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Public Safety &
​Emergency Management

Visitor Public Safety Conference 2019 - March 28, 2019

(Mufi's Message March 29, 2019)
​
This year, in partnership with the Hawai’i Tourism Authority, Hawaii Hotel Visitor Industry Security Association, Waikiki Improvement Association, and the Waikiki Business Improvement District Association, we were proud to present the second annual Visitor Public Safety Conference at the Prince Waikiki. 

I was pleased to see nearly 200 people in attendance to hear about all things public safety, for residents and tourists alike.  Forums like these provide opportunities for panelists to engage with the audience, an for the attendees to ask their questions to a group of individuals who represent numerous agencies, all at once – which is particularly helpful for concerns such as public safety, which have many organizations involved in aspects of the issue. 

Among the discussion points of focus moving forward were the installation of new cameras, as well as the merits of cameras as an effective deterrent to crime in Waikiki.  Other priority issues include increasing engagement with juvenile youth groups through organizations including Adult Friends for Youth, as well as continuing to support organizations like Institute for Human Services, which provide vital outreach and homelessness efforts not just in Waikiki, but all across Oahu.  Drawing upon HHVISA’s experience of collaborating with HPD, the recommendation was made to expand their template for trespass enforcement to other businesses and properties. 

In closing remarks, I reminded attendees to show support for our legislative advocates, particularly by testifying for bills like Senate Bill 1124, which will make it easier for the homeless population that are mentally ill and prone to substance abuse to receive medical treatment and care. 

I have many people to thank for a productive and content-packed morning: mahalo to Honolulu Police Department Chief Susan Ballard and Deputy Chief Mike McCarthy, HTA President & CEO Chris Tatum, House Tourism Chair Richard Onishi, and Honolulu City Councilmember Mike Formby for speaking with us. 

Mahalo to our panel: Bob Finley, Chair of the Waikiki Neighborhood Board; Jerry Dolak, President of HHVISA; John Norris, Security Co-Chair from the Retail Merchants of Hawaii; Jessica Lani Rich, President of the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii; Supervisory Special Agent Oliver Scammell of NCIS; Deborah Spencer-Chun, President & CEO of Adult Friends for Youth, and Justin Phillips, Homelessness Outreach Manager for the Institute of Human Services.  Your professional knowledge and insights were invaluable. 

And last but certainly not least, mahalo to all our supportive members, who attended this informative event!

Using takeaways from this conference, we will be sure to follow-up and follow-through on these discussion points and continue to work towards a safer Waikiki and tourism areas throughout the 808.

"2nd Annual Visitor Public Safety Conference Focuses on Repeat Offenders, Drug Dealers and the Homeless Crisis," KITV4, March 29, 2019​​
"Homelessness is No. 1 Public Safety Issue in Waikiki, Honolulu Police Chief says," Star-Advertiser, March 29, 2019​​
​"Conference Aims to Address Crime in Waikiki, Other Tourists Districts," Star-Advertiser, March 26, 2019​​

Visitor Public Safety Conference 2018

HLTA & HHVISA co-host: 
​Emergency Management Workshop
 

Slideshow: Photos taken at the 2018 Visitor Public Safety Conference at the Sheraton Waikiki.
Picture
Photo: Mel Kaku, Director, Deparmtnet of Emergency Management, Mufi Hannemann, President & CEO, HLTA, Crystal van Beelen, Disaster Preparedness Officer, Jerry Dolak, President, HHVISA, Gregg Nelson, 2018 Chairman, HLTA
The current influx of headliner news highlighting crimes taking place in our islands set the stage for our association, along with various public safety partners, to host the  first ever Visitor Public Safety Conference.  After months of planning, our efforts came to fruition this past Tuesday at the Sheraton Waikiki as members from all sectors of our community came together to share their mana’o in a free-flowing format that featured a lively question and answer exchange between panelists and the audience led by moderators Robert Cravalho, former HPD officer, Bulla Eastman from Aqua-Aston Hospitality, and Rick Egged of the Waikiki Improvement Association.
 
The conference, co-chaired by HLTA President & CEO Mufi Hannemann and Honolulu City Council member Trevor Ozawa, was a success, with over 200 stakeholders in attendance including members from government, visitor industry affiliates, law enforcement, private businesses, the armed services, and the community. 
                                                                                                                       
Members in attendance had the opportunity to hear from public safety leaders which included guest speakers Chief Susan Ballard of the Honolulu Police Department and Honolulu’s Prosecuting Attorney Keith Kaneshiro.  Chief Ballard reiterated the strong focus that HPD is putting towards the continued safety of our visitors and residents and addressed the issue of barring cabaret licenses that operate till 4 a.m. in the Waikiki District.  Prosecutor Kaneshiro spoke to the congestion in our courts system and how it consequently leads to a revolving door for criminals, and as a result posed a strong argument for the need for more prison space. 
 
