Podcasts about hawaii tourism authority

After more than six months of debate and negotiations, the "One, Big, Beautiful, Bill Act" has now been passed by Congress and will soon be on its way to the president's desk. One person was hurt after a small plane crash-landed on the Big Island this morning. News on the governor's plan to reshape the Hawaii Tourism Authority. The entire 12-member board of the HTA has now resigned.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A search is on this morning for an inmate on the run. What he was in for and what you need to be on the lookout for. The Hawaii Tourism Authority could potentially face an overhaul. We the governor is calling for board members to step down. A new Hawaiian name for a monk seal pup! What is it and what does it mean?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An accident sends a moped rider to the hospital in serious condition, plus a bill for a wildfire recovery fund sparks tensions between two Hawaii labor unions and Hawaiian Electric. Meanwhile, concerns over the future of the Hawaii Tourism Authority after its leader stepped down, and board chair resigned.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s episode of “Spotlight Now” features the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Tourism officials have a preview their spring tourism update, which will be released Wednesday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been one year since the announcement by Hawaiian and Alaska airlines to merge together as one entity. Today, CEO Joe Sprague says the airlines will be announcing some new routes to and from Hawaii, and hiring and firings will occur in the months ahead. We also caught up with Hawaii Tourism Authority chair Mufi Hannemann, who spoke about the importance of the upcoming legislative session and how the agency will be asking lawmakers for more money this legislative session.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us as we dive into the magic of the Hawaiian Islands with our guest Ilihia Gionson, Public Affairs Officer at the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Learn about the rich cultural heritage that connects the land and its people. Discover the beauty of each island—from the lush landscapes of Kauai to the vibrant city life of Oahu. From hiking trails to culinary delights, regenerative tourism, and unforgettable experiences with local marine life, there's something for everyone in Hawaii.

