Each year, county officials, business community members, lobbyists, non-profits, and residents participate in the Hawaii State Association of Counties (HSAC) annual conference. This year’s 4-day meeting was hosted by the members of Maui’s County Council under the leadership of Council Chair Kelly King.  The meeting convened at the beautiful Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa where hundreds gathered for educational seminars and networking opportunities.

During the planning phase of this year’s conference, Council Chair King invited me to participate as the Keynote speaker on the topic of sustainable tourism.  As many of you know, I have been a perpetual advocate of managing tourism better, and for those of you who are avid readers of our newsletter or Midweek columns you would know that I have spoken on this topic to several different audiences through the years . I graciously accepted the invitation as this hot topic is not only timely but needs to be better understood by leaders in our State.

During my speech this past Monday, I touched on the many facets of sustainable tourism and why it is in some areas a controversial topic discussion in our islands and across the globe.

I started my presentation by outlining the current status of tourism - both locally and worldwide. As we near the 10 million annual visitor mark in Hawaii, the United Nations World Tourism Barometer has clocked global international travelers at 1.4 billion this past year.  I have said time and time again that tourism has become a victim of its own success.  With many locales experiencing a rapid influx of travelers, many have generated a new buzzword to describe this phenomenon, calling it “over-tourism.” 

This has led a number of destinations to incorporate new rules, regulations, and remedies to deter, or limit, the saturation of new tourists.  We have witnessed countries, cities, and towns turn to rather draconian measures to address the issue.  Such is the case with Boracay island in the Philippines, where the President issued a six-month closure of the island to allow for environmental rejuvenation.  That is an extreme example, but a reminder that we all need to be at the table when discussing the issue of “over-tourism”, if not the industry will simply be dictated to by those who are not familiar with the potential repercussions this would have on our economy and reputation.  

On that note, it has been my long-held personal belief that we need quality tourism rather than quantity tourism; I have said that the key is to allocate more time, attention, focus and resources to managing tourism better.

During my address, I highlighted my five-point plan, which I have maintained over my 25-year tenure in tourism.  I have developed and advocated these key points during my time as the Director of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, to my service as a Honolulu Councilmember, as the former Mayor of Honolulu, and currently as the President & CEO of the state’s largest private sector visitor industry organization.    

They are: 

1.         Marketing
2.         Lift capacity
3.         Priority on public safety
4.         Nurture & share the Aloha Spirit
5.         Protect our natural resources, maintain infrastructure, and upgrade our attraction. 

Given the county government attendees, I focused on my past county-level experiences, sharing solutions I incorporated for the preservation of Hanauma Bay and Waimea Valley, ensuring the safety of our residents and first responders through the closure of Haiku Stairs, and the solutions I came up with to remedy the tragic Ala Wai Canal sewage spill I faced during my first mayoral term.

There are decided challenges to managing tourism.  When I assess the place of tourism in our economy and in our community, I see several recurring concerns emerge from critics that:  tourism doesn’t do enough to give back, that there’s no commitment to the future of Hawaii because hotel ownership is largely hedge fund investors and offshore companies, and that there are too many tourists.

To address these complaints, it is vital that the industry is proactive in demonstrating how good it has been for Hawaii as the number one provider of jobs; and that it is critically important that tourism stakeholders are involved in discussions on managing tourism in each county.

One such case where the industry and community can mutually benefit, is through the regulation of illegal transient vacation rentals.  The TVR market has reached an uncontrollable tipping point affecting affordable housing options and deteriorating the quality of life in our neighborhoods.  It has been refreshing to see all local government bodies progressively working towards solutions to this overgrown problem, but we need to take a bolder stance in containing it.  Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island, all have enforcement tools established, and Honolulu is about to follow up with the strictest set of rules yet (see following section for TVR update).

Additionally, I highlighted the synergistic relationship between the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, and the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau.  It has been a breath of fresh air, that the new Hawaii Tourism Authority President, Chris Tatum, is a staunch believer and advocate of managing tourism better.  His many years as a top executive in the visitor industry has enabled him to understand the need for tourism to engage the local community in all our pursuits and endeavors.

Through our partnership we have been able to successfully enhance the community engagement benefits through the upcoming LA Rams and Dallas Cowboys game, the past Lotte Golf Championship, the Young Entrepreneurs program established by the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival, and the inauguration of the Ho’oilina Scholarship.  HTA marketing dollars were shifted to award full-ride scholarships to 10 high school seniors studying tourism at a local university.

I wrapped up my presentation by covering the importance of pubic safety, the upkeep of our infrastructure, and the importance of establishing tourism strategic plans which Maui and Kauai have already done.

My final remarks spoke to the importance of diversifying within tourism, not beyond tourism.  At the end of the day tourism is our core-competence, and it is what we do best.  Therefore, we must take what we are noted for by residents and visitors, and strengthen our image as a wonderful place to live, vacation, and do business.  If we do that then we can use tourism to strengthen our appeal and advantages in health, agriculture and culinary arts, sports, arts and culture, and education.  This in turn will help us generate more quality jobs, and ultimately create a sustainable tourism industry and island home.
​
My presentation was covered in The Maui News article “Hotel official: Time to ‘diversify tourism’.  Click here to read it.

​HYPE Network Like A Boss, 2.0
On Thursday, June 20th, please join our HYPE (Hospitality’s Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs) for Network Like A Boss, 2.0.  Back by popular demand, this is sure to be an interactive and engaging evening with a powerhouse panel.  
 
The four panelists will be: Jan Kaeo, Dale Carnegie Training - Hawai'i and Guam; Ben Rafter, OLS Hotels & Resorts CEO; Daniel Chun, Alaska Airlines Director of Sales, Community & Public Relations for Hawai'i; and Ku’uhaku Park, Matson Vice President of Government and Community Relations. 
 
Reprising her role as moderator for this #LikeABoss seminar will be former HYPE Active Chair and current Director of Sales and Marketing for the Residence Inn by Marriott Kapolei, Kelly Kitashima. 
 
To register for this educational event, hosted at the Queen Kapiolani Hotel and generously sponsored by Matson, please click here. 

Oahu Chapter Talk & Tour
The evening of Thursday, June 27th will be the HLTA Oahu Chapter’s Talk and Tour of the newly-renovated Waikiki Beachcomber by Outrigger.  
 
For just $30 per person, please join our Oahu Chapter as we enjoy pupus and a drink at Maui Brewing Co., including valet parking, generously hosted by General Manager Ike Cockett (please note, parking is valet only). 
 
You may recall that I attended their opening celebration about a month ago, and I can personally attest that it is a great venue, with great ambience.  We as HLTA have also been lucky enough to utilize one of their beautiful new meeting rooms, and I hope that you’ll register with our Oahu Chapter here to see the latest new property on Kalakaua Ave with HLTA on the 27th! 

In advance of the Los Angeles Rams - Dallas Cowboys preseason game on August 17th, Rams star Safety John Johnson III, Rams legend, and former University of Hawaii Warrior, Pisa Tinoisamoa, and the Rams cheerleaders will be visiting Oahu this weekend.  My staff and I have been working hard on this exciting sports tourism event, in partnership with the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau.

Starting this morning at Farrington High School, Pisa Tinoisamoa and the Rams will be donating football cleats worn by Rams players to student-athletes.  The “Cleats for Character” program led by Pisa will involve a discussion about the merits of good character, the importance of goal-setting, and the transferrable life skills that can be attained through teamwork.

This afternoon, will include a media opportunity for Pisa and Johnson to sign autographs and take photos with fans.
The 7-on-7 Passing and Big Man Championships will be on Saturday, as they feature 300 students from the eight top high school teams during the 2018-19 football season.  Each county will be represented on the field, as schools from Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii Island have been flown in to join our Oahu teams. 

Saturday will also be the LA Rams Cheer Camp, for 300 youth (K-12) who will be led in warm-up and stretching routines, as well as a choreographed dance.  Following the session, the Cheerleaders will also perform for the attendees.

The Rams-Cowboys preseason match-up on Saturday, August 17th will be the first NFL exhibition game played at Aloha Stadium since 1976.  During the week leading up to the game, the Rams will bring their PLAY 60 Military Base Tour to the islands, host active service members and veterans to a team practice, visit schools, hold additional football and cheer clinics, and attend community events. 
​
For questions about this weekend or other Rams efforts, please feel free to contact my Senior Director of Operations, Edgar Palafox at epalafox@hawaiilodging.org.

 
Media Coverage: 
LA Rams community events, KHON2 Wake Up 2day 
LA Rams will host football and cheerleading clinics, KHON2 ​

Last week Friday, the Honolulu Committee on Zoning, Planning, and Housing convened a special hearing on transient vacation rental measure’s Bill 89 (2018) and Bill 85 (2018).  Both opponents and proponents of the measures, once again, occupied the second floor of Honolulu Hale as the discussion of regulating TVRs in the City & County of Honolulu reconvened.  The special committee hearing followed the Full Council’s May 8th decision, which recommitted the bills back to their subject matter committee for further discussion.

