Mufi's Message - October 7, 2020

October 7, 2020

Aloha,

Today, the Honolulu City Council heard the first reading of Bill 80 (2020) which relates to the right of recall for laid-off hotel industry employees. The vote passed with six councilmembers voting aye, one voting with reservations, and Councilmembers Carol Fukunaga and Heidi Tsuneyoshi voting no. You may remember that Councilmember Tsuneyoshi was a staunch supporter of our industry when we opposed a hike in Real Property Tax rates last year.

Also, as a former City Councilmember, I would like to point out that having two councilmembers vote against an item up for first reading is unusual and highly encouraging for us as we look to defeat this measure.

Bill 80 (2020) Key Points

• A hotel employer shall recall to active employment the same number of employees in substantially the same classifications as the hotel employer’s active workforce on March 1, 2020, adjusted by the ratio the occupancy of the hotel bears to 100 percent.
• A hotel employer must clean and sanitize every occupied guest room every day and must employ a number of housekeeping employees to ensure that this standard is met.
• This measure applies to all employees as defined in the bill regardless of whether or not they are represented for purposes of collective bargaining or are covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
• An employer that declines to recall a laid-off employee on the grounds of lack of qualification and instead hires someone other than a laid-off employee shall provide the laid-off employee a written notice within 30 days identifying those hired in lieu of such recall, along with all reasons for such decisions and all demographic data the employer has about such new hires and the laid-off employees rejected.
  
  

You do not have to read very far into this measure to know that it spells disaster for the entire lodging industry in the City & County of Honolulu. Moreover, Bill 80 (2020) represents an egregious overreach by the City Council into the operations of private businesses. While this measure only addresses lodging operations, this would set a dangerous precedent for businesses of all types on O'ahu.

As such, I submitted testimony and had our Vice President of Government & Community Affairs Jared Higashi present oral testimony in staunch opposition to Bill 80 (2020). Mahalo to the following individuals who also submitted early written testimony opposing this bill:

• Rob Gunther - Hilton Grand Vacations
• Dodi Preese - Prince Waikiki Hotel
• Alan Mattson - Castle Hospitality Group
• Brandon Kaya - Ambassador Hotel Waikiki & Pearl Hotel Waikiki
• Kisan Jo - Prince Resorts Hawaii
• Josh Hargrove - Prince Waikiki Hotel & Hawaii Prince Golf Club
• Randy Diamond - Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel
• Stephen Hinck - Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach
• Dan King - Grand Hyatt Kauai
• Glenn Vergara - Waikiki Resort Hotel
• Gayle Miyashiro - Waikiki Resort Hotel
• Glen Erickson Ala Moana Hotel by Mantra
• Matthew Grauso - 'Alohilani Resort
• Vicki Ama - Waikiki Resort Hotel
• Kelly Sanders - Highgate Hawaii
• JP Cercillieux - The New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel
• Henry Perez - Hilton Waikiki Beach
• Rob Robinson - Springboard Hospitality
• Simeon Miranda - Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk
• Note: Others may have also come in after the early testimony cutoff
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During today's discussion period, several local tourism industry stakeholders also offered oral testimony. Mahalo to Randy Diamond, Joshua Hargrove, Glenn Erickson, and Rob Robinson for standing up to speak on behalf of our industry today. As this bill progresses through the legislative process, it will be imperative for all of us to forcefully oppose this bill and make ourselves heard not only by the City Council, but also by the community.

Bill 80 (2020) will next be heard by the Committee on Executive Matters and Legal Affairs on Tuesday, October 20, at 1 p.m. EMLA is unique in that every councilmember sits on this committee. When Bill 80 (2020) is heard by EMLA, I must urge you to not only submit further testimony, but also take the opportunity to offer oral testimony via video during the committee hearing. We must make clear the disastrous effects that this measure will have on our industry.

We will send out further information and reminders as we get closer to the EMLA hearing date. If you need help with either crafting or submitting testimony, please feel free to contact either Jared Higashi or Jared Ellis at [email protected] or [email protected] respectively.

Candidate Spotlight

As you know, the HLTA Endorsement Committee ultimately decided to remain open in the Honolulu mayor's race, but we are still sharing information about both candidates with our membership. In addition to his successful tenure as the Executive Director of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, Keith Amemiya also has private sector experience as an executive with Island Insurance and a stint on University of Hawai'i Board of Regents.

Steve Alm is a former United States Attorney, First Circuit Court Judge, and Deputy Prosecutor and was the leading candidate in the primary election for Honolulu Prosecutor. In reading his questionnaire, it is clear that Steve is deeply committed to restoring trust and transparency in a City office that has struggled under the weight of investigations and controversy in recent years. 

Below you will find links to the candidates' campaign websites as well as the HLTA questionnaire that they completed to be considered for endorsement. If you click their headshot, you'll be able to view a personal video that they have recorded for HLTA.

Keith Amemiya
Candidate for Honolulu Mayor
Campaign Website
HLTA Questionnaire

Steve Alm
Candidate for Honolulu Prosecutor
Campaign Website
HLTA Questionnaire

HLTA, the Maui Lodging & Tourism Association, and a Maui nonprofit recently partnered to provide more than 400 local tourism industry employees and their families with free food bundles. This was made possible through funds generated through the #AlohaLater campaign.

HYPE

Please join us for this Instagram Live event.

Mahalo,
​Mufi