The tourism industry is lowering expectations for spring break. Hotels have seen a boost in occupancy — between 70% to 80% — but that's still below the 90% mark that was typical for spring break before the pandemic. In March 2019, the Hawaii Tourism Authority says 927,000 people traveled to Hawaii. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest on this episode is Healani Sonoda-Pale, a Kanaka Maoli Human Rights advocate for Self-Determination and a Water Protector who has been organizing at the intersection of the indigenous struggle for liberation and environmental protection in Hawai'i. She is a member of the Red Hill Community Representation Initiative and the spokesperson of the Ka Lahui Hawaii Political Action Committee. Healani was born and raised on the island of O'ahu where she resides with her family.Show Notes:The Beauty of the Pandemic Shutdown in Hawai'iThe Fallout of the Lahaina Fires in West MauiNo ControlsManufacturing the AuthenticReopening for Tourism in the Midst of CatastropheLocal Schism: Those in Favour and Those AgainstThe Tourism at the Heart of the Housing CrisisKa Lahui Hawai'i Political Action CommitteeThe Water Crisis in OahuDecolonizing Tourism is an OxymoronSolidarity with Kanaka MaoliHomework:Healani Sonoda-Pale InstagramKa Lahui Hawai'i | TwitterOahu Water Protectors | Red Hill Community Representation InitiativeTranscript:Chris: [00:00:00] In the first season of the podcast I spoke to Hokulani Aikau and Vernadette Gonzalez about the attempts to decolonize tourism in the Hawaiian islands. And following that Kaleo Patterson. Who offered a deeper historical and cultural background into the ongoing us occupation of Hawaii. The military industrial tourism complex, and some of the traditional forms of hospitality that Hawaiians have engaged in. Since then, and especially because of the wildfires that spread through west Maui this past summer. Listeners have asked again and again, to return to the islands, to host the voices of those. They're now struggling with another catastrophe. Who are offering resilience and resistance. In the face of these enduring consequences. And as such, I welcome.Healani Sonoda-Pale to the pod. Thank you for joining me today, Healani.Healani: It's my pleasure to be joining this podcast and to help [00:01:00] spread the message about tourism in Hawai'i. Chris: Healani, could you do us the favor of elaborating a bit on where you're speaking from today and how the world looks like for you?Healani: Okay. So I'm a Kanaka Maoli woman, born and raised in Hawai'i on the island of O'ahu. I have been in the Hawaiian movement for liberation and self determination for nearly 30 years. I am a student of Dr. Haunani-Kay Trask, and I am on the front lines of many, many issues. The issues that we face today are, many of them are a consequence of tourism.The desecration of cultural sites. The degradation of our beautiful beaches pollution, traffic, overcrowding, the high cost of living in Hawai'i, the extremely high cost of housing in Hawai'i. These are all because of tourism. This is happening to Hawai'i. [00:02:00] As a result, direct result of the tourist industry, which Hawaii relies on.And in Hawaii, we have two businesses. We have the military industrial complex and the tourist industry. Those are the two worst industries to rely on, number one. And they are the most exploitive and extractive industries to have. They do not enhance our way of life here on, on these islands in Hawaii.They do the opposite. They have brought many of us to the brink where we are now, most of us living paycheck to paycheck. The average cost of a house in Hawaii is a million dollars.I believe Honolulu is the number one or at least the top three most expensive cities in the United States to live in. So tourism is a plague in Hawaii. It is a plague upon this place and it has caused us to [00:03:00] struggle on a daily basis, not just financially and not just socially, mentally as well. Having to deal with tourists on a daily basis in Hawaii is frustrating, so that's kind of like the space I'm coming from. I am involved with the water issue, protecting our water, which is now something that is a huge issue. I'm very much involved in the Red Hill issue. I'm involved with protecting Iwi Kūpuna, which is our traditional Hawaiian burials. I'm involved with the repatriation of our land. Again, another big issue. It never ends because the, the economic, social pressure to take and take and take until there's nothing left is relentless. So that's the space we're coming from. So you talked about COVID, right? You started this podcast in the beginning of COVID and COVID was an eye opener for a lot of people in Hawai'i. When COVID happened, [00:04:00] the state of Hawai'i shut down and tourists weren't allowed here during our shutdown.I believe it was like a year and a half. It was beautiful. Even though we were living in the middle of a pandemic, our beaches were empty. There were no lines at the stores. There was no traffic. Even the air we breathed seemed cleaner. The water we swam in, in the ocean, didn't have this sliminess on it, from tourists with suntan lotion swimming in it all day, right?So the fish came back. Even the plants and the land was happy. I mean, it was a beautiful time. Even though it was sad because we were living through a pandemic, it was a beautiful time for us as Kanaka because we got to see Hawai'i without tourists. And that really opened the eyes for people who usually are not as [00:05:00] critical of tourism, as many of us have been so more people in Hawaii started saying, especially Kanaka Mali, well, how do we move forward without tourism?But when the state opened up again, tourism came back and it came back with a vengeance.When you look at what was happening on social media and, you know, what people were posting and across all the islands, we saw some frustration. We saw people posting about interactions they were having with tourists at sacred sites and beaches. People were more aware that tourists were there after COVID because we were able to enjoy our beaches, enjoy our islands without them.And then when they came back, it was not only dangerous because we live 2, 000 miles away from the nearest continent. So, they were bringing in the COVID. I mean, from the time of [00:06:00] Captain Cook, tourists, visitors, explorers, missionaries, they have been bringing in diseases when, when Captain Coke arrived in 1778. We didn't have any immunity to these diseases, and so now, I think for a lot of residents here in Hawai'i, our eyes have been opened on what we have to give up for tourism.We have to sacrifice not only our beautiful island life, but a way forward that doesn't include commodifying who we are as a people, our culture, everything. The state's been talking about diversifying the industry here in Hawai'i, right? They wanted to look into agriculture was one. They've never seriously taken that up. And they always fall back on tourism.Chris: And why do you think that is? Because it's just so easy.Healani: Because they've invested. It's a multi billion dollar business. There's hotels. Waikiki [00:07:00] is loaded with hotels. It's business interests. It's those that have been in control of the tourist industry, wanting to keep control of that and wanting to keep their financial interests protected and keep going.So that is, that has been a problem. And of course we have strong lobbyists here in Hawai'i for the tourist industry. It is an industry that is supported by taxpayer dollars. It's one of the few industries we give millions of dollars of our money. It's a private industry supported by taxpayer dollars.So it's a private industry that we support that exploits not just our resources, our culture, but they have really degraded our way of life here. They've made everything so expensive that most of our people, most of the indigenous people of Hawai'i have moved away because they can't afford to live here.Chris: And you know, I'm curious [00:08:00] in this regard, to what extent do you think that this Government money and government decisions played a part in these wildfires that passed through West Maui in August, you know, like reading and researching for this interview and seeing what's been shared online and social media, the term management and mismanagement continues to arise in and among social movement activists.And I'm curious to what extent you think that either government action or inaction or the tourism industry had a part to play in what happened this past summer.Healani: The Lahaina Fires. was so tragic and the tragedy continues months after. The suicide rates are on the rise in Lahaina. Families are still displaced, thousands of them. They were just [00:09:00] a few days ago, I had posted about it. They were just given again, eviction letters. The last time I was in Maui was there.The first set of eviction letters that went out. So they're being housed in hotels, 7,00-8,000 of them; families that have lost everything, in hotels. And now they're being told to leave to make way for tourism, to make way for tourists. That's the enormity of the pressure that tourists, tourism brings with it. The pressure to a piece and to serve and to put tourism first.Just going back to my childhood in school. We were basically brainwashed into thinking we need tourism. Without tourism, we wouldn't have jobs. There would be no money, you know? So it's been kind of ingrained in us. And that's why I think COVID was super important because it was an eye opener for a lot of us.Because they saw really [00:10:00] what was possible, a world without tourism. And so the pressure to support, to push tourism, to... "they always say, we want to support small businesses," but it's really not about small businesses. It's about those huge, multinational corporations that have invested millions.into this industry and have supported and lobbied for their industry, for the tourist industry. That's what it's really about, to a point where they really don't care about the people, the residents of Lahaina. They're literally traumatizing these families again and pushing them around to make room for an industry that we all pay to support.And the Lahaina fires is a result of corporations, land grabbing by corporations of [00:11:00] tourism gone wild, literally. The whole culture of Hawaii is about making sure tourism is going to be okay in the future. We're one big resort. That's what we are.Hawaii is one big resort. Everything is catered for tourists first. It's always tourists first, residents last. And kanaka maoli not even considered, like we're not even in the equation, except when they want us to dance hula, and when they want us to chant, and when they want us to teach tourists how to make leis. So the whole Lahaina situation is very complicated.Tragic, and it continues to be tragic. Over a hundred people died in those fires. And Lahaina is like a real big hub for tourists, and has been. It's like the Waikiki of Maui. So having that burned down, I think, was a big loss for the tourist industry on Maui. [00:12:00] So they are trying every which way to bring that back. In fact, today they're going to unveil the strategic plan for the next few years for Maui, which again, is just a slap in the face. It's insulting to the people of Lahaina. They're actually having it in West Maui. It's insulting to the people of Lahaina to have now a discussion about how to move forward with tourism while they're still displaced. There's thousands of families that don't know where they're going to be next month.There are thousands more that don't have access to clean water, don't have jobs, that have multiple families living in their homes and they're going to have a big presentation on tourism today. That's what we have to deal with.There is a mythology that's been built around the tourist industry that basically tells us, you know, [00:13:00] we need tourism. We need tourism. For some reason, we won't be able to survive without tourism. So that's the culture of Hawaii. And that's what I've grown up in. One of the things that is concerning about tourism is the fact that there's never been an environmental assessment or environmental impact study done on the effects tourism has on Hawaii .There are no controls. There's no control of how many people will be allowed in, how many people will be allowed at a certain beach, how many people will be allowed to swim and hike up to a sacred pond.There's nothing like that. It's like a free for all here in Hawaii when it comes to tourism.With tourism comes a thriving sex trade. So we have a number of brothels that, of course, are illegal, here in O'ahu. And a real epidemic with a [00:14:00] high number of missing and murdered Native Hawaiian women and girls. Hmm. This is the average characteristics of a victim of a missing girl is 15 years old native Hawaiian.And that's you know, that's the reality here in in Hawaii. So tourism is one of those industries that has a lot of low paying jobs. People have to work two to three, sometimes four jobs to survive here in Hawaii because Hawaii has the highest cost of living and one of the highest in the United States and it's really a struggle to make a living off of the tourist industry.Once tourism gets a foothold in your community, then it's very difficult to get tourism out. And right now, I'm in the midst of a struggle with keeping tourism out of East Maui.[00:15:00] They're expanding tourism into rural areas because they want to make these real authentic experiences for tourists.And they want to provide cultural experiences for tourists now. And the last couple years, the Hawaii Tourism Authority has done something called destination management, which is where they give money to non profits to host tourists in these real authentic settings, where they get to work in the taro patch or they get real cultural experience hiking or storytelling or something like that and in exchange these non profits get paid.The reality of this Destination Management Program that they always give Hawaiian names to -Aloha Aina, Kahu Aina -the reality of these programs [00:16:00] is that they're actually community bribes.Residents are less tolerant of tourism these days, especially post COVID. And so these programs, like the Destination Management Programs that they're now doing, and have been doing for a couple years are community bribes that help residents swallow the bitter pill of tourism. And that is pretty much how this whole thing kind of plays out.Whatever financial benefits we get out of tourism, they're short lived and they aren't sustainable. And in fact, they threaten a sustainable and livable future for residents here, especially Kanaka Maoli.Chris: Do you see any parallels between the quote return of tourism following the COVID-19 lockdowns and later after the fires? Was anything learned by the inundation of [00:17:00] COVID carrying tourists?Healani: Yeah, so I see parallels between what's happening with tourism post COVID and what's happening with tourism post-Lahaina fires. And what's very clear with the government here, the local government has made very clear is that tourism, no matter the cost, in terms of our health and safety, comes first.And that has been shown over and over. While, when they opened up tourism, the COVID numbers went up. And because, of course, people are bringing COVID in. And that put the numbers of people in the emergency rooms and in our hospitals that went way up. We don't have the capacity and we still don't have the capacity to serve thousands and thousands of residents and tourists at the same time.In terms [00:18:00] of medical health care. And so we, you know, we're in a really tight spot for that, you know. So we were really struggling because our hospital and our medical system was overrun.We had sick tourists and we had sick residents. And when you look at the numbers, it was the Native Hawaiians and the Pacific Islanders who were not just catching COVID more, but also dying from COVID more often than others. And with Lahaina, same thing. Instead of waiting, holding off on reopening Lahaina and Maui for tourists, they opened it up super early.In fact, they opened it up a month ago, for tourism. They opened up line up for tourism and families are still suffering. Families don't know what's going to happen next month, where they're going to be living next week. There's [00:19:00] thousands of displaced families still in Lahaina, yet the pressure to open up to tourism is so immense that they did it anyway. So what happened with COVID and the Lahaina fires is that they really show that what they're prioritizing.They're not prioritizing the health and safety of, of the residents, let alone Kanaka Maoli residents. They're prioritizing business interest.Chris: Mm. Hmm. Really just showing the true face, the true nature of the industry. Right. And then not in any way surprising why locals, both residents and Kanaka Maoli would be so upset and so angry, not just with the industry, but with tourists as well when they arrive having no understanding of this. Right. And so my next question kind of centers around locals there, workers, especially. And in this particular article, It says that, "as tourists returned to the [00:20:00] island, displaced residents are still in need of long-term solutions for their future, most notably in terms of long-term affordable housing. Currently. Quote, "a coalition of 28 community groups have staged what's being called a 'fish-in' on Kaanapali beach to help raise awareness of the ongoing impacts of the Malai wildfires. Wearing bright red and yellow shirts, the protesters have pledged to fish along kind of poly beach. An area usually crowded with sunbathers in swimmers, around the clock 24 7, in order to bring awareness to these issues. And so in terms of strategy and solidarity, How have local people and organizations responded in the context of these last few months.Healani: Yeah. Many locals work in tourism. So a lot of people in Hawaii felt that the reopening was too fast, too early. There were other ways they could have dealt with. They always use the term 'affordable housing,' they always use that to [00:21:00] develop. Here they use small businesses to justify prioritizing tourism. So, their whole justification for opening up to tourism early, in Lahaina, was to support small businesses. But there are other solutions. We all know that. They give billions of dollars to Israel and to Ukraine for a war that has nothing to do with us, to other countries who are doing whatever they want with it. But when it comes to this whole issue of tourism and the displaced families, they could have supported these families and for at least a year supported these small businesses like they did during the pandemic, but they chose not to.There's other solutions they could've used, but for them, opening it up was more important than making sure families were okay.So, there is a split between some residents who feel they need tourism and some [00:22:00] who don't. And it's usually, again, business owners who rely on tourists for their livelihood. And like I said before, any kind of benefit we get from tourism is really short lived and the effects of tourism, not just on our environment, but on our society and on our economic system is more detrimental than beneficial.I'll give you an example tourism fuels people from other places wanting to buy a second home here. Tourists come to Hawaii, they see how beautiful it is, they love the beaches, of course. We have like really good weather on a daily basis. So when they come here to visit, they wanna buy a second home here.⌘ Chris Christou ⌘ is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Right now we have a housing crisis in Hawaii, and the reason for this housing crisis is because we have [00:23:00] tens of thousands of empty homes. In fact, we could put all the houseless people that are in Hawaii right now into these empty homes. And we would still have thousands of homes left over. And that is one of the reasons why number one, we have one of the, like the highest housing costs. The average house right now sells for a million dollars.It could literally be a shack on a piece of land. It'll sell for a million dollars in Hawaii. It's because of the demand for housing here in Hawaii. And it's because of the fact that a lot of the housing that we do have are usually second homes. And lots of times they use it for short term housing rentals as well. And I just want to clarify the numbers for the short term housing rentals. There's about 30, 000 residential housing units that are being rented to tourists, instead of residents, instead of locals, instead [00:24:00] of Kanaka Maoli, so that's part of the problem here. We don't have a housing shortage.We have a shortage of housing rentals or landlords that want to rent to residents.So, what we gain from tourism doesn't even come close to what we are losing from tourism, from the tourist industry.Chris: Uh, Wow. . It's just a. It's incredible. How so much of this, this desire to vacation, escape, have fun, rest, make money "passive income" lead so much to the detriment of neighbors, of what might otherwise be neighbors in our midst. And I know that, I think I've read the other day that there's this group Lahaina Strong, that was asking for government intervention. Is that right? Healani: Yeah. So they've asked. Yeah, that's a, that's a good point. [00:25:00] Lahaina Strong, one of the lead groups in Lahaina, have asked for the mayor and the governor to intervene and to ask short term housing rental owners to provide long term housing solutions for those, the displaced families. And that hasn't happened yet.It's been months. It's been September, October, November, over three months. And these families, their future is still up in the air. They don't even have reliable housing. So again, it just tells you what the priorities of the state is. Honestly, I don't think they're going to get what they want.Chris: Thank you, Healani and for being a witness to all this and proceeding accordingly. I'd like to, if I can ask you a little bit more about your political work. If I'm not mistaken you're a spokesperson for Ka Lahui Hawai'i Political Action Committee. Could you explain a little bit about [00:26:00] this organization? What the name means, how it was formed its principles, goals, and actions, perhaps. Healani: Okay, so yes, I am the spokesperson for Ka Lahui Hawai'i, and I am part of the Komike Kalai'aina Political Action Committee, which is a national committee of Ka Lahui Hawai'i, which means the Hawaiian Nation.We are a native initiative for self determination and self governance. We were formed in 1987 by Kanaka Maoli, Indigenous Peoples of Hawaii, as a response to the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, and as a way forward for our people to seek out justice and to create our own way forward by creating our own nation.I have been with Kalahui Hawaii since 1993. And I [00:27:00] joined after watching Dr. Haulani-Kay Trask do her speech on the grounds of Iolani Palace, where she proclaimed that we are not American. And that was an eye opener to me. And I joined Ka Lahui and I transferred to the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, became her student. A lot of the work that we've done has been nation building. We are a nation in exile, literally. We take stances on issues a lot of times. And the issues we've been doing has been from water issues to intellectual property rights, to land rights, to tourism. The issues we cover is literally anything that affects us as a, as a people and as a nation. So we cover a wide [00:28:00] spread of issues. Most recently it's been the water issue that we've been really focused on. And when you look at the water issue, again, you see the disparity there. We are in a water crisis on the island of Oahu. We are encouraged to practice conservation measures. However, the tourist industry, hotels with pools and fountains and large golf courses, which have to be watered daily, are not being told the same thing. They are the exception. They continue to waste water while on O ahu are concerned about the future.Of our children and grandchildren because we're not sure if number one, there will be clean water and number two, if there is clean water, there'll be enough clean water for everyone in the future, but the hotels in the tourist industry, they don't care. They have swimming pools and[00:29:00] golf courses.Tourists are not told to come here and conserve water. You know, in fact, they waste water in the tourist industry and you can see it. Are you seeing how they waste it? It's pretty visual and obvious. So Ka Lahui Hawaii has been active On the front lines with Mauna Kea issue, and we have treaties with other Native American nations. We've gone to the U. N., our past Keaāina, our governor, Merilani Trask helped to draft UNDRIP, which is the U. N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which is one of the most important documents that have come out from the U. N. for Indigenous Peoples and has reasserted all of our rights to self determination.There's about 400 million indigenous peoples around the world, and UNDRIP [00:30:00] is important to every single one of us.Chris: Well, thank you for, for that and the work that you do with Ka Lahui, Healani. I'll make sure that the requisite websites and links are up on the homework section and the end of tourism podcasts for our listeners. Now, in my interview withHokulani Aikau and Vernadette Gonzalez, they spoke of various projects within the tourism sector, undertaken by indigenous Hawaiians to uncover and share with tourists or visitors, the histories of the people and place so often ignored by the industry. Now in order to do this, to educate, many people work within the confines of the structures and the systems we already have, that is to decolonize tourism, for example. Now if we weren't limited by those current structures and systems. How would you personally want to proceed hosting the other, the foreigner? How would you want them [00:31:00] to proceed towards you and your people? How might you imagine such relationship to unfold? Healani: Yeah. Yeah. Decolonize tourism. That's an oxymoron. I don't believe in decolonizing tourism. The nature of tourism, it's like colonization. The nature of tourism is to exploit, is to extract everything it can from a place and from a people and it commodifies, things that to us are spiritual, to us are sacred, tourism commodifies it all. To decolonize something that was not created from indigenous peoples is impossible.We can decolonize our world. But we cannot decolonize systems of [00:32:00] oppression because they're set up to oppress us. And so that is, I don't know what to say. It's like I said before. You know, they keep changing the name, you know, Hawai'i Tourism Authority even though they have leadership that is Kanaka and they're trying to be culturally sensitive and they are doing, you know, destination management practices kind of thing and working with nonprofits and cultural groups.It's still tourism. It's still a business that wants to benefit from our land, from our water, from our culture, from our people. And when we talk about decolonization, when we talk about working against systems of oppression, it's really about us rebuilding our own systems that counter their systems.So it's all systemic, right? It's like a system of power that benefits one group [00:33:00] over the other. It stems from colonization, which is a system of power that is working against us. So to counter that, we have to create our own systems. We actually have to reconnect and recreate our old systems. So Franz Fanon talks about this. When colonization happens, what they do is they compartmentalize our world.So, you know, where we see the world as living, as where we see ourselves as part of nature, and part of this living system where there's balance. We give and take from the land. We take care of the land, the land takes care of us. In our cosmogonic genealogies as Kanaka, it tells us basically our universal perspective on all life, which is basically we are related to all the animals and plants and to the islands itself, because what it does is it recites the birth of every [00:34:00] living thing in Hawaii that was here during the time we were here, before Captain Cook arrived, but it connects us to this world and it tells us our place in it. And when colonization came, what they did was they ripped our world apart.And they separated us from nature. They separated us from our ancient beliefs. They separated us even from our belief in ourself. And many Native people, I'm sure can relate to this, but it's like living in two worlds. We live in a Hawaiian world, and we live in the Western world. We act a certain way in the Western world because of the way it's organized. And in our world, it's different. So, it's important to understand that we cannot infiltrate a system. Without the system infiltrating us. We're going to change before the system changes because these systems have been in place [00:35:00] for centuries.So I don't even want to answer the question about hosting foreigners or others because that's not even something that's on my radar. I don't imagine tourism in my future or in the future of our Lāhui, or in the future of our people. Kalahui, Hawai'i has taken stances against tourists and tourism. It's not worth what we have to give up to host foreigners. And I could go on for hours with stories of our people, putting themselves at risk, saving tourists in the ocean, and not even getting a word of thanks. Having tourists pee on our sacred sites, having tourists throw rubbish on our beaches. It never ends. So I think it's cute that they want to decolonize tourism. It's a multi billion dollar business. You cannot decolonize tourism unless you take [00:36:00] the aspect of capitalism out of it. It's like decolonizing money. How are you going to do that? It's like you need to build systems where you can sustain yourself and your people outside of these capitalist and outside of these corporate systems of power. Healani: Yeah, so what I would want to say to those who want to stand in solidarity with Kanaka Maoli, with the Native people of Hawai'i, I would say stay home. Help us spread the message that we do not want or need visitors to come to our islands. As the Native people of Hawai'i we're building our own food systems, we're bartering. We're trying to move forward as a people away from these other systems, away from tourism, away and out from under military occupation.It's a struggle that we're in. I think for those that are listening, it's important for you to[00:37:00] spread the word about the struggle that Native Hawaiians are going through in our own homeland and our struggle for liberation and to support us in whatever way you can. So I think it's important to support us from afar, I would say.And if you're here anyway, like if you end up coming anyway, then support. Don't just come here. Give back. Help out a Hawaiian organization. Help out a Hawaiian on the street. 40 percent of all houseless in Hawaii are Indigenous Hawaiians. And we only make up 20 percent of the population in our own homeland. 50 percent of the population in Hawaii's prisons and jails are Hawaiians.We have low educational attainment. We die from diseases that other people usually don't die from. We have probably the highest suicide rates in Hawaii. High infant mortality rates. So this isn't our paradise. But we have to make it a paradise for tourists. And that's something we can't continue to do.The reality of the [00:38:00] situation is that it's destroying our future right now. And you look at what happened to Lahaina, and that's all because of unsustainable development, high cost of living, corporations running amok, diverting the rivers, water being diverted to hotels and golf courses, instead of letting water just flow freely from the ocean, from the mountains to the sea.So that's what we're dealing with, and if you are thinking about coming to Hawaii, please, please think again and just support a Hawaiian organization in their struggle to reclaim what we lost. We did something around tourism. It's a survey that we gave to tourists who are here anyway, right? So that is our pledge for tourists if they are gonna come here. And we've had it out for a few years. We've tried to get like the airlines to push it out and stuff like that to raise awareness. Now they're doing more of that, which is good. [00:39:00] And I appreciate that. But ultimately, we don't want people to come here.Healani: That would be the end goal because Hawai'ians are displaced on our own land.This is our mutual aid that we set up to help families of Red Hill who still don't have clean drinking water, which is nuts. And this is two years after, right? So if they want to help with that, we appreciate that. Chris: I'll make sure that our listeners have all of those available to them when the episode launches.Healani: Because we're basically providing services to the residents, but Yeah, that's pretty much it. I can't believe people think they can decolonize tourism. It's freaking nuts.Chris: Yeah. I keep coming back to this notion that, you know, [00:40:00] part of colonization of our minds and the wars against us tend to stem from a war against the imagination and a war against us being able to imagine other worlds and just things completely differently. And I also think that when people don't have examples to follow of what that might be like to, to imagine things differently, and then also to not have the time to do that.You know, people tend to fall back on kind of simple alternatives, I guess.Healani: I think it could be useful for a little while, but it's like, we've got to work towards not sustaining it, but dismantling it, somehow getting rid of it.I mean, look at what everything that's happened to Hawaii, COVID, Lahaina fires. Our wildfires are like happening more and more. We have more on this island now than we've had before. It's just a matter of time before we have our own huge fire that's going to be devastating on this island.Chris: [00:41:00] I'm very grateful for your time, and I can tell very clearly that you're one of those people that's offering an example for younger people on how things might be different. So, I'd like to thank you for your time, your consideration. And I'll make sure, as I said, that all of these links are up on the End of Tourism website when the episode launches and and on social media as well.Healani: Awesome. Thank you so much. You have a good day. Get full access to ⌘ Chris Christou ⌘ at chrischristou.substack.com/subscribe

Mike White, who serves on the Board of Directors for the Hawaii Tourism Authority, discusses what visitors to Maui should expect three months after wildfires devastated the community of Lahaina. 