The conference’s four featured panels each highlighted the problems that we currently face on the public safety front.   Our first panel addressed law enforcement, which amongst topics on homelessness and drug trafficking really brought to light an issue plaguing our police department, prosecutor’s office, and businesses in Waikiki, and that is the lack of crimes being successfully reported.  They really drove home the point, especially First Deputy Prosecutor Chasid Sapolu and HPD Acting Captain Eric Yosemori, that victims of crime need to be more willing to testify and prosecute. 
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL VISITOR PUBLIC SAFETY CONFERENCE STORY.
On March 29, 2018, HLTA partnered with the Hawaii Hotel Visitor Industry Security Association in hosting a workshop addressing emergency management preparedness. This timely discussion covered pre- and post-preparedness plans that both the visitor industry and general public should be aware of in the case of a natural or man-made disaster. More than 100 members from HHVISA and HLTA from all over the state and officers from HPD filled the room yesterday at the Ohana Waikiki East Hotel to partake in the meeting.

Before turning it to Jerry Dolak, Director of Security & Safety for Outrigger Hotels & Resorts and President of HHVISA to begin his presentation, HLTA President & CEO Mufi Hannemann summarized the findings of a survey that we sent to our members in the aftermath of the false missile alert. The energetic Dolak focused primarily on how properties can implement a business plan for a nuclear missile attack. He emphasized the point that a plan is only as good as those who read it and implement it.  Therefore, we must ensure that our properties are equipped with a proper plan and that our industry employees know it well in advance.

A few of his key takeaways include having a 14-day survival kit on hand at all times, implementing “Go Bags” which are duffels equipped with necessary supplements and tools, properly alerting guests and workers with a PA broadcast, and he advised that you should never pull a fire alarm as it will prompt panicked individuals to exit the shelter.  Dolak also focused a substantial portion of his presentation on the importance of establishing a “safe haven” for each property.  These designated shelters are ideally a basement or rooms surrounded by thick concrete or brick walls, and they should not be close to areas exposed to nuclear fallout such as rooftop or ground level floors.  Those that are exposed to nuclear fallout need to first dispose of their clothes and wash off before entering any safe zones to prevent contamination; and those who are sheltering should wait at least 24 hours before leaving their quarantined area as radioactive fallout will need time to deteriorate.

Jerry closed his segment by making his presentation and preparedness plan available to any interested parties.  As I often say, “we’re all in this together”; this adage holds exceptionally true in the realm of public safety.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP STORY.

HLTA, HHVISA, & VASH:
​Talk Story with Peter Tarlow​

Picture
Photo: Rick Egged, President, WIA, Mufi Hannemann, President & CEO, HLTA, Jessica Lani Rich, President & CEO, VASH, Peter Tarlow, President and Founder, Tourism & More, Scott Ingwers, 2017 Chairman, HLTA, Jerry Dolak, President, HHVISA
On October 17, 2017 HLTA partnered with the Hawaii Hotel & Visitor Security Association (HHVISA) and the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii (VASH) for a talk story session with Dr. Peter Tarlow, a world-renowned speaker and expert on tourism security. Dr. Tarlow specializes in the areas of crime and terrorism on the tourism industry, event and tourism risk management, and tourism and economic development, and has experience addressing agencies such as the US Center for Disease Control, The International Olympics Committee, The International Organization for Security and Intelligence, and The United Nation’s World Tourism Organization.

HLTA President & CEO Mufi Hannemann has worked closely with Dr. Tarlow since the 1990’s, when he led the charge for the first ever Visitor Crime Solutions Conference as a response to the rash of negative incidents against Japanese tourists at that time. Government officials from Japan went public with their concerns. We could not afford to stand pat and risk being seen as being insensitive to visitor's safety in Hawaii. The conference was a partnership between government and the private sector, and helped to shed light and resolve some of the issues we were having in Waikiki and it went a long way towards assuaging our Japanese visitors that their safety was a high priority for us. The conference called for a number of improvements and initiatives that required HPD, county government and the visitor industry to collaborate for the good of the industry. 