I was joined at the table by State Senator Sharon Moriwaki, who represents the Waikiki district, in advocating for the measures before the committee, and more importantly urging decisive action by the Council.  I spoke to HLTA, HTA, and WIA’s support of Bill 89 (2018) CD2, which would limit whole-home TVRs to the zones they are currently legal in (hotel, resort, mixed use resort in the Waikiki Special District), and would allow for a very controlled expansion of owner/manager-occupied Bed & Breakfast units.  I reiterated the point that communities are continuously being affected by the proliferation of these illegal short-term rentals and that the “longer you delay, the more we will have to pay.”  The other counties are all moving forward with tangible solutions to the TVR quandary, and it is time for Honolulu to follow suit. 
To the Council's credit, they took the Mayor’s bill and transformed and strengthened it into what will be the strictest set of guidelines across the State.  I closed my testimony by stating that if the Honolulu City Council is able to move out meaningful legislation, it can serve as a template for all the other counties to utilize.

Senator Moriwaki followed my lead in her testimony and spoke of the impact that illegal TVRs have on the tourism industry, our State’s number one economic driver. She additionally claimed that we are the only sun belt state losing population because there are no affordable housing options. Also, with the average visitor daily spending declining, it is evident that our tourism industry, and the economy, are being affected. 
With testimonies taking the committee well into the evening, the votes were cast as both Bill 89 (2018) and Bill 85 (2018) were passed out of Committee, unanimously with the CD2 drafts proposed by Councilmembers Menor and Manahan.  The bills are now slated for a special Full Council hearing on Monday, June 17, at 10 am at Honolulu Hale.  This will be the second time both measures will be up for third, and final, reading and we encourage our industry members to come out to support the passage of Bill 89 (2018) CD2. We are poised to cross the goal line! 

To view the special hearing agenda, click here, to sign up to testify, click here.

During her testimony at the City Council, Senator Moriwaki, also made mention of the bill now before the Governor, SB 1292.  She stated that during the heated debate that ensued during the 11th hour of the State Legislative Session, 13 of the 25 Senators felt that zoning enforcement should be left up to the counties, while the State focuses on the tax collection component.

A few weeks ago, I met with Governor Ige on Senate Bill 1292, accompanied by HLTA Chairperson Glenn Vergara, and HLTA Chairperson-elect Michael Jokovich.  We laid out the hospitality industry’s concerns with the transient vacation rental tax collection measure sitting before him.  In regard to the measure, Governor Ige assured us that he would be speaking with his administration, as well as county officials, to see whether or not the measure would affect their ability to enforce applicable zoning laws, penalties, and tax collection.  He shared similar concerns with the visitor industry, as the bill is comparable to the measure that he vetoed back in 2016, HB1850.  With just under two weeks left for him to make his decision on placing the measure on his “intent to veto” list, and with the timing of Honolulu’s final decision on Bills 89 (2018) and 85 (2018), we issued a letter to the Governor urging his veto of SB 1292. 
​
To read HLTA’s letter to Governor Ige, click here. ​

The highly anticipated Hawaii Hotel & Restaurant Show is almost here and will be unveiled next week Wednesday and Thursday at the Hawaii Convention Center.  We are excited to showcase how diligently HLTA, HRA and Star Events have been working to bring you a first-class show to the islands.
 
The HHRS has a lineup of 300 vendors exhibiting a wide variety of goods and services vital to the success of our industry, all under one roof.  The expo will also include seminars and workshops on topics that are trending within the hospitality industry.  Our very own Engineers Advisory Council (EAC) will be holding their meeting at the trade show.  This month's EAC breakfast is sponsored by Assa Abloy, who will be discussing RFID guest-entry solutions and security.  For more information, please contact Jessica of my staff at jcaires@hawaiilodging.org.  

The Women in Lodging & Tourism Council has put together an informative workshop on how to keep their business relevant in an ever-evolving industry.  Click here to register for the WIL workshop, Embracing Radical Innovation, sponsored by AMERESCO.

If you have not yet registered for the HHRS, please click HERE.  We look forward to seeing you there. 

On the evening of May 29th, there will be a Pau Hana Reception in the lobby of the Convention Center, to benefit the Hawaii Hotel Industry Foundation and the Hawaii Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. Proceeds generated from ticket sales and auctions will go toward scholarships for students pursuing careers in tourism and culinary arts. 

Please join us Wednesday night for a chance to bid on incredible auction items that include: a “ Anywhere In The World” that Alaska Airlines flies for two or a deluxe “California Dreamin' travel package comprising of: a stay at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown, dinner for two at Wolfgang Puck’s Bar & Grill at the LA Staples Center, four tickets to watch  LeBron and the Lakers play, and four tickets to see Carrie Underwood perform! To register for the Pau Hana Reception, click HERE. ​

​In the spirit of graduation season, I would like to acknowledge some outstanding students: our Ho‘oilina scholarship recipients, our Ho‘okipa scholarship recipients, and our HLTA Member Scholarship recipients – congratulations to you all!
 
This inaugural class of Ho‘oilina Scholarship Awardees were recognized at a luncheon last Sunday, with myself, HTA President & CEO Chris Tatum, HLTA Chairperson Glenn Vergara, as well as faculty, parents, and members of the selection committee.
 
These ten recipients are the first to ever receive these full-ride scholarships of $12,000 per year for four years, and were made available to any Hawaii public high school student pursuing a degree in hospitality, tourism, or the culinary arts at either Brigham Young University – Hawaii, Hawai‘i Pacific University, or the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s School of Travel Industry Management (TIM). 
 
Kari-Ann Akasaki – Pearl City High School
Athletic honor student Kari- Ann has excelled in a number of extra-curricular activities, including receiving awards for playing the trombone in Pearl City’s outstanding marching band and as a member of the swimming and track teams. She also prioritizes her church activities and makes time for community events. As a tourism executive, she wants to give her focus to spotlighting “cultural awareness,” ensuring that visitors appreciate and respect Hawai‘i’s multi-cultural society and “customer service,” emphasizing treating our guests in a friendly, efficient, and attentive way thereby making them feel very much at home.
 
Kailee Chun – Kalani High School
Kailee’s goal is to open a cafe/bakery one day that will reflect the family culture here in Hawai‘i. Her plan is to support other small businesses by embracing the “Buy Local” product mantra. She is picking up valuable culinary experience as an employee at Arancino‘s at the Kahala Hotel & Resort, as well as at Crepes No Ka Oi. She is an active member of DECA, and excels in the business courses she has taken as a Falcon, so it is no surprise that she will be pursuing a dual major in both TIM and Marketing.
 
Keslyn Higa – ‘Aiea High School
Keslyn is ranked first in her graduating class academically, with a GPA of 4.042. Given her strong interest in marketing, she hopes to parlay this interest in unique ways to help contribute to the industry, as well as promote the aloha spirit in all of her professional endeavors. She is heavily involved in numerous activities at ‘Aiea High School, including the Red Cross and photography clubs, Bands and Wind Ensemble, and contributed over 100 hours of community service.
 
Janisse Precious Ibana – Waipahu High School
Janisse is an involved member of the Marauders highly-acclaimed Academy of Hospitality and Tourism, Accounting and Economics. She has been actively engaged in student government, the student-operated Credit Union, and DECA.  She also has a strong passion for the arts, fashion, music and cooking.  While majoring in Hospitality and Tourism at Hawai‘i Pacific University in the fall, Janisse also aspires to take courses in International Business. She has previously interned at Atlantis Submarines and worked at Zippy’s.
 
Taylor Ledgerwood – Kaiser High School
Besides having a strong interest in tourism, Taylor is passionate about the fields of law and the environment and hopes to combine all of these interest in her professional career. She works as a host and server at the Honolulu Elks Lodge, and has already interned at a prominent Honolulu law firm. She has excelled in numerous Cougar activities, including being active in leadership for the Cougars paddling and cheer teams.  She has also been involved in clubs from to cooking to the environment, which included serving as the advisor to the Ka Iwi Coast Youth.
 
Sarah Lorenzo – Kaiser High School
Sarah is the consummate scholar- athlete as a member of the National Honor Society, compiling numerous academic honors and being named the OIA Player of the Year in Water Polo by virtue of her role with the Cougars championship team. Her community volunteer activities include the blood drive, algae cleanups, eyeglass cleaning and the Visitor Industry Charity Walk. Sarah recognizes the tourism industry as one of the strongest in Hawaii and as a native Hawaiian, aspires to become a hospitality executive who will “share the uniqueness of Hawai‘i and our culture to help create joyful experiences.”
 
