Our Mission
EducationWe provide educational opportunities, information, and resources to our members, legislators, the media, and the community
|
AdvocacyWe advocate the needs of our members with the federal, state, and county governments.
|
PhilanthropyWe support and contribute to a better quality of life and environment for both the community and our visitors.
|
Promoting Hawai'i Tourism - Now More Than Ever!
Local Connection - Hawaii News Now
Dear members,
On Saturday July 21st, the Hawai'i Lodging and Tourism Association announced its endorsements for state and county candidates in the Primary Election. This is after a comprehensive endorsement review process by its endorsement committee, which included representatives from each county and a final vote of approval by the HLTA Board of Directors.
HLTA prides itself on providing its members with the utmost value and quality, in advocacy and in all that we do. Please give these candidates your serious consideration, and be sure to vote in the Primary Election on August 11th. Absentee ballots should be in your mailboxes in short order.
On Saturday July 21st, the Hawai'i Lodging and Tourism Association announced its endorsements for state and county candidates in the Primary Election. This is after a comprehensive endorsement review process by its endorsement committee, which included representatives from each county and a final vote of approval by the HLTA Board of Directors.
HLTA prides itself on providing its members with the utmost value and quality, in advocacy and in all that we do. Please give these candidates your serious consideration, and be sure to vote in the Primary Election on August 11th. Absentee ballots should be in your mailboxes in short order.
Click on image for a downloadable graphic.
Mufi's Message, August 10th
19th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament
Mahalo to all our golfers who came out yesterday, August 9th, to our 19th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament at The Hawaii Prince Golf Course in Ewa Beach. Our annual tournament is an all-day affair filled with lots of ono food and fun in the sun, but best of all, it’s for a great cause. This year we sold out 82 teams with 246 golfers participating in the tournament.
The scholarship monies we raise through this tournament help to facilitate 18 diverse scholarships throughout the year. While many HLTA scholarships are geared toward students who are pursuing hospitality-focused curriculum, we also offer scholarships to the children of members of our association. Other scholarships include partnerships with the University of Hawaii Foundation for community college and culinary programs, and the Pauahi Foundation. The reach of our hospitality industry is wide, and we continue to encourage the growth of our future leaders in whatever facet speaks to them.
This year’s tournament featured three dynamic refreshment stations: ENPRO Environmental provided tacos, Mai Tais and Cigars; Interstate Restoration served beer and Sake from Young’s Market and had a live sushi chef and DJ; and Hard Rock Cafe featured pulled pork sliders with yuzu coleslaw and fresh apple slices. Mahalo to all our vendors who braved the heat and shared the spirit of hospitality with our golfers. A special shoutout to Justin Yoshino of Tripe F Holdings for generously providing 5 beverage purveyors on the course yesterday.
I would like to take this moment to personally thank our HLTA Scholarship Golf Tournament committee, as well as committee chairperson Don Takaki of Hawktree International. Also, mahalo to our generous sponsors, without whom this tournament would not be possible. Diamond Sponsor, Kaiser Permanente, and our Dinner Sponsor, Pacific Guardian Life Insurance Company, Ltd, our Sapphire Sponsors, Interstate Restoration Hawaii and Noguchi & Associates, Inc. and all those who provided donations for our live auction, lucky draw giveaways, door prizes, and gift bags.
The scholarship monies we raise through this tournament help to facilitate 18 diverse scholarships throughout the year. While many HLTA scholarships are geared toward students who are pursuing hospitality-focused curriculum, we also offer scholarships to the children of members of our association. Other scholarships include partnerships with the University of Hawaii Foundation for community college and culinary programs, and the Pauahi Foundation. The reach of our hospitality industry is wide, and we continue to encourage the growth of our future leaders in whatever facet speaks to them.
This year’s tournament featured three dynamic refreshment stations: ENPRO Environmental provided tacos, Mai Tais and Cigars; Interstate Restoration served beer and Sake from Young’s Market and had a live sushi chef and DJ; and Hard Rock Cafe featured pulled pork sliders with yuzu coleslaw and fresh apple slices. Mahalo to all our vendors who braved the heat and shared the spirit of hospitality with our golfers. A special shoutout to Justin Yoshino of Tripe F Holdings for generously providing 5 beverage purveyors on the course yesterday.
I would like to take this moment to personally thank our HLTA Scholarship Golf Tournament committee, as well as committee chairperson Don Takaki of Hawktree International. Also, mahalo to our generous sponsors, without whom this tournament would not be possible. Diamond Sponsor, Kaiser Permanente, and our Dinner Sponsor, Pacific Guardian Life Insurance Company, Ltd, our Sapphire Sponsors, Interstate Restoration Hawaii and Noguchi & Associates, Inc. and all those who provided donations for our live auction, lucky draw giveaways, door prizes, and gift bags.
Maui County Charity Walk Distribution
For our 40th Annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk this year, Maui County raised a record-breaking $1,422,535 dollars. Yesterday, Maui Island and Molokai saw those monies actualized in tangible form, as the over 50 community nonprofits received their disbursed Charity Walk grants. All funds raised on each island, remain on their respective island, and today Lanai island received their checks as well. We are so proud of our industry and its philanthropic commitment; the other islands will be releasing their Charity Walk grants in the coming weeks as well, so be sure to keep an eye on your inbox if you are a non-profit who participated in Charity Walk!
Vote on Saturday!
