Mufi's Message - November 24, 2021

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pictured at center is Corvette Center Ministries Pastor Curtis Tsuzaki. The nonprofit group was O'ahu's strongest nonprofit fundraiser for this year's Walk.

Happy Thanksgiving!

As we wrap up the short work week and move officially into the holiday season, we at HLTA want to wish you all the best for a happy, restful, and safe Thanksgiving weekend. We truly hope that you will be able to enjoy this time with your 'ohana, friends, and loved ones.

On Monday, I flew over to attend Maui’s Charity Walk check allocation event at the Maui Beach Hotel where more than a million dollars were distributed to 60 local nonprofit organizations. Maui Charity Walk Chair Chris Rabang, MHLA Board Chair Angela Vento, MHLA Membership & Events Coordinator Christine Christensen, and I all shared remarks during the ceremony with Chair Vento aptly noting that the event, "was the perfect way to kick off Thanksgiving Week". I was so grateful for the opportunity to join our Charity organizers and nonprofit partners to celebrate another year of generosity on the Valley Isle.

"Maui Visitor Industry Charity Walk Raises $1.2 Million to Help 60 Local Nonprofits," Maui Now, November 23, 2021

Yesterday, the O'ahu Charity Walk hosted its allocation event at the Prince Waikiki. As you may recall, more than $300K was raised through walkers, fundraisers, and corporate donors including Domino's Pizza Hawai'i, Central Pacific Bank, First Hawaiian Bank, Bank of Hawai'i, HEI/HECO, ABC Stores/Kosasa Foundation, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car among others. Mahalo to Mike and Karla Rompel from Domino's Pizza Hawai'i, Central Pacific Bank Vice President & Manager John Hulihe'e, Prince Waikiki General Manager Joshua Hargrove, and O'ahu Charity Walk Chair Simeon Miranda for helping me to distribute checks to more than 60 local organizations.

This truly is the most enjoyable part of the Charity Walk process, and it is extremely gratifying to know that our efforts continue to help countless organizations fulfill their missions of service. Mahalo to all who have helped to make this year's Charity Walk a complete success!

From left: Maui Hotel & Lodging Association Membership & Events Coordinator Christine Christensen; Maui Charity Walk Chair Chris Rabang; Maui Economic Opportunity CEO Debbie Cabebe; Ohana Pacific Management/Hale Makua Health Services Director of Communications & Development Ashley Takitani-Leahey; Maui Hotel & Lodging Association Board Chair Angela Vento; and Mufi. Maui Economic Opportunity and Hale Makua Health Services were two of the top three fundraisers among nonprofits.

Giving Machines

Continuing on today's theme of giving, generosity, and service, I wanted to share with you another initiative that I have been working on through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This past Saturday, we hosted a launch ceremony for the holiday Light the World Giving Machines which have been set up at Pearlridge Center.

First debuting at the Polynesian Cultural Center, the Giving Machines allow donors to purchase items such as backpacks, bedding, and even medical care which is then given to families and individuals in need. Since the program's inception in 2017, more than $9 million has been raised worldwide, and I am proud to say that Honolulu is one of only ten cities in the United States to have been chosen as a site for Giving Machines.

Four local charities have been selected as recipients of this year’s campaign including Aloha Medical Mission, Family Promise of Hawai‘i, Helping Hands Hawai'i, and the Salvation Army. These are all organizations that have participated in and benefited from Charity Walk, and I was extremely pleased to see that they were selected.

If you are interested in using a Giving Machine to make a charitable contribution this holiday season, you can find them at Pearlridge Center Mauka fronting Jeans Warehouse Kids. The machines will be open during mall business hours through January 2nd.

Pictured at the opening ceremony of the Giving Machine from left: Mufi Hannemann; Maia Green; Sam Green; Jaime Green; Honolulu City Councilmember Augie Tulba; and State Senator Kurt Fevella. Though he was unable to attend the event, Lt. Gov. Josh Green was selected to serve as Honorary Chair for this initiative

COVID Restrictions

Yesterday, Gov. Ige announced the further relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions which bodes well for local businesses of all types. Most notable among the changes were the following:

• Gov. Ige announced the return to normal emergency rules.
  • The counties will no longer require State approval to change their emergency rules.
• Gov. Ige also terminated his executive order relating to limits on gathering sizes. 
  • These rules will now be set by the counties.
• On the State front, the following rules remain in place:
  • Safe Travels is still in effect.
  • The indoor mask mandate will also remain.

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi also announced changes to his COVID-19 rules that will go into effect on December 1.

• All capacity limits for large events, restaurants, gyms, and social gatherings will be lifted.
• Large events will also be able to resume service of food and beverages including alcohol.
• However, Safe Access O'ahu will remain in place.
  • Customers will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to dine in at any eatery.
  • Restaurants, however, will no longer be required to collect information for contact tracing.

These are all great developments now that we have completely turned the tide on COVID-19 and the Delta variant that was spreading through our community. These announcements were especially welcome going into the Thanksgiving holiday and really send us into the holidays on a high note for which we can all be grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving,
​Mufi