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HLTA & Aloha Harvest Food Distribution  Aloha,
This morning, HLTA and Aloha Harvest partnered to distribute food bundles to the families of 700 tourism industry employees who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Made possible through funds raised by the #AlohaLater campaign, each bundle contained roughly 30 pounds of produce, several pounds of protein, a tray of eggs, a loaf of bread, various dry goods, a gallon of milk, and a carton of POG. I'd like to give a special shout out to Aloha Harvest, their executive director Phil Acosta, and the dozens of volunteers who showed up early this morning to staff the event at UH - West O'ahu. Today was the second of three planned food distributions on O'ahu, and I was uplifted by the positive attitudes and generosity of spirit displayed by all. While thousands of the men and women who comprise our local tourism sector continue to struggle, events like today make it clear not only that we are all in this together, but that by pulling together our community will eventually overcome this hardship. Please continue to care for yourself and your loved ones by wearing a mask, social distancing, and doing all that you can to flatten the curve. Mahalo, Mufi
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Homeless Repatriation ProgramAloha, On Sunday, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser ran a human interest piece that told the story of a homeless individual who was reunited with his family through a "tourism-funded repatriation program" that began back in 2014. Repatriation has been strongly recommended and supported by HLTA as another effective tool to utilize in our quest to combat homelessness, To date, non-profit groups on Maui, Kaua'i, and O'ahu have taken advantage of the program. The program, which requires homeless individuals to pay a portion of their airfare and be matched with a friend or family member who agrees to assist them, has been highly successful since its inception. To date, more than 700 homeless individuals have been reunited with their families or friends and sent home. Of these individuals, only 2% have returned to the islands in any capacity. HTA made possible through funding with the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawai'i to return the aforementioned individual back to his home. Tony Ruivivar Tony Ruivivar is pictured above receiving HLTA's Na Po'e Pa'ahana Legacy Award in 2017. Also pictured are Aston Waikiki Sunset GM Dean Nakasone, left, and Trump International Hotel Waikiki GM Scott Ingwers I was saddened to learn of Society of Seven leader Tony Ruivivar’s recent passing. I had been a huge fan ever since high school. SOS was one of the featured stars on the Waikiki strip back in the day. Thousands of locals and visitors would flock to the Outrigger to take in their show. Tony was a dear friend of my brother Nephi and I was fortunate to have SOS perform at many of my events in the past. The Legacy Award was the last big honor that the SOS received. HLTA Membership ScholarshipIt is the final week to submit your applications for the
HLTA Member Scholarship! As we have in years past, we will be awarding two $2,500 scholarships this year- one to the child of an Allied Member and one to the child of a Active Member. This scholarship is open to the children of HLTA members who graduated from high school in 2020 and have been accepted to a university, college, vocational, or technical school. The application can be downloaded at this link and is due no later than Friday, July 10 at 5:00 p.m. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call the HLTA offices at (808) 923-0407 at any time. Applications can be sent to jcaires@hawaiilodging.org. Mahalo, Mufi Happy July 4th! Aloha,
On this holiday weekend that is traditionally filled with food, fun, fireworks, and gatherings with our 'ohana and friends, I urge you to take every precaution against COVID-19. We have experienced a recent uptick in positive cases around our state, many of which could have been prevented by taking precautions to wear masks and social distance. So please, enjoy the holiday, visit with your friends, but remain vigilant as we continue to fight this pandemic here in Hawai'i. Remember: health and safety first... Mahalo, Mufi COVID-19 UpdateAloha, We are just a few days removed from Governor Ige's announcement that trans-Pacific travel will be restored on August 1. Properties around the state are currently weighing the various pros and cons of reopening in just over a month. Others are hurrying to prepare their properties and train their staffs for the new normal. On the HLTA front, I have been as active as possible in the media sharing the precautions that our industry is taking to protect visitors and our brothers and sisters who comprise our local workforce. Please see the links below. "Will Hawaii’s new reopening plan be enough to lure back wary tourists?," Los Angeles Times, June 25, 2020 "Hotel industry gears up for lift of trans-Pacific travel restrictions," KHON2, June 25, 2020 "Officials say marketing Hawaii to tourists will probably be different," KHON2, June 25, 2020 "Testing ramps up, but reopening Hawaii still proves challenging," KITV4, June 27, 2020 Commercial Rent Survey Island Business Management, LLC is conducting a survey to analyze the effects that COVID-19 has had on commercial rental properties. For more details, please see the letter from IBM Hawai'i President Ryan Tanaka which I have reproduced below. Aloha, Please continue to watch over yourself, your 'ohana, and your staff. If I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at any time.