The Big West along with the Hawaii Tourism Authority announced Friday a new multi-year deal for the University of Hawaii to host post-season volleyball tournaments.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In August, deadly wildfires swept through parts of Hawaii, specifically Maui and the Big Island. On Maui, the wildfires spread to the historical town of Lahaina. Around 100 people died, homes, businesses and hotels were destroyed, and that section of the island had been shut off to visitors.  But the rebuilding and recovery process has been ongoing, and Gov. Josh Green proclaimed those sections of West Maui “open” again to tourism as of Oct. 8. And today we've brought together three Hawaii tourism experts: Our contributing editor for Hawaii, Christine Hitt; Kathy Takushi, the owner of Maui-based travel agency Captivating Journeys; and Ilihia Gionson, the public affairs office at the Hawaii Tourism Authority, to talk about the island's approach to reopening and whether travelers should go to West Maui. In this informative and emotional episode, we talk about responsible tourism -- the right way for people to approach travel to those impacted areas. What to say to visitors who may feel apprehensive about going. The aloha spirit that's so unique to Hawaii. And concerns about overtourism: Could Lahaina's closure mean crowds in other parts of the island? Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Air France/KLM Royal Dutch Airlines https://www.afkl.biz Stay on after this episode for a bonus interview with Charlotte Bowman, sales development director for Air France/KLM, and Mary Pat Sullivan, the executive vice president of marketing and partnerships for Travel Weekly and the Northstar Travel Group. Additional links and coverage: Support for Maui wildfire relief: https://www.mauinuistrong.info/ Hawaii Tourism: https://gohawaii.com Captivating Journeys: https://captivatingjourneys.com/ Reports by contributing editor Christine Hitt: In the aftermath of Maui fires, an agency owner looks ahead https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/In-aftermath-of-fires-Maui-agency-owner-looks-ahead?ct=hawaii West Maui's phased reopening takes place https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/West-Maui-phased-reopening A new plan for Maui's recovery https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Insights/Maui-travel-recovery-plan Understanding the economic impact of the Maui fires https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Insights/Understanding-the-economic-impact-of-the-Maui-fires Additional Travel Weekly reports on Maui fires: A visit to Maui, a month after the fires https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Aloha-and-welcoming-hospitality-for-visitors-on-Maui Reopening Maui hotels focus on locals https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Reopening-Maui-hotels-focus-on-supporting-locals Maui hotels launch promotions to stimulate tourism recovery https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Maui-hotels-launch-promotions-stimulate-tourism-recovery    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week I first discuss the the latest trending news in travel, including the tragic situation in Israel and how it has impacted travel, the safest places to travel this fall, cruise pricing on the rise, and much more.  Later, I interview Ilihia Gionson, Public Affairs Officer for the Hawaii Tourism Authority.  Gionson provides updates on the phases of West Maui's reopening for tourism, as well as what travelers can expect and how they can help.  The interview around West Maui begins just after the 12-minute mark.  Today's episode sponsor: Palladium Hotel Group.  Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa stands as a luxurious haven nestled on the captivating northern coast of Jamaica. The recent refurbishment includes  the 537 recently renovated suites, 48 of which include a private pool and terrace, an ideal ambiance for relaxation. The Infinity Saloon Bar, the focal point of Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa was also redesigned. This bar offers breathtaking 180º views of the Caribbean Sea and hosts live music and entertaining shows. Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa is an enchanting destination nestled along the shores of Mexico's Riviera Maya. Guests at the Grand Palladium Kantenah are treated to a wide array of amenities and activities. Grand Palladium Kantenah, whose reopening is scheduled for December 2023, will debut Family Selection in Riviera Maya. These unique spaces were designed with traveling families in mind, where guests can enjoy special amenities and personalized attention, ideal for those seeking a premium experience with activities for adults and children. Have any feedback or questions? Want to sponsor the show? Contact us at Podcast@TravelPulse.com and follow us on social media @TravelPulse. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Part of the initial response to the wildfires on Maui was to ask visitors to leave. But now, they're not coming back — and they're also canceling future plans, which businesses and tourism officials say will hurt the recovery efforts. According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, there were just under 3,500 visitors a day to the Valley Isle this month. That's just half the number seen in August 2022.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Notes Maui's tourism industry faces an uncertain future as the island recovers from the massive devastation caused by recent wildfires. Maui's hotels have suffered enormously in the aftermath of the destruction, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam. Habtemariam reports that nearly half of all hotel rooms in Maui were unfilled last week. The island's hotel occupancy rates were 49% for the week ending August 19, according to commercial real estate information provider CoStar.  Although the Hawaii Tourism Authority is encouraging travelers to visit areas of Maui away from the destruction, Habtemariam writes the state's tourism leaders are facing a messaging challenge regarding the island. Three major U.S. airlines have cut their number of scheduled flights to Maui over the past week. The wildfires have claimed more than 110 lives in addition to causing billions of dollars of damage. Next, U.S. hotel companies have viewed China's economic boom as a vehicle to boost hotel development. However, China's economic turmoil could derail their plans, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O'Neill.  Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott are companies that have unveiled major expansion plans for China. Although O'Neill lists several reasons why hotel executives find China enticing, including the potential to expand quickly, he notes the country's current economic woes are complicating growth plans. Hotel development in China recorded an 8% year-over-year drop in the second quarter.  In addition, Bloomberg Economics Chief Economist Tom Orlik said China's biggest challenge is that's working-age population is decreasing. The country population's fell last year, with O'Neill writing that an aging population will create multi-year problems economically.  Finally, Wynn Resorts expects to obtain a gaming license soon for the United Arab Emirates' first casino, reports Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia.  Wynn Resorts CEO Craig Billings said recently the company has everything it needs to operate gaming at the Wynn Al Marjan property. Billings added that construction on the casino has already started. Skift reported last November that Wynn had confirmed the property would house a casino. However, Bhutia notes that questions about the casino have lingered to the country's strict Islamic laws that typically don't permit activities like gambling.    The Wynn Marjan is scheduled to open in 2027

What up people, today we got the UFC legend Max Holloway in the building. Today he shares what Conor told him while they were fighting, why he DC I'd a fraud, and how he feels about his fight this weekend with Korean Zombie. **NOTE: This episode was filmed before the tragic wildfires fires in Maui. If you're interested in contributing to the relief effort, you can support the people of Maui by clicking the link below. https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong -- 00:00 Intro 00:49 Waianae can throw down 03:17 Most stars will leave their home 05:30 Matt finding out he could fight 06:55 Hawaiians are kind, sweet and fisty 09:30 Rather fight than pay $35 12:54 The one time Max got ROCKED 16:40 Assessing in the fight 19:04 "Keep fighting, mate" - hurting Conor McGregor 20:47 Teaching Ortega, MID-FIGHT 21:38 Daniel Cormier is a sell-out! 25:25 Commission stopped Max-Khabib due to weight cut 27:21 Max would fight DC in an alley + fighting friends 30:52 Not sparring anymore + Zoom training + LOUDEST Tesla 34:30 Video Games is training + Hawaii is home 38:56 The world doesn't owe you a thing 41:58 Bum friends + Iowa SUCKS + Thiccies 46:35 Filipino gambling + c0ckf1ghting + clout chasers 49:26 Iam Tongi is phenomenal 54:39 Max fighting Korean Zombie + Motivation 58:26 Fighting Volk again + mental strength makes you elite 01:04:02 Pre-fight rituals + venue makes no difference 01:07:29 Hawaii Tourism Authority refusing UFC 01:12:26 Hawaiian v Local + Pidgin Bible 01:15:54 Surfing is MORE dangerous + d1ckdragg3r 01:21:04 Max's true love + Greece & Japan

Discussing recent Maui devastation from fires specifically in Lahaina, HI. Ilihia Gionson brings more than a decade of experience to HTA developing and executing strategies for federal, state and municipal government agencies, businesses, and non-profit organizations. He most recently was the founder and principal of Hiehie Communications, where he provided strategic integrated communications and community outreach services to a range of clients across Hawaii in hospitality, renewable energy, and sustainable development. He has also served as field representative and Hawai‘i communications director for U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard from 2018-2020, as well as executive assistant and communications director for the late Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi from 2011-2016.In this newly created position developed through the recent restructuring of HTA, Gionson will be responsible for anticipating, gathering, analyzing, and interpreting opinions, attitudes, and issues that may affect the organization and its mission, Malama Kuu Home (caring for my beloved home) through the principles of regenerative tourism. He will also work with the HTA Board of Directors, executives, and staff to formulate communications and disseminate information to HTA stakeholders and the public about how the organization's activities will enhance community well-being. In addition, he will be responsible for HTA's government relations, media communications, issue management, corporate and social responsibility programs, information dissemination, and strategic communications.“Ilihia brings a strong background in community building and government relations to our HTA leadership team and we are excited to have him join as we continue to execute on our strategic plan,” said John De Fries, HTA president and CEO. “Effective communication and engagement is a key part of building greater collaboration between tourism and the community. His working knowledge of the unique tapestry of Hawaii, as well as the Hawaiian culture, has made him an effective strategist and communicator throughout his career.”With a strong history of guiding clients from within and outside Hawaii in sensitive and challenging situations, Gionson is well-versed in geographic and socioeconomic nuances across the islands. A kamaaina of Oahu and Hawaii Island, he is fully bilingual, trained in Hawaiian language and culture.“The visitor industry is a part of the fabric of Hawaii's society, amplifying our potential to help heal the world with the values that have guided us for generations,” said Gionson. “The industry has grown in ways that call upon us today to rebalance, realign and reprioritize. My hope is to continue the important work already taking place at HTA to build trust between the industry, the community, and our elected leaders through clear and responsive communication. At the end of the day, we are all neighbors and ohana in this home we love.”

In this special episode of Trade Secrets, co-host Jamie Biesiada gets an update on the wildfires in Hawaii from Ilihia Gionson, the Hawaii Tourism Authority's public affairs officer. Gionson talks about what's happening on Maui, thanks those visitors who have left the island and asks for patience in the weeks ahead as damage is assessed and recovery begins. This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations. https://www.vaxvacationaccess.com/suppliers/apple-leisure-group/pages/algv-gives-you-more/ Further resources: For visitor-specific information, visit the Hawaii Tourism Authority on its website or gohawaii.com For general disaster information, visit the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency To lend a hand, consider donations to the American Red Cross or one of the organizations identified by the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Notes People who want knowledge about the travel industry on Wednesday got a valuable new resource to obtain critical information. Skift unveiled Ask Skift, an artificial intelligence chatbot that will answer your questions focused on the travel sector, says Skift founder and CEO Rafat Ali. Ali writes that a user can ask questions on Skift's website such as “How is Airbnb planning to leverage AI?” or “Who is IHG's CEO?” Ask Skift has been trained on the entirety of Skift archives over the last 11 years, including daily stories and research reports. The chatbot will also provide other specialized travel industry content and data in weeks to come. Ali said the emergence of generative AI is enabling Skift to have a question and answer-based relationship with readers that wasn't feasible before.  Next, JetBlue Airways believes it's taken a big step to boosting revenue. The company has made major updates effective Wednesday to its already lucrative loyalty program, reports Edward Russell, editor of Airline Weekly, a Skift publication.  JetBlue's updated loyalty program includes new elite Mosaic tiers and perks, including free business class upgrades and free helicopter transfers between JFK Airport and Manhattan. Russell writes that the driving force behind JetBlue's loyalty updates is the opportunity to earn more revenue. The New York-based carrier generated $100 million in loyalty-related revenue in the first quarter. That's a 14 percent year-over-year increase.  Finally, the Hawaii Tourism Authority is continuing to market the Aloha State despite not being allocated funding from the state legislature for the next two years. The agency is planning to award a huge contract to market Hawaii to the U.S. mainland, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam.  Habtemariam reports Hawaii Tourism Authority executives decided at a recent board meeting to award a marketing contract worth up to $51 million. The organization also plans to move forward with a $34 million contract for destination management as well as a nearly $3 million contract to market the state to Canadian travelers. Habtemariam adds the contact winners will be selected on May 22. 

Episode Notes Social media influencers have become more powerful in marketing in recent years, with a growing number of companies looking to tap into their sometimes-enormous reach. That list includes destination marketing organizations, or tourism boards, that are developing more sophisticated marketing strategies for influencers as part of their plans to attract tourists, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam.  Habtemariam writes what influencers say about travel can have more clout than other types of advertising. San Francisco Travel CEO Joe D'Alessandro said the words of an influencer are more trustworthy for many people than an ad the organization may air. A 2022 Pew Research survey found 53 percent of social media users purchased something after seeing an influencer they follow post about it.  Habtemariam notes destinations are increasingly shopping for suitable influencers instead of just waiting to receive pitches from them. Discover Puerto is launching a request for proposal for an agency to assist with its influencer marketing strategy. Chief Marketing Officer Leah Chandler said the quality of influencers is much higher than compared to five or 10 years ago. Meanwhile, the U.S. national tourism marketing agency Brand USA has a program that loans out trusted international influencers to partner destinations.  Next, InterContinental Hotels Group CEO Keith Barr announced on Friday he's stepping down after six years at the helm, Skift co-founder Jason Clampet and Travel Experiences Reporter Selene Brophy report. Barr cited family as the reason why he's leaving his post at the UK-based company. He said during IHG's first-quarter earnings call that the time was right to return to the U.S. considering his daughters will be studying in the country. Barr, who joined IHG in 2000, added he has been living outside the U.S. for roughly 20 years. IHG's Americas CEO Elie Maalouf will succeed Barr effective June 30.  IHG reported that its first-quarter revenue per available room, an important industry metric, was up nearly 7 percent from 2019 levels. The company received a boost from its average daily rates rising 10 percent from pre-Covid levels. Finally, the Hawaii Tourism Authority will have fewer resources for its marketing effortsamid widespread frustration in the state with the industry. The agency has been excluded from the state budget, writes Global Tourism Reporter Habtemariam.  Habtemariam reports the Hawaii Tourism Authority now has to request funds from the state's budgeting and finance department. The governor and legislature will have to approve any funding requests. Habtemariam adds the state government will ensure the agency focuses more on destination management instead of marketing. Lawmakers in the Aloha State recently came close to passing a bill that would have dissolved the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Deadly drugs. The fentanyl epidemic in our state has claimed dozens of lives. We dig into the disturbing trend.  Phone spoofing. How scammers are making their phone numbers look like they belong to the Honolulu police department in an attempt to trick us.  Tourism trouble. The Hawaii Tourism Authority could be shut down soon. Howard Dicus has a status update including where the tourism industry appears to stand on the issue based on its actions, or lack thereof, so far. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A hiker falls 100 feet from a trail. Where this happened and how rescue crews were able to save him. A new bill could shut down the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Howard is tracking the progress of the proposal as it moves through the legislature. There's a new way to help struggling families put food on the table. It's a partnership between Foodland and the Salvation Army. Our Casey Lund will tell us what "Meals of Aloha" is all about.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Need It, Want It, Hate it. The hosts for this show are Jay Fidell and Tom Yamachika. Here in Hawaii, we officially have a love-hate relationship with tourism. How do we love it? Look no further than the Hawaii Tourism Authority, which has been awarding lucrative marketing contracts – tens of millions of dollars per year. How do we hate it? We have been taxing the bejeebers out of tourists. Tourists looking at their hotel folios are greeted with a state TAT of 10.25%, a county TAT of 3%, a state general excise tax of 4%, and, for most counties, a county surcharge on state tax of 0.5%. That's a whopping combined tax rate of close to 18% under current law. With all of these mixed messages going out to what is, happily or unhappily, our No. 1 economic driver, the possibility of economic waste looms large. The ThinkTech YouTube Playlist for this show is https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQpkwcNJny6lmEllOKP493URXssFT4N7G Please visit our ThinkTech website at https://thinktechhawaii.com and see our Think Tech Advisories at https://thinktechadvisories.blogspot.com.