Macy Luke – Moanalua High School
Inspired by her mother’s outstanding cooking, Macy developed an early interest in culinary arts as her potential career. She now wants to blend that with her passionate belief in all that makes growing up in Hawai‘i special - family, love, respect, humility and loyalty - as the basis of her successful career in tourism.  Macy is an honor roll student, who has an excellent record of accomplishment in several student activities, including events committees, Orchestra and Band, Korean and Science clubs. She also been a teaching assistant for Kalihi Union Church Preschool, as well as volunteered with couple of elementary school’s fun fairs in her district.
 
Emily Quach – Moanalua High School
Out of a senior class of 439 students, Emily is at the top of the heap with a GPA of 4.039. She has done exceptionally well in numerous school and community endeavors ranging from athletics to health to music and volunteers at the Waikiki Aquarium.  From a young age she has traveled to a number of states, Canada and Japan. As part of her goal as a future tourism leader, this Na Menehune graduate hopes to bring “world peace and harmony as we steer the rough waters of the 21st Century.”  She hopes to bring everyone together by “encouraging people to embrace each other’s similarities and differences” which is what Hawai‘i is all about.
 
Rhema Wong – Kaiser High School
Rhema is wasting no time acquiring valuable experience in the restaurant business, toiling at the popular Gyotaku Restaurant in Aina Haina, and as a past employee of Gokoku Sushi and Subway. This honor roll student is a tireless volunteer on the Cougar campus and community, especially with the L.E.A.P. club, an environmentally friendly organization dedicated to promoting a healthier planet. She feels it is her “kuleana” to incorporate her affinity and passion for preserving and enhancing the environment and beauty of her home, Hawai‘i, into her hospitality career.
 
Fanglin Xu – Moanalua High School
Fanglin has worked hard to earn an overall GPA of 3.967 while balancing her schedule to accommodate her other school activities, such as the Leo Club, DECA, ROTC and managing the school store. Fluent in 3 languages (English, Chinese and Japanese), Fanglin stands to be very much in demand in the tourism industry and international business community. She envisions herself assisting, educating and inspiring international visitors to Hawai‘i from these key Asian countries, as she has already discovered her enthusiasm for translation and cultural exchange. 

​At the second annual  aio Media Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Awards earlier this year, we awarded Dr. Chuck Gee, Dean Emeritus of the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Travel Industry Management with our inaugural "Legacy Award." I recommended that we recognize him for his extraordinary efforts in service and contributions to the hospitality industry, and Hawaii. 

Though Chuck had been the recipient of many other  tourism accolades - from the PATA Gallery of Legends induction, to his Lifetime Achievement Award from the President of Taiwan, and many more, we wanted to acknowledge his outstanding contributions to Hawaii's tourism industry. 

I had the distinct pleasure to know and learn from Chuck for many years; in fact, I met him during my tenure as state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism Director and continued to work with him during my service as Mayor and in my current position at HLTA.  Not only was he the longest-serving Dean of the TIM School, but he was an exemplary mentor, educator, and friend.  He exuded aloha, and was a great ambassador during his travels abroad.  He had such dreams for Hawaii, and we have him to thank for all that we have achieved in terms of recognition as a worldwide tourism destination.  

Gee’s Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, June 25 at the Sheraton Waikīkī Kauaʻi Ballroom. Visitation will be from 4 to 5:30 p.m. with the service starting at 5:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the university. Messages may sent via the Diamond Head Mortuary and Williams Funeral Services.

I have always believed that great things can transpire when different sectors of the community rally together behind worthwhile causes.  One such example of this success is visible through the amazing strides being made by Hawai’i’s Youth Impact Program.  The Youth Impact Program, or YIP for short, is an educational leadership program which connects the University of Hawai‘i’s athletic department and their student athletes, the United States Army, and the United States Marines, with 100 local at-risk youth.  Trust, relationship-building, and experience-based learning occur over a two-week program which includes 60 total classroom hours and two hours a day of physical and athletic development.       
 
As this national program heads into its third year in Hawaii, Program Founder and former NFL standout, Riki Ellison, in partnership with local celebrity chef Roy Yamaguchi, has once again brought the local businesses community together to contribute to its efforts.  As one of the founding sponsors, we are proud to once again offer the support of the Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association to this proven program.
 
The third iteration of YIP was launched this past Monday at none other than Roy’s Eating House 1849 at the International Marketplace in Waikiki.  I was joined by state legislators Senate President Ron Kouchi, Kaua‘i Representative James Tokioka, and Waipahu Representative Ty Cullen to offer words of encouragement, gratitude, and insight to those in attendance.  HLTA members First Hawaiian Bank, Roberts Hawaii, The Kahala Hotel and Resort, The Royal Hawaiian Hotel and Roy’s were also acknowledged for their sponsorship. 
 
Their partnerships provide the students with daily meals, transportation to and from UH, football uniforms, equipment, and school supplies at no cost to the families. Kids will come from areas  like Kalihi, Waipahu, Ewa Beach, and the Waianae Coast. We look forward to another successful session! 

​This past Saturday marked the finale of the 41st Annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk as over 7,000 participants took to the streets of Waikiki to raise money for local nonprofits on Oahu.  However, this May 18th didn’t just mark the close of our annual event, but also signified the beginning of a new tradition, as hundreds of walkers traversed Ala Moana Beach Park’s Magic Island in the first ever Hawai‘i’s 1K Slippah Walk, a benefit for the Wounded Warrior Ohana.

As we concluded the Charity Walk festivities at Magic Island, I was proud to announce that the current combined statewide total (Lanai, Molokai, Hawaii Island, Kauai, Maui, and now Oahu) has reached an impressive $2.5 million thus far!

This remarkable feat would not have been possible without the amazing support of our generous members.  Over the past 5 months, tourism partners from across the state have been hard at work raising thousands of dollars within each of their companies to help benefit local nonprofits in each of their respective communities.  

While monies are still being accepted until May 31st, Oahu for instance is expected to total over $500,000, please submit those last-minute donations as soon as possible, so that we can proceed with the grant allocations process.  Last year, the Visitor Industry Charity Walk raised a grand total of $2.6 million statewide and awarded funds to over 350 nonprofits.  It’s our hope to not only do so again, but to exceed our previous records.  If you have not yet made a charitable contribution, please support our efforts and give here:  Lanai - Hawaii Island - Kauai - Maui -  Molokai - Oahu.
 
I would like to extend a heartfelt mahalo for the yeoman work put forth by HLTA’s Chairperson Glenn Vergara, who has undertaken the role of Statewide Charity Walk Chair for the second year in a row now.  His passion for the Charity Walk is second to none, and his leadership by example cannot be overstated.  

For Maui County (Lanai, Maui, Molokai): my sincere thanks to MHLA’s Lisa Paulson, Christine Christensen, and Maui County Chair, Tets Yamazaki. They have been able to successfully top the million dollar mark yet again, with a total of $1.2 million raised; congratulations on another stellar year.  

To the Hawaii Island Team: you exceeded your goal of $335,000 with a Walk Day total of $338,000 - that is fantastic.  Congratulations to Charity Walk Chair, Steve Yannarell, Hawaii Island Chapter Chair Craig Anderson, and Bambi Lau for setting a new Hawaii Island record.  

As for Kauai - this was an exceptional year.  Congratulations to Charity Walk co-chairs Chip Bahouth and Jacob Vogelgesang, as well as HLTA Kauai Executive Director Morgan Lopez for exceeding their goal of $435,000 and setting an unprecedented county record of $442,000 raised. 

On Oahu with over 7,000 walkers and volunteers over a 5-mile loop, there are a lot of people to thank.  

First, our checkpoint sponsors: 
Alaska Airlines
Securitas
Ala Moana Hotel
DoubleTree by Hilton Alana/Hawaii Convention Center
The Kahala Hotel & Resort 
Duty Free Stores
‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
Waikiki Resort Hotel 
Royal Hawaiian Center
Outrigger Hospitality Group
Halekulani & Halepuna Waikiki
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa 
Prince Waikiki
Enterprise, Alamo, and National Car Rental 
Aqua-Aston Hospitality 

Our Breakfast Host, the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa, and our lunch and logistics partner, Kyo-ya Hotels and Resorts. 
To our Media partners, Salem Media Group Hawaii and Hawaii News Now: thank you so much for all that you do, helping us to promote a better, healthier Hawaii- truly outstanding! Special mention to KITV for promoting the Slippah Walk.

Mahalo to our Emcees: Bulla Eastman (Salem Media), and Ashley Nagaoka (Hawaii News Now)   and Robert Kekaula ( KITV) for the Slippah Walk. 

Mahalo to the Honolulu Police Department, the Honolulu Parks & Recreation Team, Honolulu Department of Transportation Street Use Division, GP Roadways, HHVISA, our route van drivers, E Noa Tours, and to all our course marshal volunteers for keeping our participants safe during our event.  

Thank you to Brookefield Properties and the Ala Moana Shopping Center for generously providing our Walkers with parking. 
To our new contributor, Menehune Water: thank you for your wonderful donation, and enabling us to be a single-use plastic water bottle-free Walk!  Also, thank you to Kokua Hawaii Foundation for providing water filtration dispensers within Magic Island for our participants. 