Mahalo, Mufi Gov. Ige AnnouncementAloha,This afternoon, Governor David Ige officially announced that, beginning on August 1, travelers who have been tested and confirmed negative for COVID-19 will be allowed to travel to Hawai'i without being subjected to the mandatory 14-day quarantine which will remain in effect for the time being. The following press release was issued by HLTA immediately following Gov. Ige's press conference: HLTA President & CEO Mufi Hannemann I have continually pushed for our local leaders to provide us with a clear timetable for reopening that would allow local hotel operations to put necessary plans into place to protect both our visitors and our local hospitality workers. To say that I am pleased that Gov. Ige has finally provided this to us would be an understatement. As we are all aware, this is just the beginning of our recovery. The hard work begins now. We have a difficult road ahead, but I am certain that we can navigate this time of recovery if we continue to work together.
If you have any questions about today's announcement, please do not hesitate to contact me or my staff at any time. Mahalo, Mufi Senator Breene Harimoto Aloha, Last night, Hawai‘i lost one of its hardest working and most compassionate servant leaders in Senator Breene Harimoto, who I have known and worked with as a City Councilman for more than 25 years. As a man of faith, my friend Breene epitomized what it means to live a life of service in one’s community. His door was always open, and I will treasure our conversations on how to make our community a better place. My deepest condolences and prayers to Cheryl and the Harimoto ‘ohana during this difficult time. It is worth noting that Senator Harimoto was among our industry's most ardent champions at the Legislature. When the GET and TAT were being discussed, he differed from the majority of his colleagues by voting against using the TAT as a funding mechanism for rail. Hanauma Bay The Honolulu City Council is currently considering Bill 44 (2020), CD1 which will increase nonresident entrance fees and parking fees as well as establish an entrance fee for licensed motor carriers at the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve. Reviewing this bill reminded me of the work that my colleagues and I on the City Council did back in the 90's to establish the regulations needed to effectively manage the impact that tourism was having on a treasured natural resource like Hanauma Bay. It also serves as an example as we start re-opening our doors safely to travelers that branding Hawai'i as a sustainable and resilient place to visit is the type of thing that we need to engage in on behalf of our residents and visitors. By the late 1980's Hanauma Bay was on the brink of ecological disaster. The park averaged roughly 3 million visitors per year and the stress being placed on the coral reefs and resident wildlife was immense. Drastic changes were necessary and there was no shortage of ideas. Then-Mayor Jeremy Harris initially proposed limiting access to the bay by instituting an entry fee for all park users. While this seemed like a step in the right direction, I personally felt that the Council had an opportunity to not only save the bay but also protect it for the next generation as well. In addition to an entry fee for nonresidents, I proposed the following:
These policies were enacted in 1995 and have made it possible for the bay to enjoy relatively stable health for the past 25 years. However, it is imperative that City officials keep close watch over this resource. Lax oversight and complacency have allowed sections of the park's facilities to fall into disrepair in the past and have left park users where, exactly, their fees are being applied. By keeping the reserve, the education center, and all park facilities in excellent working order, we can continue to share this amazing natural resource with visitors and residents alike. Honolulu Live Music BanEarlier this week, Mayor Caldwell announced that, pursuant to Emergency Order No. 2020-15, live music would be banned at indoor restaurants and bars for the time being. Earlier today, I issued a statement urging the mayor to reconsider this action. My statement noted that Honolulu has such a variety of eating and drinking establishments that could be safely utilized by performers that it would be unwise to issue a blanket ban on this facet of our industry. Many of Hawai'i's regular performers rely on regular gigs as their main source of income. They have already been hurt by the COVID-19 epidemic and continuing to make it difficult for them to earn a living is unnecessary. HLTA Member Scholarships Mufi is pictured above with 2019 HLTA Member Scholarship Active Member Recipient Abigail Yagi. Abigail's mother, Pam, is the general manager of Hilton Grand Vacations Club The Hawai'i Lodging & Tourism Association and the Hawai'i Hotel Industry Foundation are pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for the HLTA Member Scholarship. As we have in years past, we will be awarding two $2,500 scholarships this year- one to the child of an Allied Member and one to the child of a ActiveMember.