When most people think of traveling to Hawaii, they think of lying on the beach or walking around Waikiki, but in this program, visitors are getting their hands dirty and learning about Hawaiian culture. It's all part of what the Hawaii Tourism Authority calls "voluntourism" -- a new movement to change the type of visitor that is coming to Hawaii and reimagine what tourism looks like.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John DeFries, HTA President joins the Spotlight Hawaii LIVE conversation to talk about the current state of tourism in Hawaii. More from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser: Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://808ne.ws/2Ww2WXN Website: https://staradvertiser.com Coronavirus coverage: https://staradvertiser.com/coronavirus Email newsletters: https://808ne.ws/newsletters Facebook: https://facebook.com/staradvertiser Twitter: https://twitter.com/staradvertiser Instagram: https://instagram.com/staradvertiser LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/honolulu-star-advertiser #Hawaii #HINews #StarAdvertiser

Leslie Jordan, the beloved comedian and actor known for "Will and Grace," has died at 67. The Navy is expected to discuss its Red Hill "unpacking" plan that's set to start this week. The Hawaii Tourism Authority reports September hotel occupancy was under 74%.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John DeFries of the Hawaii Tourism Authority discusses Hawaii's hidden treasures and volunteer opportunities. 

The 2021 Nā Hōkū Hano Hano Award winning MANA MUSIC QUARTET presents, The Music of QUEEN LILI`UOKALANI and BRAHMS with special guest violinist Kisa Uradomo. Saturday July 30th  7:30 PM at the McCoy Studio Theater. There will be Pre show featuring the Maui String Trio 6:00. Supported by Hawaii Tourism Authority through the Community Enrichment program and Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau. Tickets at MauiArts.org or call 242- SHOW  

Hawaii Tourism Authority CEO John De Fries joined the Honolulu Star-Advertiser's “Spotlight Hawaii” livestream show today and answered viewer questions. This series shines a spotlight on issues affecting the Hawaiian Islands.

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Kimberly Flook of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation.  In this podcast Kimberly talks about the purpose of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation, the history of the organization, the challenges of adapting older significant buildings, the Lahaina Quest Keiki Programs that are offered, what it was like to receive a Community Enrichment Award from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, how that award will allow the program to grow, and how people can learn more or get involved with the Lahaina Restoration Foundation.  

On this episode, Sherry Menor-McNamara and Jo McGarry discuss how to boost businesses and the economy in 2022. In her tenure as President & CEO of the Chamber, Sherry Menor-McNamara shares with podcast host, Jo McGarry, how these past two years have been the most challenging for business owners due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic. Tune in to hear how businesses can effect change, rally for recovery and navigate the path forward through the Boost 4Business initiative and by telling their story with policymakers. Bio:Sherry Menor-McNamara was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii on September 1, 2013; becoming the youngest and first female President and CEO of the Chamber in the organization's 170-year history, as well as the first Asian to serve as CEO of a State Chamber. She previously served as the organization's Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Government Affairs. She joined the Chamber as Director of Business Advocacy in 2006 and was promoted to Vice President of Business Advocacy and Government Affairs in 2007. Under her leadership, the Chamber was recognized as the 2018 State Chamber of the Year, a national award presented by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.Prior to joining the Chamber, she was events manager for ESPN Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. She has lived in several major cities, including Tokyo, New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles and London, working for a wide variety of companies, such as Sony Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Estee Lauder Company, Elton John Production, as well as for the Hawaii State Legislature, U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka and the Executive Office of the United States President.  She currently serves on numerous boards including the Hawaii Tourism Authority, JAIMS Foundation, and Move Oahu Forward. Nationally, she serves the board for the U.S. Chamber, Council of State Chambers, Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, including its Executive Committee, and the U.S. Chamber Committee of 100. Sherry earned a certificate in expanding impact in advocacy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Executive Education. She received her juris doctorate degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law and her MBA from the Shidler College of Business – both at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She also pursued graduate study in public administration at the University of Southern California and holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of California at Los Angeles. Born in Tokyo, Japan and raised in Hilo, where she graduated from Waiakea High School, Sherry is married to John McNamara. She is a certified yoga teacher and enjoys golfing, traveling and spending time with her husband and dog, Kuma-chan. 

Ah, Hawaii… sunny beaches, hotel resorts and swimming with dolphins. Hawaii is a major vacation destination…and that's a problem, according to Native Hawaiians who are fed up with the relentless invasion of visitors. Crowds of outsiders and the pollution and lack of cultural understanding they bring are a constant sore spot. The governor of Hawaii and the Hawaii Tourism Authority are looking to revamp tourism. They hope to attract more mindful visitors who might help clean up and care for the land. We'll talk with locals about tourism's effects on land and culture in Hawaii and whether re-branding is enough.

Welcome back for Season 2 of The Better Travel Podcast! What does “thoughtful travel” look like? What are some concrete things that we can do to ensure that we make the most of our travels while also remaining sensitive to the impact of our presence as visitors? Two guests offer their expert insight: Amanda Kendle, a travel writer and host of the Thoughtful Travel Podcast, and Emily Thomas, an associate professor of philosophy at Durham University and the author of a fascinating book on the philosophy of travel. We also have a new installment in our language lessons series! Ilihia Gionson of the Hawaii Tourism Authority joins the show to teach Paige some beautiful words in the Hawaiian language. Thank you so much for listening! Resources Amanda Kendle's blog, Not a Ballerina: https://www.notaballerina.com/ Amanda's podcast, The Thoughtful Travel Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-thoughtful-travel-podcast/id1269489189 RISE Travel Institute: https://www.risetravelinstitute.org/ Website of Emily Thomas: https://emilythomaswrites.co.uk/ Emily's book: https://bookshop.org/books/the-meaning-of-travel-philosophers-abroad/9780198835400

Hawaii Tourism Authority's John De Fries joined the Honolulu Star-Advertiser's “Spotlight Hawaii” livestream show and answered viewer questions. This series shines a spotlight on issues affecting the Hawaiian Islands.

Hawaii had a record-breaking number of visitors in 2019, and now the Islands are thinking about how they want to manage tourism in the years ahead. John De Fries is the President and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, and he's the first Native Hawaiian to hold the position. John joins the podcast to talk about what it was like growing up in Waikiki in the 1950s, what was so hard about the summer of 2021, and what he wants all visitors to the Islands to think about before they arrive. Also, listen up for a special bonus segment in which Paige embarrasses herself while trying to learn a foreign phrase… Have you been to Hawaii recently? What was it like? Or if you live in Hawaii, how do you feel about tourism in the state? I'd love to hear about your experience and hope you'll share by sending me a voice message. Thank you so much for listening! Resources Hawaii Tourism Authority website Links to Hawaii's Destination Management Plans Honolulu Star-Advertiser article, “Native Hawaiian leaders call new Oahu tourism plan ‘step in the right direction,' but execution is key”

This week we’re traveling to the Aloha state with our contributing editor for Hawaii, Tovin Lapan, and experts Frank Haas, a consultant and former Hawaii Tourism Authority executive; Gail Stringer, who owns the Hawaii General Store in Seattle, and Terry Uemura, a travel advisor at Hawaii General Store Travel. Hawaii has been very serious about managing inbound travel, but it can be confusing, for example, Gov. David Ige’s recommendation – not a formal mandate -- that people not travel to the islands. So we’ll talk about that, as well as about ways to manage tourism on the islands; demand and rates; and some of our favorite new travel programs, some off-the-beaten path tips and a few forever favorites. This episode was recorded Thursday, Oct. 7, and has been edited for length and clarity. On Oct. 8, Hawaii rules changed again, this time on Oahu, where Ige and Honolulu mayor Rick Blangiardi eased restrictions on dining capacity and other gatherings. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Hurtigruten Expeditions. Related reading: Travel battles blowback from Hawaii governor's 'don't come' comment https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Travel-battles-blowback-from-Hawaii-governors-dont-come-advice Oahu eases restrictions on gatherings as Covid-19 cases drop https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Oahu-eases-restrictions-Covid-cases-drop On Oahu, visitors show vax records and businesses adapt to Covid rules https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/On-Oahu-visitors-show-vax-records-and-businesses-adapt-to-Covid-rules Hawaii offers vacations with a purpose https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Insights/Malama-Hawaii-blends-vacations-with-volunteer-work 'Inspired' changes at a refreshed Halekulani https://www.travelweekly.com/Hawaii-Travel/Inspired-changes-at-a-refreshed-Halekulani See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John De Fries, president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, joined us to talk about tourism in Hawaii as the state continues to work its way out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Surfing to us is just one more thing in the list of things that has been separated from our cultural heritage, our people and our sovereignty," Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā, with the Hawaii Tourism Authority, told The World.

Hawaii Tourism Authority's tourism management plans; Federal aid for local arts and culture; Reality Check with Civil Beat; Brain Tumor Awareness Month; Protecting keiki mental health

Cutting Hawaii Tourism Authority's budget; Local ties to Netflix documentary "My Octopus Teacher"; Reality Check with Civil Beat: Interim police chief; UH M?noa hosts esports tournament; Mauka to Makai: Long Spoon Farms

Revamping the Hawaii Tourism Authority; Homeschooling on the rise in Hawai‘i; Reality Check with Civil Beat: Federal vaccine requests; Benefits and pitfalls of artificial intelligence; Monk seal pup at Kaimana Beach

Local reaction to former Minneapolis police officer's guilty verdict; The push to vaccinate residents; Hawaii Tourism Authority under scrutiny; Earth Day: Maui Nui Marine Resource Council cleaning up pollution

DBEDT Director Mike McCartney and Hawaii Tourism Authority CEO John De Fries joined Spotlight Hawaii, a series from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that shines a spotlight on issues affecting our islands, today for a livestream video and took viewer questions.

Hawaii Tourism was hit hard by COVID-19, but record numbers of visitors from US domestic markets are visiting the Aloha State again. Hear from Patricia Herman, the VP of Marketing and Development of the State agency in charge of tourism. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/etn/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/etn/support

Canadian visitors not here yet; Hawaii Tourism Authority looks ahead to 2021; Covert Honolulu police unit trailed former medical examiner; Pursuing a career in social work

Sherry Menor-McNamara is the youngest and first female President and CEO in the 170-year history of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, as well as the first Asian to serve as the leader of a State Chamber, and under her leadership, the Chamber won the 2018 ACCE State Chamber of the Year, and in 2019, won two national Council of State Chambers awards. She has lived in several major cities, including Tokyo, New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles and London, working for companies including: Sony Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Estee Lauder Company, Field Group, Elton John Production and “60 Minutes” news magazine show. Her government-related work includes positions with the Hawaii State Legislature, U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka and the Executive Office of the United States President. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Board of Trustees of the JAIMS Foundation, Executive Committee and Board of Directors for Move Oahu Forward, and Advisory Council of the Center for Tomorrow's Leaders. Nationally, she serves on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Council of State Chambers (COSC), the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), and Western Association of Chamber Executives (WACE), as well as on the U.S. Chamber's Committee of 100.

Today John de Fries, the new CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority reached out to the community on the Island of Hawaii to get input on how to relaunch tourism on the Big Island. Community leaders want tourists to make a pledge of Kona before allowed on the island. Listen to this interesting discussion by tourism and community leaders. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/etn/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/etn/support

It's been one month since Hawaii relaunched tourism. Since then, more than 182,000 passengers have flown to Hawaii, according to the latest data from the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Travellers from Japan can now bypass Hawaii's mandatory 14-day quarantine if they show a negative COVID-19 test from one of the state's trusted testing partners.Businesses that rely on Japanese tourists are gearing up for their return. We won't see the buses that shuttle large groups of Japanese visitors around Honolulu like the 'Oli'Oli or Waikiki Trolley anytime soon, but we can expect to see more travellers from Japan return – mostly to do business or see family.Those flying from Japan will be the first international travellers allowed to avoid quarantine in Hawaii. And tourism officials are banking on it to bring the economy back to life.According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority or HTA, a million and a half visitors from Japan injected more than two billion dollars into the economy last year. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of visitors is down more than 71%.Japanese travellers are subject to a 14-day quarantine when they go back.Travel blogger Megan Singleton joined Francesca Rudkin to discuss if this is an option for New Zealand.LISTEN ABOVE

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell today told eTurboNews Juergen Steinmetz, he will be meeting with John de Fries, CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority this afternoon to relate his concern about visitors not being fully informed about mask requirements in Waikiki, Honolulu and the rest of Oahu. The mayor told eTurboNews he was hoping HTA would take immediate steps and was also hoping for airlines, the airport, and hotels to join in, so visitors would not end up in court and in jail when not following strict mandated in place for the island. The mayor pledged to personally hand out masks to visitors today to make a point. Read more on eTurboNews --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/etn/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/etn/support

This is an imperfect scenario by imperfect people, but what we all have in common is our Aloha for Hawaii. We need to hold on to this decision to reopen our visitor's industry on Thursday and support one another. "We are in a state of free fall. The longer we are trapped, the more we risk." These are the words today heard from John de Fries, the newly appointed CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority. HTA is in charge of travel and tourism and appointed by the State of Hawaii. On Thursday, October 15 Hawaii will again welcome visitors with a negative pre-arrival COVID-19 test after tourism was idle for 7 months due to a 2-week mandatory quarantine. Listen to the Chiefs heartwarming address today to the Hawaiian People and future visitors: Click here to read the full story on eTurboNews --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/etn/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/etn/support

Hawaii Tourism Authority President and CEO John De Fries joined Spotlight Hawaii, a new series from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that shines a spotlight on issues affecting our islands, for a livestream video today and took viewer questions.

Hawaii Travel becomes a reality from October 15. Keith Regan, Chief Administrative Officer of Hawaii Tourism Authority says the low Covid numbers have helped.We know that Opportunity Zones have attracted great interest from real estate developers and investors. Other opportunities are available to other types of businesses or entrepreneurs. Blake Christian has more.