Thank you to Project HiEHiE for providing additional restroom facilities.  

And last, but certainly not least, mahalo to everyone who came out to walk with us as we continue our “tradition of giving.”  Remember, “We’re all in this together”, and I am already looking forward to Charity Walk 2020!

​Last week, the Honolulu Committee on Budget held a special meeting to deliberate real property tax measure Resolution 19-55, which aims at increasing the RPT rate for the hotel and resort classification.  In lieu of the hearing, I invited hotel stakeholders to join me in meeting with newly elected Waikiki Councilmember Tommy Waters, where we highlighted our many points of opposition to the proposed real property tax hike. As you know, interim Waikiki Councilmember Mike Formby staunchly opposed  any increase in the RPT.  Prior to Councilmember Waters' victory in the recent Honolulu special election, we had met with every member of the Honolulu City Council to express our concerns with the administration’s proposal.   

During the Committee on Budget’s special hearing, Mayor Caldwell made his way to the second floor of Honolulu Hale to lobby the councilmembers on reversing the current Budget Chair’s proposed increase of $0.50 per $1,000, back to his original proposal of $1.00 per $1,000.  He stated that we have an extremely strong visitor industry with no signs of weakening, pointing to the selling prices of current hotel transactions, and subsequently claimed that we can afford the increase.  He also reiterated his thoughts on how hotels are all owned by offshore investors who have CEO’s with extravagant salaries, and that the industry is making exorbitant amounts of money from resort fees.  Among his many pointed comments at the visitor industry, he also claimed that while he did acknowledge our annual Charity Walk, he slighted tourism stakeholders as a whole by stating the amount raised for the community through this statewide event is a mere fraction of the $18 billion that is Hawai‘i’s visitor industry, not taking into consideration the millions that are contributed annually in time, money, and in-kind contributions by our members.

 I would like to recognize and thank the industry leaders who came down to join me that day to offer testimony before the Budget Committee .  Mahalo to HLTA Chairman Glenn Vergara, Waikiki Improvement Association’s Rick Egged, and representing the Leeward Coast, Angela Nolan from the Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club.  However, despite our refute of the Mayor’s accusations that we as an industry can afford the increase, and despite the committee’s former stance on wanting to look at ways to further decrease the proposed RPT rate as there is fat in every budget and no cuts had been cited , and with no rational explanation or justification on why they were reversing their prior position to lower Caldwell’s proposed rate of a $1.00 to $.50, the councilmembers voted to go along with the Mayor’s proposal, bringing the discussion back to $13.90 per $1,000 for hotels and resorts.  The votes were three “ayes” by Committee Chair Manahan, and Councilmembers Elefante and Menor, “Reservations” by Councilmember Waters, and a single “No” vote by Councilmember Pine.

As we head into the final stretch of the City’s budget process, I ask that our members stay vigilant with me in opposing this egregious and unwarranted increase . The next Full City Council meeting will be held on June 5th at 10 am at Honolulu Hale, stay tuned for updates. 

​Summer is fast approaching, and that tends to be the busiest time of year for our islands. With the addition of new airlines and larger plane capacities, the Honolulu International Airport is anticipating a high volume of travelers bottlenecking through constrained checkpoints during peak departure timeframes.
 
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) held a meeting this week to apprise everyone on what to expect in the coming months as we begin to see an increase in travelers coming to Hawaii. As an industry, we can do our part to help inform our visitors on how to best prepare for their arrival and departure. 

As many of you know, it’s always best to arrive to the airport early: TSA is suggesting that travelers plan to arrive 3 hours prior to departure as TSA lines tend to get backed up. Due to hightened security measures, TSA officers may instruct travelers to separate items in carry-on bags such as foods, powders, or any other materials that can clutter bags and obstruct imaging on the X-ray machines. 

Please be sure to inform guests to keep their carry-on bags organized, to keep TSA lines moving efficiently. If we can all make it our responsibility to inform our visitors on how to best prepare for their visit to and from Hawaii, we can make it an altogether enjoyable experience from the time of their arrival through their departure. 

​As the Oahu Charity Walk gets closer and closer, I know that everyone’s efforts are in full gear.  The Oahu Chapter held their “Dine-Around” fundraiser on Tuesday evening.  Their sold out-event featured Momosan at the ‘Alohilani Resort, Seoul Jung at the Waikiki Resort Hotel, and wrapped up at SWIM Bar at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa.  Mahalo to Oahu Chapter’s Matt Grauso, Glenn Vergara, Bonnie Kiyabu, Earl Cachola & Jodi Uehara for their planning efforts.  A Dine-Around takes some serious coordination, and we appreciate your hard work for such a great cause.
 
Congratulations to Molokai and Lanai islands, who held their Charity Walks on May
4th.  Molokai brought in a total of $23,311: their top fundraiser were the Farmers of Molokai High and Middle School, which collected a noteworthy sum of $8,200.
 
Lanai raised an impressive $62,214, with the Lanai Cat Sanctuary once again claiming the top fundraiser spot with $37,510! 
 
It appears that cat lovers from around the country donated to the nonprofit.  They received hundreds of donations, sourced from far and wide: from Cupertino, California, to College Station, Texas, and even Buffalo, New York.  This is a perfect example of a non-profit organization who has successfully leveraged the full potential of our crowdfunding platform.
 
Try it: share your Charity Walk Team Page to your Facebook, leave it in your email signature, or post it to your Instagram.  You can also donate to any of the islands via the links below... 
 
My staff was present for the Walks on Hawaii Island, Kauai, and Maui Islands respectively this past Saturday and were totally overwhelmed and impressed! A bunch of heartfelt CONGRATULATIONS are in order:  
 
Congratulations to HLTA Hawaii Island Chapter Chair Craig Anderson and Charity Walk Chair Steve Yannarell who beat their goal of $325,000 – their total raised was $338,000! Last year, Hawaii Island raised $315,000 to benefit 61 charities.
 
Kauai Island set an ambitious goal of $435,000 – and exceeded their goal, as well! Through their efforts, including a “Slippah Drop,” they brought in a total of $442,404. Congratulations to HLTA Kauai Chapter Executive Director Morgan Lopez, and to Chip Bahouth, Kauai Charity Walk Co-Chair.  Happy Birthday and congratulations to Jacob Vogelgesang, our other Charity Walk Co-Chair, who I hope had a great birthday raising funds to support Kauai nonprofits!
 
Maui Island of course, continued its trend of raising over $1 million dollars, for their third year in a row: the Maui Island total was $1,123,209 ! Congratulations to Maui County Charity Walk Chair Tets Yamazaki, and MHLA Executive Director Lisa Paulson.
 
The after-Walk totals thus far  are:
Molokai: $23,311
Lanai:  $62,214
Maui: $1,123,209
Kauai:  $442,404
Hawaii Island: $338,000
 
Congratulations to all our neighbor island chapters and fundraisers – you have done a phenomenal job.
 
Now all that’s left is for Oahu to beat its record: be sure to register or donate now.  If you have not done so yet, register to participate in both our first-ever Hawaii’s 1K Slippah Walk, and Charity Walk – see you Saturday at Magic Island!

Click here  to watch Robert Kekaula talk about Hawaii's 1K Slippah Walk: 7am at Magic Island. Bring your slippahs and join us as we break the Guinness World Record for most walkers in slippahs - register here. ​

​This past Wednesday marked a busy day for the Honolulu City Council.  Waikiki Councilmember Tommy Waters attended his first council meeting while Windward Councilmember Ikaika Anderson was inaugurated as Council Chair.

Given the contentious issue of transient vacation rental regulations before the full council, Honolulu Hale was filled to the brim with opponents and proponents to Bill 89 (2018) and Bill 85 (2018), both taking a hard look at regulating the short-term rental market.
 
With both measures going up for their third and final reading, testimonies poured in: from residents, businesses, non-profit organizations, community leaders, and government officials alike -which took the discussion well into the evening.  I was joined by State Senator Kurt Fevella, in advocating for Bill 89, which would limit whole-home TVRs to the zones they are currently legal in (hotel, resort, mixed use resort in the Waikiki Special District), and would allow for a very controlled expansion of owner/manager-occupied Bed & Breakfast units. Also urging the Council to take action were two other State Senators - Sharon Moriwaki and  Laura Thielen and State Representative Sam Kong. 
 
During my testimony, I pointed to the fact that this is one of the few and rare occasions that business and labor have come together, because the issue of illegal TVRs has gotten out of control.  I made it clear that Honolulu needs to act now, and that we cannot afford to procrastinate and prolong decisive action. In our neighboring counties, great strides have been made to address the continuous TVR issue.  Last year in Maui County, for example, the situation was so dire that the local community voted to impose stricter fines on illegal TVRs.
 