As a reminder, the Primary Election is tomorrow, Saturday the 11th. It may seem trivial, but I would like to take this opportunity to remind you that voting is both your civic duty and responsibility. Voting is the driver of a true democracy, and the Primary Election is just as important as the General Election. If you are not yet registered to vote, don’t worry; tomorrow, polling places will be allowing same-day registration. You can also opt into absentee ballots at the polls tomorrow. For the list of HLTA-endorsed candidates, please click here. To find your polling place, please click here. For a list of acceptable documentation to register to vote, please click here.
General Membership Meeting Sponsorships
As we announced last week, we are enthusiastically anticipating our 191st General Membership Meeting at the Four Seasons Resort O’ahu at Ko Olina, October 11-13. If you are interested in participating in our exclusive Sponsor Showcase and sponsoring our GMM, please click here. If you are not yet registered for GMM, please click here. We look forward to seeing you in Ko Olina!
Tourism Tuesday
HLTA has been sponsoring a radio show called “Tourism Tuesday” on AM690 THE ANSWER, via the Mike Buck Show with Mike Buck. We have been highlighting different members from all across the hospitality industry, for about a year now. And we would like to feature you – if you’re an active member of HLTA, and interested in sharing your contributions to the visitor industry over the radio in-studio in Kalihi on a Tuesday morning from 7-8am, please submit your request, a brief bio, and 3-5 talking points to Executive Assistant Ashley Yonamine at ayonamine@hawaiilodging.org.
40th Annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk
Mahalo Hawaii for your continued kokua in our "tradition of giving!" Our 40th year was our best yet: we'll see you Saturday May 18, 2019!
Congratulations: another successful Visitor Industry Charity Walk!
Oahu's Visitor Industry Charity Walk was yet again a fun and fantastic time for all! On Saturday, May 19, 2018 more than 7,000 participants came out and helped raise a total of over $450,000 - with monies still rolling in for many local charities here on Oahu, and over $2.5 million statewide!
On behalf of the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association and the Hawaii Hotel Industry Foundation, we would like to extend our sincerest mahalo to all those that sponsored, coordinated, promoted, and participated in the 40th Annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk. Without all your tireless work and amazing support, this event would not have been possible. From our checkpoint sponsors to our recruiters, this grand event requires the dedication and passion of many different people and we would like to take this time to send a special thank you to all those that have truly continued this tradition of giving!
On behalf of the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association and the Hawaii Hotel Industry Foundation, we would like to extend our sincerest mahalo to all those that sponsored, coordinated, promoted, and participated in the 40th Annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk. Without all your tireless work and amazing support, this event would not have been possible. From our checkpoint sponsors to our recruiters, this grand event requires the dedication and passion of many different people and we would like to take this time to send a special thank you to all those that have truly continued this tradition of giving!
|
Special Thanks to the heart and soul of the 2018 Visitor Industry Charity Walk...Our Checkpoint Sponsors!!!
"Special Thanks" to our Visitor Industry Charity Walk 2018 Core Organizations
|
Special Thanks to our Visitor Industry
Charity Walk 2018 Organizers! · Our Charity Walk Honorary Chair, Rick Blangiardi, and special guests Guy Hagi and Stephanie Lum · Our emcees Sam Kapu, Kimo Villarimo, and Bulla & Lynette Eastman of the Salem Media Hawai'i Team, led by Dita Holifield; and the Hawaii News Now Team, led by Rick Blangiardi · Kyo-ya and Aqua-Aston Hospitality for being our 2018 Charity Walk radio campaign sponsors · The 200 volunteer course marshals who devoted their Saturday morning to assist in walker safety, course direction, and of course in CHEERING! · All the charities that participated and had members join us in volunteering as course marshals, parking attendants, and walker card distributors. · All the volunteers who ran the registration table and managed all charity walk monies and forms. · Cindy Adams and Aloha United Way for helping us with the online grant application process. · The HPD officers headed by Acting Captain Eric Yosemori (District 6), Lt. Greg Kinoshita (District 6), Lt. Matt Kurihara (District 1), and Sgt. Deric Valoroso (District 1), who helped ensure another safe and successful event! · The Kyo-ya ohana for coordinating and executing all the tent set-ups, stage set-ups, registration/volunteer station, banners, and parking in the Key Hole Area of McCoy Pavilion. · Jeff Marcello and the Pomaikai Ballrooms for hosting our annual Charity Walk Kick-Off Breakfast. · Francis Cofran with GGP Inc. & Ala Moana Shopping Center for use of their parking facilities. · Our First Aid sponsors from Urgent Care Hawaii; Donna Schmidt, Melissa C. Bojoruqez, and Cindy Suzuki, who ensured a safe walk for all. · Unforgettable performances by Pule Kakou featuring Danny Caparoso, and Mike Seda, with guests Gordon Freitas, and Art Kalahiki. · Chris Sbarbaro and the Enterprise Holdings team for their generous donation of route vans. · Maki Kuroda and E Noa Tours, for the donation of their trolley used to transport all course marshals. · Dennis Burns, Jason Nishimura and Visitor Video for helping promote the Charity Walk in our hotel in-room stations. · Mystical Sound Productions and Joe Ho for A/V equipment and setting up all sound equipment for the countdown and entertainment stages. · Our security team headed by Jerry Dolak (HHVISA) and Kent Harada (Halekulani). · Our Checkpoint Chairs Kevin Donnelly and Matt Alcosiba. · Our Route Van Drivers and their shotgun passengers: Yusuke Matsuda, Jocelyn Kimura, Curtis Jackson, and Byron Riddle. · Our Volunteer Trolley coordinator, Karen Fowler. · Our Video Team led by Valen Ahlo. · Our Event Photographer Travis Okimoto. |
Upcoming Events
|
HLTA in the News |