Mike McCartney, director of Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, joined the Honolulu Star-Advertiser's Spotlight Hawaii to talk about the economic impact of the coronavirus on the state economy. “Hawaii is going to be one of the last states to recover according to Moody's Analytics, that just came out yesterday,” he said. Before the pandemic, McCartney says tourists brought in roughly $50 million dollars a day to the state of Hawaii, so figuring out how to bring some of that spending back in a safe way is critical. “We're trying to find that right balance of keeping people safe and making sure we have an economy that can sustain all of us,” he said. McCartney, who previously served as the head of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, said he does not expect a full scale reopening of transpacific travel until November or December, but that does not rule out smaller, more controlled efforts, like travel bubbles. “I think the international market like Japan is one important that maybe we could do it together, and have a small bubble and start to expand it, and then show everyone that this is how you do it, and then continue to grow from that,” he said. “I think it's, go slow to go fast.” McCartney said the state has received several substantial grants through the CARES Act, including one for $30 million. He says the first $10 million of that will be going toward training programs to help people who have lost their jobs shift into new careers. “These ideas came up from people in the business community, supported by the Legislature. So you'll hear that announcement coming out shortly, that we're going to be paying people to do that, as they retrain,” he explained. He said there is also an initiative to support Hawaii's fishing industry, and a third initiative supporting the state's high tech entity, HCDC, to help local companies manufacture personal protective equipment (PPE). “If we can start producing our own material, then that might be a strategic advantage for us, and so the legislature has given us money for that. So we're gonna start implementing that in the weeks and months to come.” McCartney said he is also hoping that more federal money comes Hawaii's way, for sectors like construction, through infrastructure project funding or building more affordable housing. “We see the urgency. We know can't hang on, so we're hoping also that other relief comes in, like federal money,” he said.

Tourism is everyone's business in Hawaii, no matter if you're employed in that industry or not. Tourism is the lifeline for the Aloha State. Chris Tatum is the CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the State agency in charge of the largest industry here, travel and tourism. COVID-19 became a threat to Hawaii's visitor's industry in March 2020, and in June 2020 Chris decided to retire and move with his family to Colorado. His last board meeting at HTA is scheduled for August 27 and Chris will take some vacation dates to get out of Hawaii early. Ever since March the phone system at HTA and also at HVCB (The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau) only goes to voicemails, and voicemail boxes are mostly full and never acted on. Emails are not responded to, and a complete breakdown in communication is preventing good and potential initiatives to be made impossible Mufi Hannemann is the head of the Hawaii Lodging Tourism Association and former mayor of Honolulu. In the midst of COVID-19 he decided to leave tourism and was running for election. He wanted to become a mayor again but recently lost big time. Running for mayor is a full time job, and it shows and explains his non-responsiveness. Daniel Chung is one out of 12 board members of the Hawaii Tourism Authority. He did talk to eTurboNews host Juergen Steinmetz and remains the only one out of 12 HTA board members to do so. Listen to this conversation. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/etn/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/etn/support

Chaos is ruling Hawaii. Elected officials like US Congresswoman Gabbard, theHawaii Tourism Authority, or HVCB are running away from COVID-19. They are not responding and directing frustrated callers to full voice systems. The CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority retired early and escaped to Colorado. Today Hawaii with 333 new infections, had the highest increase in COVID-19 infection rate ever topping the United States on a percentage scale. This is a letter Dale Evans, CEO of Honolulu based Charley's Taxi wrote today so her company could continue to operate. She is sharing her frustration on the scary situation Hawaii is now entering with an uncontrollable spike in Coronavirus. Listen to the podcast Her letter explains just some of the issues businesses are going through in the new reality of COVID: Charley's Taxi always are operating 24/7 to provide the residents & visitors with "Essential Services". Obviously, we are suffering a significant financial loss. This is our 82nd year of service to the Honolulu community, we somehow survived WWII and other economic crisis, not to mention all 12 bills and resolutions since 2014 that resulted in few/no rules on UBER & LYFT, continuing stringent restrictions and costs on taxicab operators .... but our situation today is critical. Since we were the first (and only) company to submit our license renewal applications, the city is allowing other transporters to operate without licenses. Would you please arrange for IMMEDIATE REFUND of $2000 for the Taxi and TNC licenses. If you will issue the TNC license right away, you can disregard fee refunds. We continue waiting for CSD to finally answer, instead of ignoring our several requests to your administration: (a) 3 FOIA requests unanswered; (b) Repeated requests to change the HAR 9 to allow taxicab operators to pass on costs-of-business; and (c) Request renewal of AllWays Charley's TNC license. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/etn/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/etn/support

Traditional procreation chants and dances celebrate and encourage the continuation of ali‘i family lines. Hula ma‘i are often misunderstood and misinterpreted in modern Western contexts. (Parental discretion advised).The Hula: Mind, Body and Spirit lecture and film series was made possible through the generous support from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, JABSOM, UH Mānoa and Ka 'Aha Hula 'O Hālauaola.

The parallels between hula and the Hawaiian martial art ku‘ialua, also called lua, are not apparent to most observers, but are noted by experts skilled in both cultural practices. Parallels and differences will be demonstrated and discussed.The Hula: Mind, Body and Spirit lecture and film series was made possible through the generous support from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, JABSOM, UH Mānoa and Ka 'Aha Hula 'O Hālauaola.

A generation ago, ʿuniki hula (a hula graduation ceremony) was a rare and seldom-discussed event; now ʿuniki are televised, included in university classes, and regularly conducted throughout Hawaiʿi. What are the elements and requirements of this revived ʿuniki ceremony? The Hula: Mind, Body and Spirit lecture and film series was made possible through the generous support from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, JABSOM, UH Mānoa and Ka 'Aha Hula 'O Hālauaola.

The parallels between hula and the Hawaiian martial art ku‘ialua, also called lua, are not apparent to most observers, but are noted by experts skilled in both cultural practices. Parallels and differences will be demonstrated and discussed.The Hula: Mind, Body and Spirit lecture and film series was made possible through the generous support from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, JABSOM, UH Mānoa and Ka 'Aha Hula 'O Hālauaola.

A generation ago, ʿuniki hula (a hula graduation ceremony) was a rare and seldom-discussed event; now ʿuniki are televised, included in university classes, and regularly conducted throughout Hawaiʿi. What are the elements and requirements of this revived ʿuniki ceremony? The Hula: Mind, Body and Spirit lecture and film series was made possible through the generous support from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, JABSOM, UH Mānoa and Ka 'Aha Hula 'O Hālauaola.

Traditional procreation chants and dances celebrate and encourage the continuation of ali‘i family lines. Hula ma‘i are often misunderstood and misinterpreted in modern Western contexts. (Parental discretion advised).The Hula: Mind, Body and Spirit lecture and film series was made possible through the generous support from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, JABSOM, UH Mānoa and Ka 'Aha Hula 'O Hālauaola.

This episode we take a stour of the AM dial as part 2 of our series on Honolulu radio stations.  HIP 018 / 7-7-7 WEATHER may 3- 9 my resource is Timeanddate.com sponsor: Miller Coors We are passionate about the beer business Coors Light “The world’s most refreshing beer.”  Blue Moon “Reach for the Moon” visit millercoors.com It’s 82 and skies are blue on this aloha Friday. Over the weekend the winds will be coming up fro the south west. We call it Kona winds. This can bring high levels of humility and greater chances of precipitation.  That being said think you will see some early morning and late afternoon showers. With the chance for greater precipitation on tuesday and weds.  but looking like it will be partly cloudy along the coastlines and cloudy in the mountain tops   Temperatures will range from upper 70’s to lower 80’s.  with nights in the super 60’s Sun Today, the sunrise was at 5:59am, sunset is 6:57pm total of 12hrs 57 min of sunlight  You will get 13 hours of sunlight starting on Sunday May 5th Cinco De Mayo by next Thursday may 9th the sun will rise at 5:56am and setting at 7pm giving you a whopping 13 hours and 3 minutes Moon luminated at 1.4% as it fades away to a new moon Saturday may 4th Today Our Moon rose at 5:26am and set at 6:11 (46 min before sunset) Next Thursday the moon will be waxing and and already luminated of 30%  rise at 10:13am and set at 11:55pm Constellations  Orion is in the western skies Virgo is in the eastern skies southern cross is nearly full visibility on south horizon Lynx Ursa Major and Minor in the norther skies Above head is cancer Leo and Gemini Planets Venus rises at 4:30 am setting around 5 Mars rises at 830 am setting around 9:53 Both Jupiter and Saturn will rise after sunset with perfect visibility Jupiter 9:50pm Saturn 11:44pm  May Meteor shower  May 5-6 a.k.a. Eta Aquarids the meteor shower is usually active between April 19 and May 28 every year. Named After Aquarius. The radiant, the point in the sky where the meteor shower seems to emerge from, is in the direction of the constellation Aquarius. The shower is named after the brightest star of the constellation, Eta Aquarii. The may meteor shower is one of two meteor showers created by debris from Comet Halley.  Halley’s Comet Phish 8/16/1997 The Great Went in Limestone Maine I was there!!! main was a super cool state, had a McDonalds Lobster Sandwich. The people of Maine we stoked have nearly 300,000 phish heads driving through their state pumping some serious cash into parts of maine that probably never experience such profits in a single weekend. A church sign had a sign that read  “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and i will make you phishers of men” Matthew 4:19 https://youtu.be/c1I3FwcZaFk MKCOOL posted it Thanks Phish and MkCool Now where were we…..? (Halleys Comet) The Earth passes through Halley's path around the Sun a second time in October. This creates the Orionid meteor shower, which peaks around October 20. Comet Halley takes around 76 years to make a complete revolution around the Sun. The next time it will be visible from Earth is in 2061. How to See the Eta Aquarids You don't need any special equipment or a lot of skills to view a meteor shower. Even though all you really need is a clear sky, lots of patience, and our handy Interactive Meteor Shower Sky Map with a visibility conditions meter to see a meteor shower, the following tips can help maximize your shooting star viewing experience. Try to find a secluded spot with little to no light pollution, you know Bring a blanket or a comfortable chair it will take about 15 min for your eyes to adjust and the night sky will light up like a theater of a billion stars ( cue: billions carl sagan s.o.t) https://youtu.be/5Ex__M-OwSA HiP 0018 s2e4 EVENTS May 3 - 9, 2019 information gathered from Hawaii Tourism Authority website, GOHAWAII.COM Big Island Kanikapila Nights OCCURS BETWEEN: FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2019 - FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2019, 7:00PM - 9:00PM Hawaiian Ukulele & Guitar Proudly Presents "Kanikapila Nights" at It's Hilo Bayfront Location. Featuring Some of the Finest Local Musician, Including Grammy and Na Hoku Hanohano Award Winning Artist. Join Us for "Kanikapila Nights" on the First Friday of Each Month from 7PM to 9PM BIG ISLAND AIDS WALK (8TH ANNUAL) OCCURS ON: SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2019, 8:00AM - 12:00PM The Hawaii Island HIV/AIDS Foundation is proud to host the 8th Annual Big Island AIDS Walk on Saturday, May 4, 2019 https://secure.qgiv.com/event/bigislandaidswalk2019. The walk will be an easy 2 mile walk around Queen Liliuokalani Park. There will be light snacks and refreshments Maui Cazimero Lei Day Concert OCCURS ON: FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2019, 7:30PM - 10:00PM Song “Pua Hone” - Brothers Cazimero wikipedia: The Cazimeros got their start during the Hawaiian Renaissance with ukulele and slack-key guitarist Peter Moon's band, The Sunday Manoa, on their first recording, Guava Jam. Since that time, The Brothers Cazimero have released at least 36 recordings and three DVDs. For three decades, the group performed at the annual Lei Day Concert. They made their Carnegie Hall debut in 1989.[1]   Cazimero Lei Day Concert Friday, May 3, 2019; Castle Theater; 7:30 pm Kumu Hula Robert Uluwehi Cazimero returns with his ever-popular Lei Day event, along with the musicians and dancers from his Merrie Monarch Festival-winning Halau Na Kamalei. Enjoy the smooth showmanship, talent   Volunteer at Waihee Refuge with Pacific Whale Foundation OCCURS BETWEEN: FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2019 - FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020, 8:00AM - 12:00PM   Volunteers on Vacation is a free program offered by Pacific Whale Foundation to help you easily find meaningful service projects to benefit Maui's environment. Visitors and residents can spend a few hours giving back to the local community while enjoying access to "off the beaten trail" places Help "Friends of the Land" maintain South Maui's scenic coast. Possible activities include clearing an oceanside trail, restoring sand dunes, cleaning up litter, and/or removing invasive species. Project runs each Monday from 7:30am to 9:30am and the location is posted by the week on our partner's website where you can also sign up for weekly notices. Visit pacificwhale.org/conservation/volunteer-vacation/ for more information. Reserve by calling Pacific Whale Foundation at 808-249-8811 or email us at reservations@pacificwhale.org @ Waihee Coastal Dunes and Wetlands Refuge @ Haleakala National Park Summit @ Honokowai Valley     Hawaii Champions Cup OCCURS BETWEEN: SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2019 - SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2019, 2:00PM - 5:00PM   See your favorite tennis legends play live in Hawaii! John McEnroe, Michael Chang, Tommy Haas, and Mark Philippoussis are all coming to Lahaina this May. The event will feature two one-set semifinal matches and a championship match between the winners. It will be part of a weekend of events @Royal Lahiana Resort     Kauai Community Caring Day at Lawai International Center OCCURS BETWEEN: SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2019 - SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2019, 9:00AM - 1:00PM   Lawai International Center is sparkling from the caring hands of helpful volunteers. Please join us as we nurture the grounds and plant orchids together on every first Saturday of the month from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Lunches made by the aunties of Lawai will be served. Bring gardening tools if you have some @Lawai International Center   Oahu Art + Music First Friday at the Hawaii State Art Museum OCCURS BETWEEN: FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2019 - FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2019, 6:00PM - 9:00PM   Free, family-friendly evening of art and music at HiSAM! First Friday evening of each month. Admission is always free.  6:00 - 9:00 PM, ground floor and second floor of the No 1. Capitol District building (250 South Hotel St., corner of Richards and S. Hotel). First Fridays in Honolulu / Art-walk: Come join us for the most exciting event to hit downtown Honolulu on the first Friday of every month! Chinatown is the place to be if you want to join the hip crowds at the many unique galleries, boutiques, cafes and restaurants that feature exciting art exhibits and free entertainment.   Parade of Farms OCCURS ON: SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2019, 10:00AM - 4:00PM   The annual Parade of Farms is back for a fourth year with a spotlight on farms in Waianae! The day-long event, presented by Oahu Resource Conservation and Development Council, will take place on Saturday, May 4, 2019, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A free community fair will be hosted at Kahumana  Organic Farm and Cafe in Waianae   Cabana Music Festival OCCURS ON: SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2019, 2:00PM - 10:00PM The hottest R&B and hip hop stars take the stage at Turtle Bay Resort, for the Cabana Music Festival, May 4. Jhené Aiko and Tyga headline the huge festival, presented by The Cabana Group in collaboration with 93.9 The Beat’s 2nd Annual Backyard BBQ. The show starts at 2 p.m.In addition to Jhené Aiko and Tyga, the Cabana Music Festival features Madeintyo, Yung Pinch, DaniLeigh, Adonis The Greek, Keanu, Daylyt, DJ Osna and more. Tickets for the all ages festival are available now at Eventbrite. VIP tickets, backstage access and other limited special packages are also available. “We welcome everyone to experience this incredible lineup of music at beautiful Turtle Bay,” said Nathan Shekeryk, of The Cabana Group. “Celebrate the start of summer at the hottest show in town, on the scenic North Shore of Oahu.” The Cabana Music Festival is proudly presented by The Cabana Group, 93.9 The Beat, Turtle Bay, GME Hawaii, the Artist Movement and Young Legend Entertainment. See Eventbrite for tickets and more information. General Admission is $80. VIP tickets are $180 and include access to unique sponsor activations, preferred viewing of the concert, and exclusive amenities for food and beverage. All Access tickets are $1,000 and include VIP benefits, along with a Cabana Party Pass featuring limited backstage access, sponsor gift bag, and complimentary food and drinks during Happy Hour. Jhene Aiko - Sativa https://youtu.be/5x-d3pabd5o Tyga - Girls Have Fun https://youtu.be/Y-fqWMaXb8A     Henry Kapono's Artist to Artist Presents: The Next Generation With The Songs Of C&K OCCURS BETWEEN: THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019 - THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019, 6:30PM - 8:00PM Featuring Henry Kapono, Kalani Pe'a, Josh Tatofi, Alx Kawakami, Blayne Asing, Paula Fuga, Starr Kalahiki, Tavana, Mike Love & Kimié Miner Just nominated for 4 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards (Hawai’i’s Grammy’s), Henry Kapono features his new hit CD, “The Songs of C&K” celebrating the the timeless classics of legendary duo Cecilio & Kapono (C&K) with a special performance of their most iconic songs in collaboration with several of Hawaii’s rising local musicians. The star-studded tribute features timeless classics from Henry’s career—like “Highway in the Sun,” “You and Me” and “Home”—which have become anthems for the people of Hawaii. The Songs of C&K CD, produced by Henry in partnership with First Hawaiian Bank, is now available at all Hawaii music retail outlets and all digital formats with the net proceeds to benefit the Henry Kapono Foundation (HKF), which supports local organizations with a primary focus on local arts, culture and music. “Today a new generation of young talented artists are embarking on a musical journey, embracing the music of C&K and giving it new life. Working with these artists and watching all this come to fruition has made me realize how blessed I am. The passion, enthusiasm, love, energy and creativity that they have put into this was an experience that takes me back to when we first started. On behalf of the Henry Kapono Foundation and its future recipients, thank you!” Henry Kapono Cecilio & Kapono - GoodNight And GoodMorning (1975) https://youtu.be/S4SzJ-xfed8 C&K - “Sailin” https://youtu.be/sQa5A8wLRfY  