"I believe it is high time we had another conference on tourism security in Hawaii, and am already making plans with HHVISA, VASH, Dr. Tarlow, and Waikiki district Councilmember Trevor Ozawa to make this a reality next year. As we all know the world we live in today is very different than it was in the 1990’s, and we must always be proactive when it comes to safety and security" said Mufi Hannemann.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL TOURISM SECURITY STORY.

Public Safety Legislation

Honolulu City Council

Bill 6 (2018): ​A BILL FOR AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO PUBLIC NUISANCES.
Position: SUPPORT
Bill Status | Latest Bill Language 
HLTA Testimony: Bill 6 (2018)

Cabaret License Ad Hoc Committee (Follow up to the Visitor Public Safety Conference) 

In response to action items developed from our Visitor Public Safety Conference, WIA's executive director Rick Egged and Councilmember Trevor Ozawa have joined me in facilitating round table meetings with the Honolulu Police Department, and the independent “cabaret licensed” operators in Waikiki. Stakeholders attending our meetings included cabaret establishments, their property owners, HPD, WBIDA, WIA, the military, and Adult Friends for Youth. 

​Through the sub-committee we are working towards reaching amicable solutions in keeping Waikiki safe for visitors and residents alike.
​  ​Through our discussions we have put together a list of actionable items including, installing flood lights on Lewers Street, installing smart lighting in at risk areas, incorporating additional cameras, contracting “Special Duty” police officers to patrol late night hotspots, and contracting nonprofit “Adult Friends for Youth” to set up a headquarters in Waikiki to help identify and approach youth gangs.

Related Media

"Hotel group works to curb Waikiki crime" KITV4 Island News, October 28, 2018 ​
"Shops remain open as visitor industry prepares for storm," Honolulu Star-Advertiser, September 10, 2018 ​​
"World Series Champs Make Hawai'i Proud; Ala Wai Canal A Concern," ​MidWeek Island Matters, September 5, 2018 ​​
"Visitor industry prepares to hunker down," ​Honolulu Star-Advertiser, August 23, 2018 ​
"Visitor industry says it's ready," Honolulu Star-Advertiser, August 22, 2018
"Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst:" Tourism agency urges visitors to monitor Hurricane Lane," KITV Island News, August 20, 2018
"VASH Marks 20 Years," ​MidWeek Pa'ina, August 7, 2018
​​"Tourism Industry Seeks Relief From Disasters," MidWeek Island Matters, June 27th, 2018 ​​
"Hawaii’s visitor industry tries to improve nuclear response," Honolulu Star-Advertiser, March 30, 2018
"Hotel industry looks to step up emergency preparedness after missile alert mistake," Hawaii News Now, March 29, 2018 ​
​"Hawai'i Hotel Industry Conducts Post-False Missile Alert Workshop," Hawaii Public Radio, March 29, 2018
​"A Prolific Visitor Public Safety Conference," MidWeek: Island Matters, March 21, 2018
"Recent high-profile crimes in Waikiki spur summit on visitor safety," Hawaii News Now, February 27, 2018
"Stakeholders want to curb crime they fear will mar Waikiki's image," Honolulu Star-Advertiser, February 27, 2018
"Public Safety Conference set to take place this week," Hawaii News Now, February 26, 2018
"Rash of crimes spurs Waikiki safety conference," Honolulu Star-Advertiser, February 24, 2018
"Safety Is HLTA's No. 1 Priority," ​Island Matters, February 21, 2018
"Improving public safety among HLTA priorities," Midweek - Island Matters, February 8, 2018
"Improving public safety among HLTA priorities," Midweek - Island Matters, February 8, 2018
Hawai'i Lodging & Tourism Association.  All Rights Reserved.
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Phone: (808) 923-0407 | info@hawaiilodging.org
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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Chapters >
      • Oahu
      • Maui
      • Hawai'i
      • Kauai
    • HLTA's Committees >
      • Engineers Advisory Council
      • Golf Tournament
      • Hospitality Housekeeping Council
      • HR Council
      • HYPE
      • Membership
      • Women In Lodging & Tourism
    • Board of Directors
  • Membership
    • Benefits of Membership
    • Become a Member!
    • Testimonials
  • GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
    • Legislative Tracker
  • HTBCC
  • HLTA Initiatives
  • CHARITY WALK
  • Scholarships
  • #AlohaLater
  • Mākaukau
  • Health & Safety Standards
  • HLTA IN THE Media