After six hours of public testimony, the council broke for an executive session to discuss the many points brought up through the afternoon, including a number of floor amendments. A motion was made to recommit the measures back to the committee on zoning, planning, and housing for further deliberation. 
 
As the measures head back to committee, we will stay vigilant in our stance: the City needs to face this problem head on, as it has gotten way out of control.I remain optimistic that something positive will emerge eventually. 
 
On Tuesday May 14th, the Honolulu Committee on Budget will be holding a special hearing on budget measures, which includes the proposal to increase the real property tax rate for the hotel and resort classification through Resolution 19-55.  I would like to encourage all the Honolulu stakeholders, to remain resolute in our opposition to any increase to the RPT rate and make every effort to testify in person or submit testimony.  
 
Also in the realm of real property tax rates, I joined our Maui lodging members this past Friday to speak to their county council on the ramifications their proposed Hotel/Resort RPT increase would have on the visitor industry.  
 
The current Council proposal is to increase the hotel and resort class from $9.37 per $1,000 to $11.00 per $1,000, a staggering 17% increase.  Standing in opposition to the proposal was Maui's visitor industry, as they packed the auditorium festively attired in their Visitor Industry Charity Walk team shirts.
 
During my time at the podium, I respectfully asked the council to consider cutting as much "fat" off the budget before looking at revenue enhancement measures.  I stated that their new RPT proposal would certainly place an undue burden on the lodging industry as they already cover 42% of the County's total revenues from real property taxes.  I also brought up the fact that more visitor arrivals to our islands does not equate to more money, which has been a common misconception of the general public.  Of late, not only has our visitor spending been on the decline, but we are seeing more of our tourists staying at illegal transient vacation rentals. That last point resonated with several Councilmembers who stated  a willingness to me after the hearing  to work with our industry to enact stricter and stronger regulation on Maui. 
 
After a series of testifiers, the County Council ultimately voted on a resolution to pass the new real property tax rates with Councilmember Riki Hokama dissenting . It was interesting to note that several councilmembers expressed reservations with their votes but felt compelled to approve the budget due to the budget deadlines that had to be met. They also supported the idea of setting up a tax review committee to examine whether there was a need to overhaul their property tax rates. 

The measure now gets inserted into the County's budget where it will go through two public readings and eventually to the Mayor for his signature, or veto. 

​As you may have noticed by now, HLTA has been working very closely with the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority on several initiatives of late. For instance , I participated in one of the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival and Hawaii Agricultural Foundation’s newest initiative, the High School Entrepreneurship Program that began last week. Denise Yamaguchi of the HFWF has been in discussion with Chris Tatum and yours truly to foster this latest collaboration. 
 
This program seeks to work with public high school academies and career technical education (CTE) programs, to incorporate real-world business experiences into their educational curriculum.  The program stems from the HTA, the HFWF, and the Hawai‘i Ag Foundation, with a  focus primarily centered on culinary arts and agriculture.
 
The mission of the program will be to bring a business perspective to the classroom, incorporating key fundamentals from departments such as marketing, operations, and budgeting into the classroom learning experience.  The students will then get the opportunity to test these skills in the highly popular HFWH’s Keiki in the Kitchen, and the Made in Hawai‘i Market Place for Kids by Kids events.  Funding provided by the HTA will assist with statewide teacher training, development of a structured curriculum, and start-up funds for each class business. 
 
The program began with a teacher training session at the Department of Education’s OCIS offices in Kaimuki.  To help kick-off their efforts I attended as a guest speaker, and offered remarks on behalf of HTA and HLTA , to the many teachers who were representing high schools from across the state.  In tribute to this new- found partnership with the HFWF, and the Hawai‘i Ag Foundation, I spoke to the synergism that exists between the hospitality industry and the many different agricultural , food , business and marketing sectors it touches.  With programs such as the High School Entrepreneurship Program, we will continue to support growth in our tourism diversification efforts and the development of our State’s future leaders.

​On Tuesday, we celebrated 42 exemplary high school seniors from across the state as we lauded their accomplishments and community service at our 15th Annual Citizen-Scholar Awards. Over 200 students, family members, school officials, and HLTA Member sponsors gathered at the ‘Alohilani Resort for this annual luncheon.

The Citizen-Scholar Awards are a partnership between the Honolulu Star Advertiser, the Department of Education, and HLTA.  The Star-Advertiser provides a centerfold newspaper spread highlighting each of the students and their sponsors, the DOE provides the student nominations from each public high school, and our amazing members generously provide the scholarships to each deserving student.

The awards program began with remarks from Oahu Publications’ Senior Vice President, Ron Nagasawa; Department of Education Assistant Superintendent Cynthia Covell; and yours truly.  I stressed the importance of extending the "mahalo principle" of thanking those who have assisted and encouraged them thus far, and to implore them to also help others on their journey through life.  We were also favored with inspiring speeches from Jacob Lott of Kea'au High School and Cheanne-Marie Cabang of Nanakuli High School.  During the lunch segment, students, parents, and faculty had the opportunity to meet with and thank their individual sponsors. 

Two years ago, we also implemented an additional $2,500 scholarship, presented to a “Most Outstanding Citizen-Scholar” in each of the four counties.
This year, we congratulated:

Hawai‘i Island: Zea Levine, Kealakehe High School
Zea recently received a grant to help her develop her own website, S-E-T Kona, which will allow her to create a region-specific page with information about reproductive health and how to access health care in West Hawaii. The Colorado College-bound Levine is also the Founder and current President of the Gender Sexuality Alliance & Advocacy club at Kealakehe. 

Kaua‘i:  Hannah Collins-Doijode, Kapa’a High School
Hannah won first place in the state HOSA CPR/first aid competition, and spent her summer interning at Hawaii Pacific Health. She will be attending Johns Hopkins University, and plans to pursue a career as a physician. Collins-Doijode aspires to return home to practice in Hawaii after completing her education. 

Maui: Josh Ooka, Baldwin High School
Josh planned a wellness week for Baldwin High School to encourage students and faculty to support the Blue Zones philosophy and promote a healthy lifestyle.  The aspiring doctor heads to UCLA in the fall, and wants to provide health care in his hometown on Maui Island after graduation.

O‘ahu:  Anna Peters, Waialua High School
Harvard University early admit Anna plans to pursue a degree in either biology or neuroscience.  She has volunteered at Queen’s Medical Center West Oahu and at Cardinal Tien Hospital in Taiwan, and dreams of becoming a doctor.

Congratulations to all these model young leaders! I’d like to thank our partners, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and the Department of Education, and our HLTA members for sponsoring and supporting our next generation.  Mahalo to all those parents, teachers, and principals supporting these exceptional students. Thanks to our emcees, Diane Ako and Yunji De Nies; and lastly but certainly not least, to our hosts, Cheryl Williams, Regional Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Highgate Hotels and Matt Grauso, General Manager of the ‘Alohilani Resort, and their wonderful banquet team.  

For a complete listing of all 42 scholarship winners and their sponsors, please go to the Star-Advertiser spread, click HERE. To see the complete Program, click HERE. 

​This past Tuesday, the State’s controversial transient vacation rental measure, Senate Bill 1292, was revived and once again heard on the Senate Floor after failing to receive a positive majority vote last week Friday.  Due to a slight shift in votes, the measure narrowly passed through the Senate with 13 ayes to 12 noes in support of the House of Representative’s amended version.  The controversy over SB1292 remains with the understanding that it is strictly a taxation mechanism and lacks the necessary “teeth” to support county enforcement.  The Bill has now been issued to the Governor where he has 45 days to sign the bill into law, or 35 days to issue his intent to veto.  He has publicly stated that he will carefully review the measure and confer with the county mayors before he makes a decision on the matter.  He will seek their opinion on whether SB1292 will in fact impede their respective county’s ability to enforce local ordinances. He also agreed to meet with HLTA before rendering his decision. 

With the State unable to move on this issue in a comprehensive nature for a number of years, I have said from the outset that we need to turn our focus to the counties and their enforcement of meaningful regulations on TVRs.  Therefore, we believe more than ever, that the counties need to pass and enact ordinances that will face the issue head on; such is the current case with legislation at the Honolulu City Council.

This past Monday, the Honolulu Committee on Planning reconvened their public hearing on Bill 89 (2018) CD1 and Bill 85 (2018), both dealing with the regulation of transient vacation rentals on Oahu . The measures were postponed from last week Tuesday as droves of testimony came in on both sides of the issue; seeking everything from stricter guidelines, to carve outs for certain types of TVRs.  Through the seven CD2’s that were proposed and deliberated on this week, we stood firm on our stance that there should be no expansion of Transient Vacation Rentals and that they should be restricted to their current legal zones, or if they are operating with a nonconforming use certificate.  The two measures that closely mirrored our sentiments were Bill 89 CD1 and the CD2 proposed by Councilmember Ron Menor.  These measures would only allow for a controlled expansion of bed & breakfast units within the county.  In most cases, these short-term rentals are either owner occupied or have a manager physically on site.  With a 5-0 vote (1 member excused), the Committee on Planning passed Councilmember Menor’s CD2 which will now go to a final full council vote before it heads to the Mayor’s desk.

