Mufi's Message - November 14, 2017

Tourism Tuesday:
I hope you all had a chance to tune in to the very first Tourism Tuesday radio show this morning on AM690 and 94.3 FM The Answer. Mike Buck and I discussed a myriad of topics, including Airbnb, TAT, Crime and Public Safety, DKI Airport, parking in Waikiki, and more. Next week we will have HLTA’s millennials Jared and Alex go on air to share their take on tourism as young professionals working in the hospitality industry, along with some of HLTA’s initiatives to engage the up-and-coming generation. If you would like to ask questions to be answered on air, feel free to contact the Mike Buck show on Facebook, or call in to the studio at 246-5467. As we mentioned in yesterday’s email blast, if you would like to be a guest on the show, please contact the HLTA office at info@hawaiilodging.org or 808-923-0407. We look forward to seeing this radio show grow, and hopefully our audience will begin to understand the importance of the hospitality industry more and more. ​

​Ka Ikena Recap: 
Mahalo to those of you who attended our Ka Ikena Dinner last Thursday at Kapiolani Community College, as well as to Chef Warren Uchida, KCC Dining Room Manager John Santamaria, Chef Gale O’Malley, and the students of the KCC culinary arts program for being wonderful hosts. This was our 6th annual Ka Ikena Dinner, and the 4th year that we presented a $1,000 scholarship to a student of the KCC Culinary Arts Program. This year, we awarded the scholarship to a young woman named Kylie-Amber Yue, who transferred to KCC from UH Manoa to pursue per passion for the Culinary Arts. She graduated with her KCC Associate in Science degree in Culinary Arts in May 2017 with honors, and is now enrolled in KCC’s Advanced Professional Certificate (APC) program, where her advanced culinary classes are held at the new Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Diamond Head. After completing her APC, she intends to transfer to UH West Oahu to pursue the BAS degree in Culinary Arts Management.

Future of Existing Buildings:
This Thursday, November 16, HLTA Allied Member Chelsea Group will be holding their annual Future of Existing Buildings Event at the Pacific Guardian Center. I moderated a panel discussion for this event last year, and will be moderating again this year for the panel discussion on the “Industry Experts’ Vision for Honolulu” from 3:30pm-4:30pm. In addition to this panel, the agenda for the day’s events is packed with an HLTA Engineers Advisory Council meeting, more educational sessions, a tradeshow, and a Pau Hana networking session to round out the day. Some of the topics that will be covered throughout the day include: ‘living’ building assessments, tropical climate material failures, central plant optimization strategy, and future visions for power, regulations, and infrastructure investments. For those of you who are available, I highly recommend checking out this event. RSVP to Dricka Thobois at dthobois@chelsea-grp.com