Mufi's Message 10.05.18

Ho'ola Na Pua

This past Saturday, I had the distinct pleasure of attending Ho’ola Na Pua’s annual Pearl Gala at the beautiful Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina.  Ho’ola Na Pua, formally established in 2013, has been on a mission to support female victims of sex trafficking, and helping them on a path to restoration and healing.  President and Co-Founder, Jessica Munoz, and her team have been hard at work on the educational, mentoring, and advocacy fronts, while seeking appropriate funding for their grand project Pearl Haven. Her nonprofit has been an ongoing grant recipient of our Visitor Industry Charity Walk funding, and an adopted cause of HLTA’s Women in Lodging & Tourism committee.  This year, Jessica is also part of the current class of Pacific Century Fellows (many of whom were there that evening),  which brings together some of the brightest, and most talented young professionals in Hawai‘i.  We have all borne witness to her organization’s undeniable progress as they broke ground this year on Pearl Haven, which will be Hawai‘i’s first long-term licensed residential treatment campus for girls ages 11-17 who have been victims of sexual abuse and/or trafficking.  Congratulations to Jessica and her board for a wonderful event, and I wish them continued success as they set their eyes on Pearl Haven’sopening in 2019.  For more information on Ho’ola Na Pua, or to donate to their cause, visit their website here. 
​
On an additional note, I ran into the Four Seasons General Manager, Charlie Parker, that night, and expressed the incredible impression I had of the delectable food and luxurious ambiance provided by his property.  I let him know that we look forward to a Hana Hou performance at our upcoming General Membership Meeting taking place out there next week.

HYPE Hypes Emotional Intelligence Panel as HLTA Ramps Up for Upcoming General Membership Meeting

As our General Membership Meeting rapidly approaches, we look forward to seeing many of our members gathered together. Thursday will kick off our pre-meeting activities, with an HLTA members-exclusive Golf Scramble and an Emotional Intelligence panel presented by our HYPE (Hospitality Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs) Committee.  Panelists Cynthia Yamasaki, Anisah Ahakuelo, and Corey Campbell will be joined by Moderator Joe Bock to discuss the roles that “EQ” and “IQ” play in the workplace. This networking opportunity feature a cocktail hour following the educational seminar, which will be held at the ‘AMA ‘AMA patio, overlooking Ko Olina’s Lagoon. All in all, a great excuse to head out a little earlier and enjoy an evening at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa.

If you’re interested in registering for this seminar, or registering to join us for any of our upcoming GMM events, please click here.

Cybersecurity with the Hospitality IT Council

Tuesday afternoon, our HLTA Hospitality IT Council (HITC) hosted a gourmet buffet and educational seminar in partnership with Hawaiian Telcom at the Kahala Hotel & Resort. It was a fabulous venue, accompanied by a waterfall view as attendees enjoyed delicious food and engaged in spirited conversation. HITC Chair Ty Tynan and the IT Council board members did a wonderful job facilitating a cybersecurity symposium which catered to the issues and topics pertinent to our hospitality industry.

Guest speaker Carlos Villalba, Vice President of Terra Verde, provided insight on strategies to stay ahead of threats jeopardizing our networking systems.  With over two decades of experience under his belt, Villalba bridged the gap between past and present concerns, as well as gave his recommendations on best practices. This luncheon illustrated real-world examples and lessons learned to further emphasize the importance of network protection. The event concluded with a Q&A and the exchange of business cards between attendees, marking the third successful gathering for our IT Council.  A big mahalo to everyone who made it out, and we look forward to seeing you at the next event.

2nd annual aio Media Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Awards

Nominations for the 2nd annual aio Media Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Awards are still open. If you haven’t already done so, please make your nominations for the following six categories: accommodations, food & beverage, events, activities, agritourism, and leadership in the industry.

HLTA prides itself on recognizing the individuals, businesses, and organizations that help our industry thrive. Therefore, in partnership with aio Media, HLTA is proud to offer this additional avenue to recognize the exceptional leaders and their invaluable contributions to tourism. Nominations are open to the public and can be made at www.hawaiimagazine.com/hlta from now until Tuesday, October 16th.

After the submission period, a blue-ribbon selection committee will then review all nominees and vote on the finalists in each category. Mark your calendars as winners will be recognized at the aio Media Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Awards on March 1, 2019. Stay tuned as we release further event details and information on ticket/table sales.

Get HIP with HLTA! Meet the Candidates: General Election Edition

Please join us on Monday, October 22nd between 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm, at Blue Note Hawaii for our Political HIP, and talk story with HLTA-endorsed candidates for the General Election. We have partnered with members, Outrigger Hotels & Resorts and Blue Note Hawaii, to bring this event to you as an opportunity to mix and mingle with champions. HIP is always a fun way to meet fellow HLTA members, representing the different sectors of our economy and community. We are proud to offer this ever-popular event to our membership as a chance to network and build relationships. We look forward to seeing you on October 22nd. For more information or to register, click here.