands, GoHawaii is the first of its kind produced by the state of Hawaii. It’s available for free in the Google Play and Apple iTunes stores.
Travel agents can use the app to help clients fine-tune their Hawaii trips, from deciding which island or islands they want to visit to picking travel dates coinciding with special events.
“Travelers, especially first-time visitors, depend on the expertise of travel agents to guide them on how to best enjoy Hawaii,” said Leslie Dance, vice president of marketing and product development for the HTA. “The GoHawaii app is a tool that agents can use in supporting their clients’ travel planning.”
More of today’s travelers are relying on the convenience and accessibility of mobile devices to research destinations, Dance adds. Agents can point to the GoHawaii app as a fast, free and trustworthy source to evaluate Hawaii as a vacation spot.
“The app helps travelers understand what makes Hawaii so appealing, which they can then use to work with agents in creating the experience that matches their expectations,” Dance said.
One particularly unique feature of the app is its collection of Hawaii-specific emojis, dubbed Locomoji. Created for travelers to share with family and friends, Locomoji range from images of aloha shirts and erupting volcanoes to shave ice and sea turtles.