HIP 017 s2e3 April 26-  May 2, 2019  INTRO Hawaii posts the only podcast from hawaii that gives you a 7 day forecast of weather surf and events around the island Topic: 17th Annual Waikiki Spam Jam   After the the 777 we will feature   Tiki’s Grill and Bar’s Executive Chef Ronnie Nasuti will give us a table side preview of the spam dishes that Tiki’s will feature at the Tiki’s G&B booth.   Then we will highlight Makana, an award winning slack key guitarist who will be the Headliner for live entertainment on stage at the The Waikiki Spam Jam   Notes… the FM tour was a bit soft on the music side   I put a call out for submissions I am looking for local bands, comedians, authors, business owners, athletes, artist, event promoters, movers and shakers.   SEND YOUR INFORMATION TO :  tomestokes@gmail.com   Now lets kick off the moss and Roll this stone                  WEATHER Is brought to you by  Coors Light “The Worlds Most Refreshing Beers”   Today its 82 and mostly sunny tonights low will be 68 degrees winds will be light with gusts up to 9 mph Through out Saturday the humidity willl increase to about 87% it’ll be mostly sunny and light soft warm breezes 4mph Making it a beautiful day and early evening for the Waikiki spam jam.   Clouds will build up through the weekend and showers will be in the forecast for late Sunday through Tuesday morning. Tuesday it’ll clear up and on weds May 1st we may have a cool but sunny day with fe clouds and highs near 77 and low of 68.   But it looks like showers may come back for next Thursday and Friday      SUN Sunrise today 6:03a and Sunset 6:54pm  total sunlight 12h 49m  As we approach June’s summer solstice the days are getting longer By next Thursday sunrise 6:00a and Sunset 6:56p giving you 12h 56m sunlight stay tuned & stay stoked for next week as we will get 13 hours of sunlight     NIGHT SKY Is brought to you by  Blue Moon Beer - “Reach For the Moon” www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com   THE MOON is waning and currently 52% looking like rice bowl upside down THE MOON WILL RISE AT 1:02am and set at 12:16pm Thursday May 2nd the moon will be up early 4:15am and setting at 4:27pm Venus Mars Jupiter and Saturn will be visible Venus rising at 4:30 am seeing near 5 pm Mars will rise at 8:37am and set at 10:00pm in the western sky Jupiter will rise at 10:30 pm and set at 9:12a reaching meridian at 3:48am with perfect visibility Saturn rises after midnight and sets before noon it reaches its meridian at 5:42am just like Jupiter it will be of perfect visibility     Box Jelly Fish 7-9 days after full moon which was last friday. box jelly will be mostly on southern shores and should  clear up by monday Corey our HIP Lifeguard for C&C Honolulu will tell us more   Weather resource is timeanddate.com   SURF Brought to you by Kona Brewing Company Featuring the Longboard Island Lager - Brewing Liquid Aloha Visit KonaBrewingCo.com   North Facing Shores 1-2 ft Currently its fair to windy conditions, rising to 5 feet midweek. Smooth mornings and mushy afternoon but probable epic sunset surf sessions  South Facing Shores 1-2 ft with a sunday bump to 3-5 then be down to flat to a foot bluzes  East Facing Shores Holding 1-3 all week but as the winds die down the conditions will go from choppy to smooth by sunday West Facing Shores 1-2 ft Currently its fair to windy conditions, rising to 5 feet midweek.   check out surfnewsnetwork for a complete surf report      EVENTS Now for your 7 Day Events Calendar Brought to you by Tiki’s Grill & Bar   Big Island Big Island Chocolate Festival FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2019 - SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2019, 9:00AM - 9:00PM With the theme, “Black & White,” the eighth annual Big Island Chocolate Festival is April 26-27 with events headquartered from The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort. The two-day chocolate extravaganza includes a guided cacao plantation tour at Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory in Keauhou-Kona,   Kau Coffee Festival FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2019 - SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2019 The 11th annual Kau Coffee Festival celebrates its award-winning brew with a host of events at various venues on multiple dates from April 26-May 5, 2019. Fun culminates May 4-5 at the Pahala Community Center with a java-jumpin' hoolaulea on Saturday and the Kau Coffee College educational series    Maui Kite Festival : FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2019 - SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2019    Come make and fly your own kite with our Master Kite Flyer!  Kite Festival presents two days of family fun with kite making and spectacular kite displays.  The Wo Hing Museum and the Cookhouse are decorated with colorful and unique kites from around the world @ The Wo Hing Museum   Michael Franti & Spearhead OCCURS ON: THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2019, 7:30PM - 10:00PM   Michael Franti & Spearhead Thursday, May 2, 2019; Castle Theater; 7:30 pm Michael Franti is a musician, singer-songwriter, filmmaker, and humanitarian who is recognized as a pioneering force in the music industry. Long known for his globally conscious lyrics, powerful performances   Kauai Kalaheo School Drama Club Presents: Mulan Jr FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2019 - SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2019, 7:00PM - 9:30PM The Kalaheo School Drama club has entertained residents and visitors for many years with their amazing performances of live musical theater. This year, the talented kids of Kalaheo School present the colorful musical Mulan Jr. at the Kalaheo School Cafeteria. This family friendly event   Kauai Museum & Hawaii Tourism Authority presents 39th Annual Walter & Irmalee Pomroy May Day Lei Contest WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2019, 11:00AM - 3:00PM The Kauai Museum and the Hawaii Tourism Authority proudly presents the 39th Annual Walter & Irmalee May Day Lei contest, honoring lei maker extraordinaire Dana Valeriano Kauai iki Olores. Walking the trails of Kokee or combing the neighborhood for flowers and foliage   Oahu SunSets LIVE: Blayne Asing OCCURS ON: FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2019, 6:00PM - 8:00PM Looking for the hottest new Friday night destination? Head to the Prince Waikiki on Friday April 26, 2019 for SunSets LIVE at the poolside Hinana Bar! Enjoy live music by Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner Blayne Asing. Take in the breathtaking views of the sunset and fireworks while sipping on a The 17th annual Waikiki Spam Jam is coming Saturday, April 27 from 4 to 10 p.m. along Kalakaua Avenue. This year, you can expect to see more than 20 of your favorite restaurants serving up Spam in every way possible   Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra  SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2019 - SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2019, 6:30PM - 10:30PM With film credits including "Jurassic Park," "Independence Day," "The Fly," "The Big Chill," "The Grand Budapest Hotel," and “Thor: Ragnarok;" theatre performances including "The Pillowman," "Speed the Plow" and "Domesticated;" and television appearances including “Portlandia”   Free Lei Making Workshops - Enchanted Lake Community Park OCCURS ON: MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2019, 2:00PM - 5:00PM   Learn to make wili, haku, kui and humupapa style. Bring flowers with three-inch stems; greenery, such as fern and ti leaf; raffia, scissors or snippers, button and carpet thread, spray bottle with water and aluminum pan. All ages 2-5 p.m.   Hawaiian Airlines May Day 2019: The Tradition Continues OCCURS ON: WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2019, 3:00PM - 9:30PM Keauhou, consisting of Jonah Kahanuola Solatorio, and brothers, Nicholas and Zachary Lum, will headline "Hawaiian Airlines May Day 2019: The Tradition Continues." The star-studded program will feature Robert Cazimero and Halau Na Kamalei o Lililehua, the big-band sounds of Kahulanui, the hula   Dionne Warwick OCCURS BETWEEN: THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2019 - SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2019, 8:00PM - 9:30PM Dionne Warwick will be performing at Blue Note Hawaii with 2 shows nightly at 8:00pm. Warwick ranks second only to Aretha Franklin as the most charted female vocalist in history, with classic recordings like "Walk On By," "Say a Little Prayer," and "I'll Never Fall in Love Again."   Topic: 17th Annual Waikiki Spam Jam Tiki Booth and Ronnie interview   The Waikiki SPAM JAM® is a street festival that celebrates the people of Hawaii’s love for SPAM®, a canned meat from Hormel Foods. In Hawaii, you will find SPAM® at all grocery and convenience stores, many restaurants and in most homes in Hawaii. This street festival is great for all ages, as the event includes Hawaii’s top restaurants, two stages with free entertainment, and a variety of Hawaiian retailers. This is also a special event that benefits the Hawaii Foodbank, the largest non-profit in Hawaii that feeds the needy.   The 17th annual Waikiki Spam Jam is coming Saturday, April 27 from 4 to 10 p.m. along Kalakaua Avenue. This year, you can expect to see more than 20 of your favorite restaurants serving up Spam in ever   There will be live entertainment, local products and Spam merch available for purchase during this free event as well. Stick around for the musubi-making speed contest to see how many musubis contestants can make in five minutes. Chef Ronnie Nasuti Check out Chef Ronnies Blog: Treehouse Chef   From dish washer to head chef, Ronnie, Started in the kitchen at the age of 14, He has worked with Tiki's Grill and Bar for over 7 years Ronnie has created 3 sensational spam dishes for this weekends festival The 17th annual Waikiki Spam Jam is coming Saturday, April 27 from 4 to 10 p.m. along Kalakaua Avenue. This year, you can expect to see more than 20 of your favorite restaurants serving up Spam in every way possible - Spam Corndogs - Spam Lumpia - Spam Poke Crunch Bow Chef Ronnie, believes in the farm-to-table movement by visiting farms and building strong bonds with local farmers, brings in island fresh produce and breads, as well as 175 pounds of local grass-fed beef and 450 pounds of locally caught or raised fish every week. Describe Tiki’s Features - Spam Corndogs - Spam Lumpia - Spam Poke Crunch Bowl Besides their appetites, what else should people bring….(donations cue) Guests are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for donation to benefit the Hawaii Foodbank, Waikiki Community Center, Aloha Harvest and the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii. Ronnie Regularly represents Tiki’s at charitable events, such as - The Good Table for Lanakila Meals on Wheels - The Arthritis Foundation, teaching kids with arthritis how to cook - Kick Start, a charity for underprivileged kids to compete in Karate competitions on the mainland  -and many more. frolichawaii.com Outrigger Waikiki stage (fronting the Moana Surfrider Hotel): 8:30 p.m. Makana Featured Band Makana   Makana Links: Waves of Serenity “Sans Souci” https://youtu.be/Y_3ZFJF9_6M   “Na Ka Pueo”  https://youtu.be/WQolG3sOWxg               Music links: Michael Frante  “Litlle things” https://youtu.be/uu2EmThtIGU   Dionne Warwick “ I’ll never fall in love again” https://youtu.be/FAu73aOa2HQ   Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra https://youtu.be/p_-vtSMyK6w   blayne asing molokai on my mind https://youtu.be/cMYGhfmBoCQ   Montey Python Spam https://youtu.be/_bW4vEo1F4E  