With concerns hovering on State Senate Bill 1292, now before the Governor, I urge our members to join me in support of Bill 89 (2018) CD2, the key enforcement component in the City & County of Honolulu.  The measure states that it is unlawful for hosting platforms to collect, book, or receive a fee for booking services from illegal operators, and that it shall further be unlawful for them to offer these services if they are not registered with the Department of Permitting and Planning.   

The measure is slated for third reading on May 8th at Honolulu Hale, for more information find the council agenda here.

Should you have any questions please feel free to contact myself or my Senior Director of Government & Community Affairs, Jared Higashi at (808) 923-0407 or via email at jhigashi@hawaiilodging.org.

​Monday evening, we celebrated with the Waikiki Beachcomber by Outrigger team as they debuted their $35 million renovation. The 498-room property now boast flat screen TVs, a new pool terrace, and beautiful meeting rooms. Great to see so many of the industry folks there for this happy occasion. 

Congratulations to the Outrigger Hospitality Group, particularly Beachcomber General Manager Ike Cockett, who was very active with the Kauai chapter of HLTA during his time there , and Outrigger Vice President of Hotel Operations Mike Shaff. During his remarks, OHG President Jeff Wagoner made a point to recognize Mike, an HLTA Board Member, as he took special care in managing this renovation from the corporate level.  We look forward to having an event at your property soon!

​Tomorrow morning, the 41st Annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk will kick off on Lanai and Molokai islands!  As we gear up for next week's Walks on Hawaii Island, Kauai and Maui, and close with Oahu’s Walk on May 18th, I hope you are all still fundraising!

As a reminder, all monies raised for Charity Walk on each island will remain on that island, and go to support a wonderful local 501(c)3 organization working in service of one of our 8 pillars:

1. Homelessness (social/welfare)
2. Children & Education
3. Elderly
4. Crime
5. Veterans
6. Health​ & Physical Fitness 
7. Environment
8. Cultural & Arts 

As of 9am this morning, the island totals are:
Lanai:                     $36,727
Molokai:                $825
Hawaii Island:   $17,967
Kauai:                    $137,879
Maui:                      $137,611
Oahu:                     $74,862

Kauai and Maui are locked in a tight race at this point for the lead! Please support your island and its local nonprofits, click to donate now.  

Don’t forget that Oahu will be launching Hawaii’s first 1K Slippah Walk on May 18th; registration is available through the Charity Walk registration!

​Tuesday, April 23rd denoted the culmination of the third class of our Generational Mentoring Program. The commemorative graduation luncheon was held at The Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa where program co-founder Art Sarkissian, Founder of Here & Now Consulting, and HLTA Chairperson Glenn Vergara, joined me in presenting graduation certificates to the mentors and mentees.
 
The fifteen university student mentees were nominated by their educational institutions and completed a 6-month curriculum under the tutelage of top executives from Hawaii’s visitor industry. During this time, the mentor and mentee pairs worked on personal branding, emotional intelligence, and a litany of both personal and professional development skills.
 
Congratulations to our latest group of graduates!
 
Mahalo to the university faculty who provide our nominees: Prof. Stephen Lundgren of BYU – Hawaii; Dr. Wendy Lam of HPU; Dean Thomas Bingham of UH Manoa, and Dr. Derrek Choy of UH West Oahu.

I would also like to extend a special thank you to our wonderful member mentors, who generously gave their time, energy and effort to teaching these eager students.
 
Mahalo to:
Kimberly Agas, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
Julie Arigo, Halepuna Waikiki
Jim Braman, the Cliffs at Princeville
Michael Czarcinski, The Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa
Thomas Foti, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
Christina Gabriel, Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club
Gerald Glennon, The Kahala Hotel & Resort
Ed Gunderson, The Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo – A DoubleTree by Hilton
Kansas Henderson, The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
Kelly Hoen, Outrigger Reef and Outrigger Waikiki Resorts
Scott Ingwers, Trump International Hotel Waikiki
Simeon Miranda, Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk
Teri Orton, Hawaii Convention Center
Doug Sears, Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa
Cheryl Williams, Highgate Hotels

​Tuesday evening, HLTA Staff and Board Members attended the UH Manoa “Celebrate a Legacy in Tourism” gala at the Sheraton Waikiki. 
 
Given that this event honored three members of HLTA, we were proud to support such worthy awardees and happily attended with HLTA Chairperson and UH TIM alum, Glenn Vergara, as well as TIM alum, HLTA former Vice President, and current pre-opening General Manager for ESPACIO by Aqua-Aston, Dean Nakasone. 
 
HTA President Chris Tatum, former HLTA Chairperson Gregg Nelson, HLTA Board Members Carol Shimomura and Simeon Miranda, MHLA Executive Director Lisa Paulson, and HLTA members from The Page Group in support of this staple industry evening also joined us in support of this event. 
 
Congratulations to all the night’s honorees: the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association (NaHHA), Lee-Ann Wong Choy of Pacific Rim Concepts, and the lady of the hour, Mrs. Vicky Cayetano, President & CEO of United Laundry Services.  Vicky’s long history of leadership in our industry, as well as the community, is admirable and truly appreciated. Her daughter Marissa Ross of Standard Textiles, is also an active HLTA Member, who’s involved in the Hospitality Housekeeping Council and is a former HYPE Allied Chair. 
 
Last year, HLTA was bestowed the honor of the 2018 TIM Distinguished Service Award, and HLTA Board Member Jerry Gibson was inducted into the TIM Hall of Honor. Congratulations to all our members, and the TIM School Award Recipients - “we’re all in this together.”

​As Charity Walk rapidly approaches, I thought it would be fun to share each county’s current total with you all. As of 6pm Thursday evening, the tallies stand at:
 
Maui County: $124,416
Kauai County: $104,693
Oahu County: $54,966
Hawai’i County: $12,712
 
We encourage you ,if you’re feeling competitive, generous, or maybe a bit of both like me, to donate now to any island, using the links below.
 
Lanai        -     Molokai      -        Maui       -      Kauai     -       Hawaii       -     Oahu
 
And don’t forget that Oahu will be launching Hawaii’s first 1K Slippah Walk on May 18th; registration is available through the Charity Walk registration as well!
 
I hope I’ll see you out there.

This past Wednesday, two key visitor industry measures made its way through the Honolulu Full City Council floor: the first, the proposed real property tax increase targeted at our hotel and resort industry and the second, the ever-contentious transient vacation rental bill.
 
On a day that the Honolulu City Council had a full agenda, filled with city budget measures and controversial topics, the visitor industry shone in the limelight as we packed the council chambers with over 50 of our members.  Representatives from hotels and resorts across the board, from major brands to smaller independent operators stood in opposition with me, and 22 joined me in laying out our ardent disagreement with the council’s proposed real property tax increases in Resolution 19-55 (Council Draft 1 & Floor Draft 1). 
 
As a quick recap, the Honolulu Mayor proposed a $1.00 per $1,000 hike to the hotel and resort real property tax classification this year, to help fund his $2.8 billion operating budget.  This was the only business-related classification that was targeted for an increase in the RPT rate.
 
We galvanized the industry to submit testimony at the first Committee on Budget hearing earlier this month, where the Budget Chair proposed a reduced $0.50 per $1,000 increase, with the explanation that they would reduce it to zero if they could find a way to balance the budget without the increase (read HLTA Breaking News – April 5th for the full story). During this same hearing, another councilmember offered a floor draft that would seek increasing the RPT rate to $0.75 per $1,000.  Both drafts were up for action and consideration this past Wednesday at Honolulu Hale.
 
During the council hearing, Budget Chair Joey Manahan opened the measure’s deliberations by re-committing the resolution back to the committee on Budget for further discussion under his proposed CD1 ($0.50 increase).  This could have ended the discussion on the RPT increase for the day, but we as an industry would not leave without voicing our concerns.  Over the next 1.5 hours, members from the lodging industry: from area executives, to hotel owners, and even members from the finance, housekeeping, and security departments, touched on the many reasons why we as an industry should not be singled out for tax increases.  We not only explained how these increases hurt our ability to operate, reinvest in our infrastructure, and expand on employee opportunities, but we painted a wonderful picture on how we as an industry give back to the community - and additionally, to the City & County of Honolulu.
 
As both a former City Council Chair, and a former Mayor of the City & County of Honolulu, I asked a very direct question: why are they looking for more funds, when they should be trimming the fat off the budget first, detailing how they spent last years dollars and focus spending on basic city services. Having done the City’s operating budget for a number of years, I pointed to areas in which they should be making appropriate cuts before looking externally to generate more revenues.  Additionally, with hotel and resort valuations increasing with double-digit percentages year-after-year, the city is already collecting tens of millions in additional revenues organically. 
 
