Mufi's Message

​As always, there is something new happening every day with HLTA. Earlier this weekend, the HLTA Oahu Chapter held a Back to School Supplies Drive at Kahala Mall. They collected four large boxes of supplies and $500 in cash to donate to Ali'iolani Elementary and Ala Wai Elementary schools. Mahalo to all the volunteers who collected supplies and members who donated!
 
Today (6/20), the Hawaii State Association of Counties (HSAC) annual conference is taking place on Kauai at Kōloa Landing Resort at Po‘ipū. HLTA is a sponsor of the HSAC confab and a partner of today’s panel discussion entitled “Agriculture – Past, Present, and Future,” which delves into the topic of Agritourism–  or the nexus between agriculture and tourism. The panelists are Dean Okimoto, President of Nalo Farms and Chair of HLTA’s Agriculture committee, Denise Yamaguchi, Executive Director at Hawaii Food & Wine Festival, and Alan Wong, renowned chef and restaurateur, all of whom are HLTA members. We are steadily unveiling an increasing number of these strong and viable Ag/Tourism partnerships throughout the state. 
 
This Wednesday (6/21), there will be a sustainable tourism summit held as part of the VERGE Hawaii – Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. It will be a half-day, invitation-only working session focusing on the future of sustainable tourism in Hawaii and beyond. The session is designed to be interactive with facilitated discussions on topics such as technology & innovation, education & awareness, policies, partnerships, best practices and successful business models. HLTA’s Vice President Dean Nakasone will be on an opening panel with Ernest Nishizaki, Principal, Acumen Advisor, LLC and Jim Alberts, Senior VP, Customer Service, HECO. Then later in the afternoon, Dean will lead a Sector Deep Dive session where participants will work collaboratively to identify the primary challenges that will achieve greater sustainability within their specific areas of interest, doing business. To attend this summit, you must be registered for VERGE Hawaii. We invite you to register using discount code VH17HLTA to receive $100 off any pass type by clicking here.
 
And finally we have some events and activities geared towards HLTA’s young professionals. First of all on Wednesday night (6/21) at Sky Waikiki from 6-8 pm, a premier leadership development program that I am involved with called the Pacific Century Fellows is having a recruitment mixer to recruit applicants for its 16th class of cohorts. Go to the website at PacificCenturyFellows.com for more info and if you wish to attend the mixer contact Alex Roth at aroth@hawaiilodging.org. Also, on Thursday (6/22),  HLTA's committee HYPE is holding an etiquette class and 3-course dinner entitled “Dine Like a Boss” at the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa’s Beachhouse Restaurant from 5–8 pm. This will surely be a great educational experience where members will learn the “do’s and don’ts” of eating, greeting, and seating during a dining function. HYPE Kauai has also launched its own chapter recently and its members are gearing up for a networking event at Bamboo Sushi & Grill this evening, as well as a Golf Clinic next Thursday, June 29 at the scenic Hokuala Golf Course. For more information about HYPE Kauai, contact Samira Mansouri at Samira.Mansouri@ehi.com.