HiP 014 12/15 - 12/21 (Hawaii Posts Theme) I’m Thomas e Gaupp a.k.a Tomestokes and this is HAWAII POSTS Tom-e-stokes Welcome our Digital Ohana so kick off your slippahs and come inside for episode 14 For the greatest show not on the radio Where you can get a 7 day forecast for weather, surf & events around all the Hawaiian islands. I call it the 777  Now last week i was a quite busy and actually had fully prepared show notes last friday and sat down on saturday to record.  While recording i got a called up to work at the Guns and Roses concert.  I thought i would finish it up after the concert but got home around 2am and had a full day of family events and work on sunday, by then the script was nearly outdated and what had been recorded need to be corrected to add and subtract a few day to the 7 day calendar. Lesson learned I need to simplify the show so i don’t get bogged down on too many details of the 777forecast and make my forecast more direct and compact. (CUE CHARITY TOURIST THEME) Last episode #13 I told you that i was about to launch a new podcast for Charity Tourist. I am happy to announce that Charity Tourist podcast is now a reality and available on iTunes soon to be on Google Play, TuneIn, Spotify, Pandora and a wide variety of your favorite podcast outlets Please follow me at charitytourist (one word) charity tourist on instagram you can also find my charity tourist page on facebook In the first episode of Charity Tourist we feature of Toys for Tots I interviewed a representative of Toys for Tots to talk about the foundation which has been in existence for 71 years collecting toys and donations and brightening the holidays for needful children across america.   Here is a preview of my interview with Amy and Charles Darling Romain of the USMC Toys for Tots Program of my  To hear the entire interview and listen to the whole show Subscribe to the Charity Tourist Podcast, follow Charity Tourist on instagram Here is how you can get involved in the most important social movement happening today I ask that you participate donate to a charity or volunteer your time to a worthy cause take a picture and post it on your FB or IG then share it with me at Charity Tourist or tag it #charitytourist, #vacationvolunteer and #destinationdonor   In the next episode of Charity Tourist i’ll share with you the top travel destinations for the holiday season and give you an unique idea of how you can be charitable as you travel and here’s a hint, it involves the Salvation Army Stay Tuned Stay Stoked and lets do something charitable to make the world a better place (Commercial for Tiki’s) Now time for your 777 forecast for this weeks weather, surf and events around all the islands. WEATHER It’s been a rainy and windy week with scattered sunlight. With that it’s been a bit cool around the island. But hey thats winter weather in hawaii. I usually do my show prep and recording the day before the 1st day of the 7day forecast, so today it’s a beautify aloha friday. The sun is shining and the winds are a little lighter thank the last week. Here is you 7 day weather forecast starting saturday the 15th through friday the 21st Lows will range from 64 to 70 Highs will range from 73 to 80 The warmest day will be monday the coolest day will be Wednesday the 19th This weekend the winds will be between 10-15mph coming in from the ENE blowing to the WSW Saturday the 15th will be mostly sunny Sunday the 16th we’ll see sunny skies  passing clouds Monday the mostly sunny and humidity will begin the increase Tuesday and Wednesday we’ll have the greatest chance of precipitation. Thursday will be mostly sunny but also about 70% humidity Friday the 21 will be the sunniest day of the week w/ the lowest humidity & light winds Sunrise and Sunset Sunrise on Sat.15th is at 7:01a and sunset is at 5:51(10h 50m 56s of daylight) Sunrise on Sat. 21st is at 7:05a and sunset is at 5:54 (10h 50m 14s of daylight) 39sec shorter The 21st shortest day of the year as December Solstice “December Solstice (Winter Solstice) is on Friday, December 21, 2018 at 12:22 pm in Honolulu. In terms of daylight, this day is 2 hours, 36 minutes shorter than on June Solstice. In most locations north of Equator, the shortest day of the year is around this date.” - timesanddate.com   NIGHT SKY The moon will be up in the night sky during the next 7 days The moon on Saturday the 15th is waxing on its way to full the illumination will be 57.1% it will set on Saturday at 12:24 am and by next friday the 21st the full moon will rise @ 5:22 before the sunsets at 5:54p On the 21st the moon does not pass through the meridian Visible Planets will be Mars will be the most obvious and perhaps the lone planet in the night sky Uranus will have an average visibility but you may need binoculars to see it. Mars will set around midnight and Uranus around 3am Venus will rise sometime shortly after that at 3:40 Jupiter will be rising at 5:50 am Saturn  will rise after 8am and set around 7 but due to it’s position it’ll be hard to see.   Notable Constellations North: Ursa Minor (the little dipper) Southwest: Aquarius, capricornus South: Phoenix East: Orion, Gemini Up Above center stage there is a party going on with: Clockwise from north Triangulum, Perseus, Tarus, Aries, Cetus and Pegasus   Dec 13/14: Geminid Meteor shower One of the best meteor showers of the year, the Geminids peaks on the night of December 13 and early morning hours of December 14, 2018, but will be visible from December 4-16. Big Mahalo to TimeandDate.com for most all of my information about the weather sun and moon I will post the 7 day weather forecast on HawaiiPosts.com episode 14 show notes   7 Surf report (CUE Surf Music) Eddie Aikau Big Wave Surfing Contest @ Waimea Bay window is open  iIt’s the most prestigious & culturally significant surf contest in the world The waiting period is always between Dec. 1, 2018 - Feb. 28, 2019. Waves have to be 15-25′    This week : North Shores Waves on North facing shores rise from saturday 5-10 to sunday 20-40 foot faces  Dropping monday to 15-25ft rising again tuesday to 20-40 and holding through thursday  West Shores Rising through weekend saturday 3-5 but sunday 20-30 then dropping until tuesday with a big bump again at 20-30 holding through wednesday East shores  5-10 bumpy faces slop and chop as it drops through  wed. and through the week the onshore winds slow down South Shores Flat to a foot maybe 2 foot faces and holding through the week with winds tapering off through the next 7 days for some small wave big fun BIG MAHALO TO SURFNEWSNETWORK.com FOR ALL MY SURF INFORMATION   TIKIS COMMERCIAL   7 Day Events Highlights   Oahu (CUE Events Music) Makahiki Challenge (8th Annual) OCCURS ON: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2018, 7:00AM - 1:30PM The 8th Annual Makahiki Challenge will be held at Kualoa Ranch on December 15, 2018. “Get Lepo” (dirty) at the state’s First 5K Obstacle Mud Run, which includes around 12 obstacles. In the past, the challenge incorporated a 12-foot wall, mud bogs, rope swing, and monkey bars.    Keiki Makahiki Challenge 2018 OCCURS ON: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2018, 8:00AM - 11:00AM Hawaii’s favorite obstacle mudrun is now available for the keiki. The first ever Keiki MC will take place on Sunday, December 16, 2018 from 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. The 1.5 miles mudrun will feature 10 obstacles designed to introduce the keiki to the world of obstacle course racing. (CUE God rest ye merry gentlemen - Jon Sayles Christmas Music is Royalty free music under a common licensing from www.freemusicpublicdomain.com ) Festival of Lights Boat Parade OCCURS ON: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2018, 3:00PM - 7:00PM Make Hawaii Kai Towne Center your place to watch the Festival of Lights Boat Parade, December 15. Come to the Marina Docks starting at 3 p.m. Watch the parade of colorful boats, decorated for the holidays.   Jingle Rock Run (6th Annual) OCCURS ON: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2018, 3:00PM - 5:00PM Jingle Rock Run 2018 Walk with us and local keiki facing critical illnesses that need your support this holiday season. WHAT: Our 6th Annual Jingle Rock Run! Come see the Honolulu City Lights through this family-friendly festive holiday walk. WHO: FUN FOR ALL! Walkers, joggers, runners, strollers   Rock Opera Theatre Presents The Music Of The Trans-Siberian Orchestra OCCURS ON: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2018, 5:00PM - 9:30PM Rock Opera Theatre will be performing the music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas Music. This will include music that is a mix of styles including Rock, Blues, and Classical. The show will include Animated Backgrounds that go with each song.    A Frank Sinatra Holiday featuring Mike Lewis & Friends Big Band OCCURS ON: MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2018, 6:30PM - 11:00PM Mike Lewis and Friends will be performing at Blue Note Hawaii with 2 shows at 6:30pm & 9:00pm. Native New-Yorker and trumpeter Mike Lewis presents a celebration of what would be Frank Sinatra's 103rd birthday with his very own Mike Lewis Big Band! Doors open at 5:00pm & 8:30pm   HAPA Holidays OCCURS ON: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2018, 6:30PM - 11:00PM HAPA will be performing at Blue Note Hawaii with 2 shows at 6:30pm & 9:00pm. The group's self-titled album, released in 1993, remains the number one selling recording by a group or duo in the history of recorded Hawaiian music. Doors open at 5:00pm & 8:30pm   Josh Tatofi’s Christmas Tribute to Luther Vandross OCCURS ON: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018, 6:30PM - 11:00PM Josh Tatofi will be performing at Blue Note Hawaii with 2 shows at 6:30pm & 9:00pm. Hawaiian Music Live calls him the Polynesian Luther Vandross, which aptly describes his soothing voice. For one-night-only Josh will pay tribute to Luther, playing his many hits in a festive show   Jake Shimabukuro OCCURS BETWEEN: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2018 - SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2018, 6:30PM - 11:00PM Jake Shimabukuro will be performing at Blue Note Hawaii with 2 shows nightly at 6:30pm & 9:00pm. His most recent CD, Nashville Sessions, is one of his most adventurous, multifaceted and engaging records to date, blending elements of jazz virtuosity with heartfelt melodicism.    Johnny Mathis Christmas Concert OCCURS BETWEEN: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018 - SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2018, 7:30PM - 9:30AM Music Legend Johnny Mathis returns to Honolulu for the first time in two decades! Performing his greatest hits & Christmas classics at the Blaisdell Concert Hall, December 21 and 22 both nights starting at 7:30 p.m. Featuring members of the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Hawaiian Band.   Hawaii Open Presented By Hawaii Tourism Authority OCCURS BETWEEN: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018 - SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2018, 11:00AM - 6:00PM   The Hawaii Open presented by the Hawaii Tourism Authority is a three-day men's and women's professional tennis tournament held at the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu. Tournament action begins Friday, December 21, and features top-ranked tennis players from the ATP and WTA tours   Echoes of Floyd Hawaii Rock Concert OCCURS BETWEEN: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018 - SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2018, 9:00PM - 1:00AM Enjoy the iconic and immensely popular music of Pink Floyd and other classic rock music live at the intimate setting of Anna O'Brien's December 21st. Echoes of Floyd Hawaii is the only tribute band in Hawaii dedicated to faithfully recreating the music of Pink Floyd. Pink Floyd's milestone album, The Dark Side of the Moon, was on the album charts for 745 weeks. In addition, on this night, the band will play an additional full set of upbeat classic rock music. At Anna Obriens 2440 S. Beretania St MUSIC: “Any Colour You Like” Pink Floyd   Maui (CUE Geoff Hurly - Have A Happy Christmas Christmas Music is Royalty free music under a common licensing from www.freemusicpublicdomain.com ) Christmas 5K Run / 1 Mile Walk and Santa's 1/2 Mile Keiki Dash OCCURS ON: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2018, 7:30AM - 10:00AM Join us Sunday December 16, 2018 for the Christmas 5K, 1 Mile Walk, or Santa's Half Mile Keiki Dash! We will also be collecting donations for the Maui Food Bank. Santa's Half Mile Keiki Dash: A special race for keiki 8 years and under - starts at 7:30am   Exhibit: Surfing Hawaii OCCURS BETWEEN: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2018 - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019, 10:00AM - 5:00PM @ the Maui Cultural Center Exhibit: Surfing Hawaii December 16, 2018 – February 15, 2019 Schaefer International Gallery Tue – Sun 10am - 5 pm (Also open before Castle Theater shows and during intermission) This exhibition explores our most popular water sport beginning with Native Hawaiian history and knowledge of he‘e nalu   Pepper and Stick Figure OCCURS ON: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2018, 6:30PM - 10:00PM @ the Maui Cultural Center Pepper is a three-piece rock band originally from Hawai‘i, now based in San Diego.  Since the band's formation they have released seven studio albums as well as two live albums.    Makawao Third Friday Town Party OCCURS ON: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018, 6:00PM - 9:00PM  Maui Friday Town Parties happen every Aloha Friday! Spearheaded by the Maui County Office of Economic Development, each party highlights one of Maui’s historic small towns and along with their unique, local businesses. Whether it’s an eccentric art show in Lahaina or a paniolo party in Makawao, Generations @ the MACC: An Acoustic Evening with Pat Simmons Sr. & Pat Simmons Jr. OCCURS ON: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018, 7:30PM - 10:00PM @ the Maui Cultural Center Pat Simmons Sr. is an original member of the Doobie Brothers. Pat Simmons Jr. has grown up with music - on Maui, in California, and around the world - on tour with his dad!  https://youtu.be/IUCUkIPUXBo “Black water”   Hawaii Island (CUE Geoff Hurly - Have A Happy Christmas Christmas Music is Royalty free music under a common licensing from www.freemusicpublicdomain.com ) Big Island Road Runners Jingle Bell Run OCCURS ON: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2018, 7:30AM - 9:00AM Big Island Road Runners presents the Jingle Bell Run to bring in the holiday season. Registration starts at 7 am in Liliuokalani Park and run starts at 7:30 am. Run or walk as many times around the park as you like. No timing, no pressure, just enjoy the morning getting out and moving. Santa Clause   Jingle Bell Beach Run - 5k Run OCCURS ON: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2018, 7:30AM - 10:00AM The 14th Annual Jingle Bell Beach Run The ultimate Kona running event!  Start time is at 7:30 AM SHARP with timing provided by JTL Timing Systems.  The featured 5k event encourages participation from all fitness levels and running backgrounds.  Great fun for everyone, family oriented   Farmers' Market at Hamakua Harvest OCCURS ON: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2018, 9:00AM - 2:00PM The Sunday Farmers' Market at Hamakua Harvest, located at the intersection of Mamane St. and Hwy 19 in Historic Honokaa Town, offers only locally produced goods, ono food, live music and a free educational event weekly. It's beautiful location and celebratory character provides a vibrant social BIG MAHALO TO gohawaii.com that is the Hawaii Tourism Authority website.   IZUMIO Commercial IZUMIO is a delicious, high-quality, natural water infused with hydrogen. IZUMIO contains water from the serene countryside of Japan, which is the source of hydrogen that provides antioxidative benefits. IZUMIO has become a household name for hydrogenized water. Studies have shown that hydrogen water may work as an antioxidant and reduce inflammation. IZUMIO uses hydrogenized water to bond with over-saturated active oxygen species in bodies to prevent the development of cells harmed by free radicals.  Common antioxidants are fruits and vegatables, but hydrogen molecules are the most powerful form of antioxidants. Hydrogen rich water can be absorbed into the intestine within a minute and spread throughout the body within 10 minutes. Hydrogen water can have many benefits such as the ability to increase your energy, improve recovery after a workout, help reduce inflammation. IZUMIO has become the number-one-selling hydrogenized water in the Japanese market.* With IZUMIO, you’ll always be a step ahead. A product of improved manufacturing technology, IZUMIO now boasts an even higher hydrogen dissolution ratio of 2.6ppm* that puts it at the top of the industry. IZUMIO gives you more. With more than 150 million units sold to date, IZUMIO is the brand you can trust. https://www.facebook.com/hawaiihealthy/   ANNOUNCEMENTS - CALL FOR Submission of Events, New Podcast, 4 Buckeyes --->the closer Featured music Christmas Music is Royalty free music under a common licensing  from www.freemusicpublicdomain.com God rest ye merry gentlemen - Jon Sayles 17 - Geoff Hurly - Have A Happy Christmas

