Mufi's Message 3.13.20

COVID-19 Update

​On Friday morning, President Trump declared COVID-19 a national emergency which will accelerate the U.S.'s efforts to control the outbreak. This comes only a day after the World Health Organization formally declared COVID-19 a pandemic, and numerous closures, cancellations, and postponements were announced for a variety of events and institutions like the remainder of the NCAA calendar and the annual Merrie Monarch Hula Festival. Businesses around the state are beginning to feel the early effects that the pandemic will have on our economy. 

Yesterday, I participated in the first meeting of a state committee that was organized by Speaker of the House Scott Saiki to address the economic effects that COVID-19 stands to have on Hawai'i. The committee is comprised of 26 stakeholders from every facet of Hawai'i's business sector and will seek out ways to hopefully mitigate some of the effects that COVID-19 will undoubtedly have on our community. During my remarks, I reiterated that the tourism industry remains open for business and that Hawai'i is still a place where healthy adults should feel safe to visit.

You can watch the committee hearing in its entirety by clicking here.

Below you will find several other recent media items:
"Facts Not Fear: a panel of medical and travel experts discuss coronavirus," KHON2, March 10, 2020

"House Speaker Scott Saiki appoints members of Hawaii coronavirus committee," Honolulu Star-Advertiser, March 9, 2020

"Hawaii travel industry offers deals to offset impact of coronavirus anxiety," Honolulu Star-Advertiser, March 8, 2020

"Coronavirus Panel," Hawaii News Now Sunrise, March 9, 2020
Segment 1
Segment 2
Segment 3
Segment 4
Segment 5

"Salesperson of the Year: Mufi Hannemann," Hawaii Business Magazine, March 13, 2020

Visitor Public Safety Conference

Program

Opening Remarks and Keynote Speakers
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
Mufi Hannemann - HLTA, President & CEO
Chris Tatum - HTA, President & CEO
Clare Connors - Attorney General, State of Hawai'i
Kenji Price - U.S. Attorney District of Hawai‘i, U.S. Department of Justice
Dwight Nadamoto - Acting Prosecuting Attorney, City & County of Honolulu
Deputy Chief John McCarthy - HPD, City & County of Honolulu

Sex Trafficking Panel
9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Moderator: Jennifer Nakayama - President, WBIDA
Morgan Early - Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice
Lynn Costales - Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, City & County of Honolulu
Kalei Grant - Assistant Coordinator, Missing Child Center of Hawai'i

-Break-
9:45 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.

Effective Prosecution & Reporting Panel
9:50 a.m. - 10:35 a.m.
Moderator: Rick Egged - President, WIA
Lieutenant Daniel Jacso - HPD, City & County of Honolulu
Kyle Dowd - Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, City & County of Honolulu
John Norris - Operations Asset Protection Manager, Macy's

COVID-19 Panel
10:35 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.
Moderator: Jerry Dolak - President, Hawai'i Hotel Visitor Industry Security Association
Dr. Sarah Park - State Epidemiologist, State of Hawai'i
Dr. James Ireland - Medical Director, State of Hawai'i

Guest Speaker
11:20 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.
Guest Speaker: Lt. Gov. Josh Green

Mental Health & Homelessness Panel
11:40 a.m. - 12:25 p.m.
Moderator: Keith Regan - HTA, Chief Administrative Officer
Connie Mitchell - Executive Director, Institute For Human Services
Captain Mike Lambert - HPD, City & County of Honolulu

Closing Remarks
12:25 p.m. - 12:35 p.m.
Mufi Hannemann - President & CEO, HLTA
Chris Tatum - President & CEO, HTA

Ka Huina 2020

Yesterday, I attended Ka Huina, a conference hosted by the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association, where I participated on a panel called "Cultural Values in Sports Marketing" along with Kevin Kaplan, far right, Chairman & CEO of Coaching Charities. Together, we spoke on the importance of using sport as a means to highlight cultural values and drive community engagement. In the past, HLTA along with HTA and other partners, has used this model successfully with a number of professional sports organizations such as the Los Angeles Rams and Clippers, as well as with other entities, especially the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. The moderator for our discussion was none other than NaHHA Executive Director John De Fries, far left.

Hawai'i Hotel & Restaurant Show