Prior to the movement from Reso 19-55, the Budget Chair commented that he would still like to further discuss the new rate in his committee and discussion centered on the perception that the industry is doing well for itself, and evidence of that fact is the salaries of top global executives who own many of the hotels not only in our state, but around the world. We couldn’t correct or rebut as we needed to be called upon by the Council to do so. Fortunately, Waikiki interim Councilmember Michael Formby, stepped up and declared  “we should not be hitting the hotels, who do so much for the community and its people… it’s almost like we (government) are trying to pit the local residents against the hotels, and that isn’t right.” 
 
Additionally, Councilmember Formby stated that “we don’t complain about the lodging industry when they are bringing in tens of millions of dollars into our state, such as the $70 million Turtle Bay renovation project.”  He closed out his statement by strongly voting no to the tax increase proposal, and reiterated that at the end of the day we should be looking at the big picture.
 
As an organization, and as an industry, we will continue to push for no tax increases as we kick our opposition campaign into high gear.  The resolution now heads back to the Budget Committee, where it will be heard on May 14th and ultimately back to the Full City Council for a final decision on June 5th.
 
Later in the day, the council put forth for second reading Bill 89 (2018) and Bill 85 (2018), both looking at imposing regulations for the short-term vacation rental market.  I went on record to state that we as an industry support Bill 89, as it takes a hard look at stopping the illegal expansion of transient vacation rentals (whole homes), but would allow for a controlled expansion of registered bed & breakfast units (units that are owner-occupied or have a manager on property). 
 
We also support the intent of Bill 85 (2018), although draconian, as it takes a strong stance against any expansion of short-term rentals.  I pointed to two caveats in my testimony to the Council: one, that we would like to see a fair, separate real property tax classification for transient vacation rentals, and two, the city needs to seriously consider the current state of its Department of Permitting and Planning in regards to its ability to implement these new rules and regulations.  Currently, the DPP is not up to par and needs to be adequately funded, staffed, and fortified before taking on the big task ahead as outlined in these measures.
 
After a long afternoon of testimony, the Council passed both measures out from second reading and back to the Committee on Planning, which will be hearing the bills on Tuesday, April 23rd. 
 
If you have any questions on these measures, please feel free to reach out to me or my Senior Director of Government & Community Affairs, Jared Higashi at jhigashi@hawaiilodging.org. 

​Last year, Oahu introduced its inaugural Visitor Industry Charity Walk bowling tournament.  In partnership with Salem Media, we raised $10,000 to support homelessness efforts!
 
Friday April 12th, we again teamed up with Salem Media to fundraise money through our Strike Out Domestic Violence event, and successfully raised another $10,000! My sincere thanks and appreciation to General Manager Dita Holifield and her team at Salem Media Hawai‘i for helping us put on such a successful evening.
 
Additionally, I would like to extend a heartfelt mahalo to the following HLTA Members who came out to enjoy a night of bowling, pupus from The Alley, and to support the Oahu Charity Walk:
 
The Waikiki Resort Hotel, Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa, Castle Resorts & Hotels, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach, The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser, HLTA Engineers Advisory Council, and Duke’s Waikiki.

Thanks to your efforts, we are $10,000 closer to our $500,000 plus goal for Oahu. 
 
As Saturday, May 18th draws nearer, I hope that you are all registering or donating to support Charity Walk!  This year, we also hope to break the Guinness World Record for most walkers wearing slippers in our first ever Hawai‘i’s 1K Slippah Walk: for more information on how to get involved or to contribute, please visit www.charitywalkhawaii.org or contact my office at (808) 923-0407.

​The 2019 Lotte Championship “swung” into Ko Olina on April 14th for its eighth annual golf event, featuring an International field of marquee female professional golfers. This Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tournament is broadcasted on The Golf Channel and its affiliates, is shown in 159 countries, and reaches nearly 389 million households.
 
For the past eight years, Hawaii Tourism Authority’s support of the tournament has been an integral part of the ongoing success.  Lotte, the title sponsor, has committed its sponsorship investment for this event to remain in Hawaii through 2020.
 
My Senior Directors and I were in attendance for the Welcome Gala at the Four Seasons Resort O’ahu at Ko Olina Monday evening in which I joined with Governor Ige to give opening remarks on behalf of the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the tourism industry. Mahalo to Lotte Chairman Ding-bin Shin and LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan for organizing such a wonderful weeklong event. 
 
HLTA’s principal involvement with Lotte was to help HTA  to increase and enhance the tournament’s community outreach programs. Working with HVCB, it was decided that West Side high schools should be more involved with the Lotte Tournament.  At our behest, grants were established for Waipahu, Campbell, Kapolei, and Waianae high schools to aid students in the athletic programs; develop special need student programs; enhance current pathway in tourism, hospitality, engineering and culinary programs; and enhance student involvement and development with media/video productions.  Needless to say, the Principals of the aforementioned schools were very grateful and appreciative. 
 
The community outreach partnership also invited four talented high school student golfers to play in the ProAm Tournament, with LPGA Professional Golfer Mariajo Uribe.  I would like to send a personal congratulations to Shannon McCafferty from Waianae High School, Kaito Frazier from Kapolei High School, and Reyan Lee from Waipahu High School:  these outstanding students shot 14 under par, and won the ProAm event with a score of 58!
 
Additionally, we set up an opportunity for Waianae High School’s Searider Productions to assist with the filming and interviewing of players and the public during the First Tee Golf Clinic.
 
As we head into the weekend, we wish all those involved with and competing in the 2019 Lotte Championship a very successful event.

Monday morning, I joined Governor David Ige, First Lady Dawn Ige, and HTA President Chris Tatum in addressing hundreds of high school students interested in pursuing futures in hospitality at ClimbHI’s 8th annual LEI event.  LEI, which stands for “Lead, Expose, and Inspire,” is an HTA-sponsored workforce development project, led by Julie Morikawa, President & CEO of ClimbHI, and is intended to encourage local youth to work towards careers in the visitor industry.  

During my speech, I presented two new initiatives for the students to take advantage of: the first, that HLTA will be inviting a group of (15) students to attend our brand-new Hawai’i Hotel and Restaurant Show on May 29th and 30th at the Hawai’i Convention Center! The second was to remind these future industry leaders that HLTA, in partnership with the Hawaii Tourism Authority, is still taking applications for our new Ho’oilina Scholarship.  This new initiative provides several four-year scholarships to students who are pursuing a Travel Industry or Hospitality degree, at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hawaii Pacific University, or Brigham Young University-Hawaii. 

My staff followed up by handing out information on this new endeavor, as well as HLTA’s many other scholarship opportunities, at the LEI Career Fair later that day. For those who are interested, the Ho’oilina Scholarship applications are due on April 29th: for further information, please visit our website at http://www.hawaiilodging.org/scholarships.html.  

It was also my pleasure this past week to emcee the Hawaiian Music Walk of Fame Dedication & Blessing at 2500 Kalakaua Avenue, as a favor to Margaret Bukatz, President of the Hawaiian Music Walk of Fame. 
The Hawaiian Music walk of Fame honors Don Ho, Alfred Apaka, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, Gabby Pahinui, Chick Daniels, Hilo Hattie and Alice Namakelua. 
​
Margaret has coordinated and by in large funded this project over the last several years.  Her idea began when the palm trees that had adorned the sidewalk became diseased- she then facilitated the placement of seven bronze plaques cast in the likeness of the Hawaiian Music Legends into the new sidewalks at the corner of Kalakaua Ave and Kealohilani Ave. 

This Dedication and Blessing featured tributes to the legends from family members or their friends. One of the highlights was the Aiea State Representative Sam Kong, who grew up and went to school with Bruddah Iz in Palolo. Nearly 200 people were in attendance, including friends and family of the honorees, as well as members of the press. 

The ceremony featured a blessing from Pastor Shon Kihewa of New Hope Oahu, and hula performances by Maile-Anne Daniels, granddaughter of Chick Daniels; soloist Dora Kawahinepo’aimoku Yamamura; Bianca Kulia Kaleinani Foster, granddaughter of Don Ho, and the halau Ka Hale I o Kahala Halau Hula, led by Kumu Hula Leimomi I-Maldonado.  The reception that followed was generously hosted by ABC Stores.
Though you'd never suspect at first glance that what looks like a very large Cheeseburger in Paradise is also home to the Hawaiian Music Walk of Fame. And if you take a second look, you’ll see not only the faces of these fabled performers in the stone, but you can also find QR codes and the images of these famous musicians along the external wall of Cheeseburger in Paradise.

I hope that the next time you find yourself on Kalakaua, you’ll stop by and take a moment to honor and learn more about these exceptional musicians who shared the spirit of aloha with the world. Mahalo Margaret! 