This scholarship is open to the children of HLTA members who graduated from high school in 2020 and have been accepted to a university, college, vocational, or technical school. The application can be downloaded at this link and is due no later than Friday, July 10 at 5:00 p.m. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call the HLTA offices at (808) 923-0407 at any time. Applications can be sent to jcaires@hawaiilodging.org. Mahalo, Mufi COVID-19 UpdateAloha, A couple days ago, during a televised meeting with Hawai'i's county mayors, Governor Ige stated the 14-day quarantine will extend beyond June 30, the previously announced sunset date for this policy. However, Gov. Ige did not announce the date to which the quarantine period would be extended. As I have said constantly, our industry needs better communication from our leaders. The continued ambiguity is not only causing anxiety for our entire industry, but also making it far more difficult for stakeholders to make the necessary preparations for reopening. We will continue to urge our local elected officials to communicate clear reopening timelines and benchmarks. Continuing down this path is clearly unsustainable and we must pivot toward our recovery as soon as possible. An article that recently ran in Civil Beat echoed these sentiments and drilled down into the implications of keeping the tourism industry shuttered. While the general public may think that hotels are saving money by suspending operations, we know that this is not the case. “The public and the government leaders have no idea,” said Mufi Hannemann, a former Honolulu mayor who is now president and chief executive of the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association. “You look at a hotel that’s shuttered, they think we’re saving money — we’re not.” Moreover, the effects of a prolonged shutdown will undoubtedly affect numerous business sectors and industries in Hawai'i. The downturn will not be relegated just to tourism. Everything from agriculture, textile services, security, the service industry, and even the government will be negatively impacted if the lodging industry does not begin the recovery process soon. And it’s more than just jobs at stake, Hannemann said. It should be noted, however, that Gov. Ige did also report that he has been working closely with the four mayors to establish a plan to reopen interisland travel and that an announcement can be expected in the next several days. This is welcome news as HLTA has continued to advocate for the interisland quarantine policy to be lifted as soon as possible. "Hawaii senators support effort for ‘travel bubble’ agreement with Japan," Honolulu Star-Advertiser, May 28, 2020 Successfully managing any organization, or industry, through a crisis often comes down to sussing out creative solutions to new problems. HLTA Member Central Pacific Bank's Chairman & CEO Paul Yonamine and the Hawaii Executive Collaborative received "preliminary blessing" from state lawmakers while proposing a pilot "travel-safety bubble" between Hawai'i and Japan to the Senate Special Committee on COVID-19. These are the kinds of ideas and creative thinking that we must continue to rely upon as we seek out new ways to both keep our home safe and restore our economy. Kaulana PakeleI was heartbroken to learn of the unexpected passing of Kaulana Pakele, longtime lead vocalist for Mana'o Company. He was a gifted performer who was blessed with a versatile voice that helped to solidify Mana'o Company as one of Hawai'i's favorite Jawaiian bands. My heart goes out to the Pakele 'ohana, Kaulana's Mana'o Company family, and all those who were touched by Kaulana's music. KZOO  Mahalo to KZOO for inviting me to discuss the current state of tourism in Hawai'i. The interview was live-streamed in Japan. Special shoutout to Hula Grill for hosting us and letting us use their amazing view as the backdrop. Mahalo,
Mufi Happy Memorial Day!Aloha all, The Memorial Day weekend is set to begin. Although this year will be markedly different from those in the past, it remains an opportunity to honor the American military personnel who have laid down their lives while serving our country. Please have a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable weekend with your families. #AlohaLaterDonations have continued to roll in for our #AlohaLater campaign. These will ultimately be used to support the thousands of our brothers and sisters in the tourism industry who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. HLTA is pleased to announce that the #AlohaLater benefit concert, which originally aired on KHON2 and feautred appearances from Chris Berman, Terry Crews, Jason Mraz, Tua Tagovailoa, Raiatea Helm, Keali'i Reichel, Kapena, Jake Shimabukuro, and many more will be airing in markets on the west coast this weekend. Please share the information below with your family or friends who may be living in Las Vegas, Fresno, or San Francisco. The more people we reach, the more we will be able to help. For more information on this campaign, please head on over to AlohaLater.org. 
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2270 Kalakaua Ave, Suite 1702 | Honolulu, HI 96815 Phone: (808) 923-0407 | info@hawaiilodging.org |
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