The Hawai'i Tourism Authority has spent two years negotiating with the National Football League to secure the Pro Bowl game at the Aloha Stadium, yet has shown reluctance to approve a contract to keep the high-revenue-generating game in Hawai'i.

The state's top tourism agency recently rejected a second proposal by the NFL for Hawai'i to host the Pro Bowl a week before the Super Bowl in 2011 and at an unspecified date in 2012. The 2010 Pro Bowl game is already scheduled to play a week before the Super Bowl in Miami.

With such high stakes, the Hawai'i Tourism Authority needs to do what is necessary to secure the All-Star game in the Islands once again. If not, big cities like Dallas, which are hungrily eyeing the Pro Bowl for themselves, will get off the bench and make the right plays for a spot on the first-string team.

This past Pro Bowl game generated $28.6 million in spending and $2.9 million in hotel and car-rental taxes. Last year's game brought in $28.07 million in spending and $2.5 million in taxes. The NFL's offer, which would have cost the state $4 million a game, would include two 30-second advertising spots on national television to promote travel to Hawai'i.

During these tough and turbulent economic times, it would be a great loss to the residents of Hawai'i if, by rejecting this offer, the HTA has put the state at risk of losing any chance of the money-making football game from ever returning to the Islands.

Some board members were reluctant to commit these state funds because of the dire outlook of the transient accommodation tax revenue projections; others voted against the proposal, suggesting instead that the state look at investing in other sports initiatives, such as soccer and the Honolulu Marathon.

These reasons do not outweigh the importance of and impact that the Pro Bowl has on our state's economy and morale. For the amount spent attracting the Pro Bowl, Hawai'i receives much more in return, including significant tax revenues, increase in visitor arrivals, national and international media exposure, and donations by the NFL to local charities.

Let's not forget the excitement it generates among residents and tourists alike with weeklong activities and festivities in Honolulu. In addition, few events can compare to an all-star football game that rallies thousands of fans each year cheering in the stands. More fans were in the stands this year than last year: an estimated 49,958 fans compared with 49,621 last year.

I believe the HTA will ultimately be successful in securing the Pro Bowl for Hawai'i, but I am concerned about the bigger picture. As chair of the House committee responsible for the oversight of our state's No. 1 industry, the HTA, the industry and the Legislature need to work closer together on broader issues, specifically strategic planning, workforce development and creating a long-term vision.

As a state funded agency, I would like to see the HTA communicate more effectively with the Legislature and to the public on its activities to keep the tourism industry healthy, and on how we are keeping Hawai'i "fresh" for returning visitors. Many of our residents are wondering the same thing that their lawmakers are: Where is Hawai'i's tourism going from here, where is the money being spent, and what is the holistic plan to keep the tourism industry and its workforce flourishing?

A recent article in the Pacific Business News touched on the fact that the HTA board conducts much of its business in secret, making decisions on how to spend millions of taxpayer dollars in closed meetings, out of the public view. The HTA board points to "competition" and "negotiation" factors as reason to hold private discussions. This may be true, but there also must be more transparency on how the HTA board conducts public business.

In times of challenge, true leaders see opportunity. With a new chief executive officer coming aboard, I am optimistic that the Legislature, the administration, the HTA and Hawai'i's world-renowned tourism industry can all work together to take advantage of opportunities such as the Pro Bowl and more, and to ensure that our greatest years are ahead of us.

Rep. Joey Manahan chairs the Tourism, Culture and International Affairs Committee in the state House of Representatives. He wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.