It was recently brought to my attention by Joe McNamara (former General Manager of KITV4 News) and the Wounded Warrior Ohana that the 2018 Guinness World Record for most walkers in thong flip-flops belongs to a small run club in Cary, North Carolina. 

The nOg Run Club’s record was subsequently broken in September by the UMOM New Day Centers in Tempe, Arizona.  Their participation, which has recently been reflected in the Guinness Book of World records, is 1,587 walkers.  

Now my question is this: how can we possibly let that stand, when Hawaii is home to the rubbah slippah? Waikiki is a slippah town: and at any given moment, we have thousands of flips flops on our sidewalks and streets worn by residents and visitors alike.  

So we thought that this year, as a warm-up to our traditional Charity Walk, we would organize Hawaii’s first-ever 1K Slippah Walk around Ala Moana Beach’s Magic Island! For just five (5) additional dollars, we encourage our Charity Walk participants to come out and support the Wounded Warrior Ohana as we try to break the Guinness World Record! 

I hope that you’ll come out and join us in your slippahs for this special event.  We then ask that you donate your pair to our slippah drive, as you change into sneakers for our Charity Walk, and make a day of walking for a great cause! I’m already looking forward to May 18th – see you at Magic Island! 
​
To register online, please click here. To register via paper form, please click here.

​This week, HTA President & CEO Chris Tatum joined me in presenting over $360,000 to 44 nonprofit organizations across the state. 

We were accompanied by special guests at each event: On Kaua'i, Chapter Chair Paul Toner was joined by Mayor  Derek Kawakami, HTA board member Fred Atkins, and members of his board; on Maui, Chapter Chair Fred Findlen was joined by HLTA Chair Emeritus Gregg Nelson, venue host Maui Beach Hotel General Manager Greg Peros, and MHLA Executive Director Lisa Paulson; and on Hawai'i Island Chapter Chair Craig Anderson hosted us at the Mauna Kea Resort. At the Oahu allocations, we were joined by Lieutenant Governor Josh Green, House Tourism Chair Representative Richard Onishi, Senate Tourism Chair Senator Glenn Wakai, HLTA Executive board members, and HLTA Chairperson Glenn Vergara.
 
These beneficiary organizations have been carefully vetted; not just at the county level via the HLTA Chapters, but were also subject to final approval by the State.  These grants are the result of a productive public-private partnership between the State, HTA, and HLTA. 
 
Though it has been a long process, I could not be more pleased to announce that we have indeed begun disbursement of the Act 86 (2018) $1 million dollars. These monies are particularly earmarked for homelessness efforts in tourism-impacted areas, and matched dollar-for-dollar, by funds raised by the private sector. 
 
7 nonprofits joined us at the Kauai Marriott Resort on Monday.  The Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i Division; Catholic Charities of Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i Office; Hawai‘i Foodbank, Kaua‘i Branch; Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank; Kaua‘i North Shore Food Pantry; ‘Ohana Christian Fellowship; and Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Division – Kaua‘i Corps all received their checks. 
 
On Tuesday at the Maui Beach Hotel, the 9 recipients were Catholic Charities of Hawaii, Maui Division; Family Life Center; Feed My Sheep; Habitat for Humanity; Hale Kau Kau; Ka Hale a Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center; Keiki Cupboard; Maui Food Bank, and The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Division, Maui Corps.
 
Thursday morning, the Oahu Allocations were held at the Waikiki Beachcomber by Outrigger. 21 organizations received their additional funds: Corvette Center Ministries; Surfing the Nations; The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division; Hawaii Foodbank; Aloha Medical Mission; People Attentive to Children (PATCH); Mental Health Kokua; Hale Kipa; Legal Aid Society of Hawaii; Family Promise of Hawaii; Aloha Harvest; United Church of Christ Transition House; River of Life Mission; Young Women’s Christian Association of Oahu; Hawaii Youth Services Network; Project Vision Hawaii; United States Veterans Initiative – Hawaii; Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Oahu; Hawaii Arts Alliance; Ho’oala Na Pua, and The Institute for Human Services.
 
Then, Thursday afternoon we jetted off to Hawaii Island, where we presented checks to the last seven philanthropic groups.  Catholic Charities Hawaii; Habitat for Humanity; Hawai‘i County Economic Opportunity Council; Hawai‘i Food Basket; Hawai‘i Island Home for Recovery; Hope Services Hawaii, and The Salvation Army gathered at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel for their monies.
 
This would not have been possible without the efforts of Representative Richard Onishi, and Senator Glenn Wakai, as well as our wonderful partnership with HTA.  While it has taken some time, it warms my heart to meet with these groups and hear about the impactful work they are doing in their local communities. 

​Mahalo to all those who came to our first Hospitality Industry Pau Hana of 2019 at Appetito last night! This is wonderful networking opportunity for our members to mix and mingle with one another, and it presents an ideal platform for us to recognize an exceptional professional from within our industry. 
 
In particular, I would like to acknowledge our newest members, who formally joined HLTA, and attended their first event! Warm welcomes to Corey Campbell of Akamai Training & Consulting, Ruben Perez of Oahu Extractions, Kortney Dacanay of Hawaii Self-Storage, Richard Davis of Bank of Hawaii, Lydia Yabsley of Aqua-Aston Hospitality, David Murphey of David Murphey Photography, Rashan and Ronnie Corpuz of Honolulu Premier Flooring, and Breann Guzman of Heide & Cook. 
 
In addition to our Thursday night festivities, we were pleased to honor Outrigger Hospitality Group’s Jerry Dolak, Director of Loss Prevention, with our Kahiau Award.
 
Jerry has been on the front lines championing visitor and public safety, in his capacity as Director of Loss Prevention for Outrigger Resorts, as well as President of HHVISA, the Hawaii Hotel Visitor Industry Security Association.  In addition to being an active member of our organization,  Jerry has been a valued partner in many of our emergency management seminars and conferences, as well as coordinating our security efforts for the Visitor Industry Charity Walk on Oahu. 
 
There was raucous support shown for Jerry, particularly from his Outrigger Ohana, who turned out in force to Appetito at the Ohana East Waikiki by Outrigger.  Congratulations, Jerry – this was so well-deserved!

​As part of our many partnerships with the Hawaii Tourism Authority, accompanied by several retired NFL pros, a couple of whom played for the Rams, and a dozen of Hawaii’s finest football coaches, I was excited to be part of yesterday’s press conference announcing the LA Rams’ preseason game.  For those of you who may have missed it, the Rams will host the Dallas Cowboys at Aloha Stadium on Saturday, August 17th at 4pm.  This will officially be the first exhibition game held at Aloha Stadium since 1976.  
 
Through their partnerships with Hawai’i’s tourism industry, the Rams are looking forward to providing several opportunities for community engagement.  Chris Tatum, HTA head, has invited me to share my expertise as the former mayor of Honolulu, and as the current president & CEO of the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association to help connect the Rams’ organization to several key community organizations, schools and individuals.  The plan is to hold clinics for several high school football teams, including an 11-on-11 tournament & skills competition and a series of PLAY 60 events.  Coinciding with their ongoing military outreach efforts, we will be helping to connect the Rams with Hawaii-based service personnel and their families.
 
I for one am looking forward to this match-up between last year’s Super Bowl contender, The LA Rams, and “America’s Team”. As one who was tasked with the responsibility of keeping the Pro Bowl in Hawaii for several years, I say mahalo to the LA Rams and HTA for bringing the NFL back to Aloha Stadium!

To watch this morning's KHON Take2 appearance, please click here.  For the Press Conference coverage via  KHON, click here.  For KITV's, click here.

​Last week we announced the Ho’oilina Scholarship, which is a two-pronged approach at incentivizing local students interested in becoming tourism professionals to stay in our islands and work toward becoming the next generation of leaders. 
 
The program will award a total of five, four-year scholarships at $12,000 per student per year for students enrolling at the University of Hawaii TIM School, and the Hospitality programs at Brigham Young University- Hawaii, and Hawaii Pacific University.
 
Additionally, there will be ten available two-year scholarships for community college students utilizing the Hawaii Promise Program and enrolling in the TIM program at the University of Hawaii. Scholarship awards break down as follows: two Oahu County students, two Maui County students, two Kaua‘i County students, two Hawai‘i Island students, and two at-large students from any island.
 
The scholarships are already open for application on our website,  at http://www.hawaiilodging.org/scholarship-opportunities.html.  But, as announced on KHON2 on Monday evening, we are extending the deadline to April 15th at 12 noon, to allow as much time as possible for these student applicants to showcase themselves and their passion for Hawaii’s number one industry. To catch that interview, please click here.

​Please don’t forget to register for next Thursday’s Visitor Public Safety Conference, Part II. Tickets are free, thanks to our fellow sponsoring partners: the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hawaii Hotel Visitor Industry Security Association, Waikiki Improvement Association, & Waikiki Business Improvement District Association.
 
Not registered yet? Click here.