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.
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.
Visitor Public Safety Conference 2018 |
HLTA & HHVISA co-host:
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Slideshow: Photos taken at the 2018 Visitor Public Safety Conference at the Sheraton Waikiki.
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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
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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. |
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. |
HLTA, HHVISA, & VASH:
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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 |