Show Notes for HiP 013 11/25 - 12/2   (Hawaii Posts Theme) Welcome back to the greatest show not on the radio its HAWAII POSTS and I’m your host Tom-e-stokes this is our Digital Ohana so kick off your slippahs and come inside for episode 13 where you can get a 7day forecast for this week’s weather, surf and events around all the Hawaiian islands. I call it the 777 Also I have new background music lined up for the 777   In this episode’s Events forecast we feature touring act The Stanley Jordan Trio & Tower of Power   Some Kauai’s slack key events highlighting Raymond Kane & Kelii Mawae   And then kick off the holiday season with local artists playing renditions of holiday favorites with artists including Na Leo, Kapono and Maui Choral Arts    (CUE CHARITY TOURIST THEME) Last episode #12 I debuted Charity Tourist. I told you i had the hashtags set up for #charitytourist, #vacationvolunteer and #destinationdonor This week i am here to tell you that i have been in contact with instagram and now have set up the charity tourist instagram account Please follow me at charitytourist (one word) charity tourist on instagram you can also find my charity tourist page on facebook   It’s the holiday season no better time to be charitable to your favorite charities this week i will be dropping money in the Toys for Tots for Literacy  donation box and reaching out to a representative of Toys for Tots to talk about the program and the 10 year anniversary of the their Literacy program.    Here is how you can get involved in the most important movement as a charity tourist follow charity tourist on instagram and when you see my picture posed dropping cash in the toys for tots cashbox, i am asking you to do the same and  then tag CharityTourist with a picture of you chipping in some cash in the cashbox for Toys for Tots for Literacy Program.   Next week on Hawaii Posts i will list the new charitytourist instagram followers and those who gave to this most important charity.   Stay Tuned Stay Stoked and lets do so good to make the world a better place   (Commercial for Tiki’s)     Now time for your 777 forecast for this weeks weather, surf and events around all the islands.   (CUE Weather Music: ROYALTY FREE MUSIC 017 ) WEATHER It’s a beautiful day in Hawaii Nei. If you are already tired of the late autumn cold in the northeast or the  The weather for This week of Nov. 25 thru Dec. 2  will be a mixed plate. Warm temps in the lower 80’s and cooler day time temps in the mid 70’s High’s this week will range from 82 on sunday to 76 next sunday Lows will be consistently in the upper 60’s and lower 70’s Sunday through Tuesday will be mostly sunny with warm temps around 81 building humidity till Wednesday when we will see a mix of sun and showers Friday will be humid and sunny with morning showers and evening sprinkles Light trade winds will greet you this week with wind speeds between 5-15mph     Sunrise and Sunset Sunrise sunday will be 6:48 and sunset at 5:48 — thats a full 11 hours of daylight By next sunday december 2 the sunrise will be 6:53 and sunset at 5:48 with just 10hr 55min of daylight   (CUE CHARITY Reflective music ROYALTY FREE MUSIC 104)   NIGHT SKY Sunday 11/25 the Moon will be will be waning with 93% lumination moon rise at 8:38p the moon set will be monday morning at 9:19am It passes the Meridian at 1:29 am 88.4 degrees WAIT you don’t know what a passing the meridian means…. well i will tell ya with help from Wikipedia: “In astronomy, the meridian is the great circle passing through the celestial poles, the zenith, and the nadir of an observer's location. Consequently, it contains also the horizon's north and south points, and it is perpendicular to the celestial equator and horizon”  Next sunday 12/2 the moon will be luminated at 21% as we head toward the new moon on Dec 6. Next sunday the moonrise is at 2:40am and moonset is monday dec 3 at 2:58pm   Visible Planets will be Saturn setting first around 8:10p Mars setting second around 12:30a Uranus setting last at 4:20am Venus is early to rise around 4am   For visible constellations in the month november please refer to episode 11 where i stumble my way through the pronunciation of the constellations   Big Mahalo to TimeandDate.com for most all of my information about the weather sun and moon   I will post the 7 day weather forecast on HawaiiPosts.com episode 13 show notes   7 Surf report (CUE Surf Music) Breaking Surf News!!!! Eddie Aikau will return to Waimea Bay  iIt’s the most prestigious & culturally significant surf contest in the world Since it’s inaugural contest in 1984 at sunset beach only once ever since ’84 its been at Waimea Waves have to be 15-25′  The waiting period is always between Dec. 1, 2018 - Feb. 28, 2019. Opening Ceremonies Thursday, November 29th at 2:00 pm. At Waimea Bay Event featuring a Hawaiian blessing, educational booths, and a chance to see & meet big wave surfing’s living legends come early and good luck fining parking so bring your walking shoes camera and maybe some sunblock too.   This week :   North Shores Oahu Will be hosting the 3 Jewel in the Triple crown at the Bonsai Pipeline until Dec 6 Waves on North facing shores will be around 5-8 backs and 8-14 faces on sunday building through tuesday to 15-22 backs and 20-38 foot faces Dropping Wednesday 10- 12 backs and 15-20ft faces but big swells will be building starting friday through next weekend   West Shores will peak on weds with 10-15 backs and 15-25 faces but dropping weds through friday   East shores will be 1-2 and peaking at 2-3 with equal faces   South Shores is the mellow shore lines with sweet crispy waves coming in at 1-2 and holding through the week   BIG MAHALO TO SURF NEWS NETWORK (DOT COM) FOR ALL MY SURF INFORMATION   7 Day Events Highlights (CUE Events music) Royaty Free Music 075   Big Island   Na Makua Invitational Christmas Gift Fair OCCURS BETWEEN: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2018 - SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2018, 12:00PM - 6:00PM   The Annual Nä Mäkua Invitational Christmas Gift Fair showcases Hawai'i's best artists and producers with their finest one of a kind holiday gifts. Enjoy free entertainment by Hawaii's top entertainers, hourly drawings for prizes and 'ono food by Liko Lehua Cafe @ Ah Fook-Chinen Civic Auditorium (Manono St. in Hilo)   Christmas with the Chefs OCCURS ON: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2018, 5:30PM - 8:00PM Kick off the holiday season and celebrate the 30th year of the Big Isle’s premier holiday extravaganza at the festive Christmas with the Chefs, Saturday, Dec.1. The annual gala is on the seaside grounds of Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel from 5:30-8pm   Maui Maui Choral Arts Association presents Peace on Earth – A Holiday Concert OCCURS ON: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2018, 3:00PM - 6:00PM https://youtu.be/W0SJhe2LveU - Yule Be Home for Christmas Maui Choral Arts Association invites you to join artistic director Gary Leavitt and pianist Lotus Dancer plus an amazing chorus of talented singers as they kick off holidays with their annual smash holiday concert series @ the Maui Arts&Cultural Center Castle Theater in Kahalui   Hawaii International Film Festival - Maui OCCURS BETWEEN: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2018 - SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2018, 12:00AM - 12:00PM Hawaii International Film Festival Friday, November 30, through Sunday, December 2, 2018; Castle Theater; show times vary As the vanguard forum of international cinematic achievement in the Asia-Pacific Region @ the Maui Arts&Cultural Center in Kahalui   Pint Night for the Birds OCCURS ON: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2018, 6:00PM - 10:00PM Maui Brewing Company hosts benefit night for the birds. Half the pub profits from house beers sold will go towards protecting native birds on Maui. Enjoy local beers while helping endangered species.    Holiday Pops featuring Henry Kapono OCCURS ON: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2018, 3:00PM - 6:00PM https://youtu.be/JI0uXPDPZjQ - Merry Christmas To You Holiday Pops featuring Henry Kapono (Candy) Sunday, December 2, 2018; Castle Theater; 3:00 pm Under the baton of music director James Durham, the 50+ member Maui Pops Orchestra extends an invitation to ring in the holiday season with a festive concert featuring Grammy Award-nominated and 14-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winner, Henry Kapono. @ the Maui Arts&Cultural Center   OAHU   Stanley Jordan Trio at Blue Note Hawaii OCCURS BETWEEN: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018 - WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018, 6:30PM - 11:00PM https://youtu.be/hcVFXsRhhRQ - Katy Perry “I kissed a Girl” The Stanley Jordan Trio will be performing at Blue Note Hawaii with 2 shows nightly at 6:30pm and 9:00pm. Stanely Jordan is a critically acclaimed guitar virtuoso who takes listeners on a breathless journey with bold reinventions of classical masterpieces, soulful explorations through pop rock hits   Tower of Power at Blue Note Hawaii OCCURS BETWEEN: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2018 - SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2018, 5:00PM - 11:00PM https://youtu.be/1lrpTho-3pU - Soul with a Capital S Tower of Power will be performing at Blue Note Hawaii with 8pm shows on 11/29 and 12/02, and 2 shows nightly at 6:30pm & 9:00pm on 11/20 and 12/01. For close to 50 years, Tower of Power has delivered the best in Rhythm and Blues music. They consistently plays over 200 nights a year   Tip a Cop Fundraiser (28th Annual) OCCURS BETWEEN: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2018 - SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2018   From serving our community to serving your favorite appetizers, this holiday season off-duty volunteer law enforcement will join forces for Special Olympics Hawaii's annual Tip a Cop fundraiser. The event returns for its 28th year on Friday, Nov. 30 from 5 p.m. till 9 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 1 at participating restaurants across Oahu including popular eateries California Pizza Kitchen (all Oahu locations), Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. (Ala Moana Center), and Big City Diner (Ward Village.)   Honolulu City Lights (34th Annual) OCCURS BETWEEN: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2018 - TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2019   The annual Honolulu City Lights Public Worker's Electric Light Parade will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 1, in Chinatown and downtown Honolulu. The parade features work vehicles adorned with lights and special decorations. Among the more than 50 units expected to participate are fire and police vehicles, TheBus, refuse truck, city service vehicles, marching bands, and entries from Honolulu City Lights sponsors. The parade, held on King Street, begins at approximately 6 p.m., starts at River Street, proceeds past Honolulu Hale, and ends at Kawaiaha'o Street. Decorated vehicles will park at the end of the parade for public viewing until 8:15 p.m.   Na Leo - Hawaiian Holidays OCCURS BETWEEN: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2018 - SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2018 https://youtu.be/nWTbrS6d7Ao- O Holy Night NA LEO PILIMEHANA, which means the voices blending together in warmth, are the most popular, award winning and biggest selling female Hawaiian group in the World. Na Leo consists of three childhood friends, Nalani Choy, Lehua Kalima and Angela Morales. @ The Hawaii Theater 1130 Bethel St.   Kauai Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar & Ukulele Concert - Honoring Raymond Kane https://youtu.be/QGl4CyRWFGA - This is Slack Key 1975 OCCURS ON: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2018, 3:00PM - 5:00PM @ HANALEI Community Center on Malolo Rd.    Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar & Ukulele Concert -Whales Homecoming OCCURS ON: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018, 6:00PM - 8:00PM Award winning traditional Hawaiian slack key guitar & ukulele concert featuring songs & stories telling its history. @Princeville Community Center on Emmalani Rd in Princeville   Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar & Ukulele Concert - Honoring Kelii Mawae of Molokai https://youtu.be/cOyEUOHP_YM - Wai Ulu (found on carmelinhawaii channel.) OCCURS ON: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018, 6:00PM - 8:00PM @All Saints Church on Kuhio HWY in Kapaa   Kauai Festival of Lights OCCURS BETWEEN: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2018 - SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2018, 6:00PM - 8:00PM   Santa's Gone Kauaiian at the Festival of Lights! It's a Kauai-style Holiday Wonderland inside the Historic County Building. This December marks the 22nd Anniversary of this glorious celebration founded by artist Elizabeth Freeman in 1997. It showcases the beloved "Trash to Treasure" Folk Art @ Historic County Building on Rice Street in Lihue   BIG MAHALO TO gohawaii.com that is the Hawaii Tourism Authority website.   Featured music Maui Choral Arts Association art director Gary Leavitt and pianist Lotus Dancer https://youtu.be/W0SJhe2LveU - Yule Be Home for Christmas   Henry Kapono https://youtu.be/JI0uXPDPZjQ - Merry Christmas To You   The Stanley Jordan Trio https://youtu.be/hcVFXsRhhRQ - Katy Perry “I kissed a Girl”   Tower of Power https://youtu.be/1lrpTho-3pU - Soul with a Capital S   Na Leo https://youtu.be/nWTbrS6d7Ao- O Holy Night   Pulahele Raymond Kane https://youtu.be/QGl4CyRWFGA - Raymond Kane This is Slack Key 1975   Kelii Mawae  https://youtu.be/cOyEUOHP_YM - Wai Ulu (found on carmelinhawaii channel.)        

Hawaii Posts Show # 8 by tomestokes raw notes: 9 / 7-14 / 18 weather currently 85 and sunny with a few clouds building up throughout today , saturday through tuesday expect mostly sunny days with highs around 86 and lows about 73 with winds from the NE 5-10 mph this coming wednesday we have a good chance for rain as temps will cool off to highs around 80 for wed and thurs.       Hurricanes and tropical depressions and storms…oh my! Last we left off I was telling you about Hurricane Lane It was the storm that wasn’t The Big Island and Kauai got the brunt of it but mostly the cool air above Mauna Loa and Haleakula busted up the the warm weather dependent storm system I had the joy of taking care of my 2 boys who were stoked to be home and not at school.    currently Hurricane Norman is weakening and headed north northwest which will probably bring wind and waves to north north east facing shores. Olivia is 1,507 miles east of Hilo and moving west-northwest at 14 mph.       sun sunrise will be around 6:16 and sunset tonight at 6:41 providing 12hours 26 minutes  of day light  by next friday the 14th of sept the sunrise @6:18 sun set @6:35p 12hours and 16 min of day light losing 10 minutes of light in the week.   night sky: moon is waning Sunday Sept 9th will be the new moon our next full moon is the harvest moon on sept. 24   In the west shining brightly is what many have called the Evening Star, Venus sets shortly after sunset  at 8:45 to the east f ollowed by Jupiter which is in libra @10:05 Jupiter passed opposition in may so it becoming less bright. and Saturn is found just above the teapot spout in sagittarius @1:01 Gazing eastward your eyes will cross the milky way before they set upon a planet brighter than Jupiter but not for long and its more red in tone… its Mars the party planet is only up for one after hour party and mars will set at 2:56       surf NORTH 1-2 starting to rise monday with a ENE swell due to norman  and olivia this could lead to the decent swell on the north shore this summer. maybe it will push some of that sand back into sunset beach.   EAST windy 2-4 rising through the week with olivia coming and norman passing by the islands.   WEST Flat to a foot great for ocean sports like paddling fishing or diving   SOUTH 1-2 holding and rising slowly starting monday Low tide today at 7:45am advancing 50 minutes per day through the week totaling about 5h 40 min later at 1:30pm next friday. Hi tide today 2:40  advancing 50 minutes per day through the week totaling about 5h 40 min later at 7:20pm next friday.       Events   Hawaii the Big Island Ms. Aloha Nui Pageant OCCURS ON: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2018, 6:00PM - 9:30PM The Ms. Aloha Nui Pageant was created to celebrate the Women of great stature who embodies the “Spirit of Aloha ". In celebrating the beautiful women of the big island, we must educate all and honor the Old Hawaiian Culture, which is in the traditional sense, weighing in at least 200 lbs as part of their overall beauty and charm This event has been going on for 20+ years and with the love, Aloha, and support of our communities and sponsors it has continued. Many women in our Hawaiian Monarchy were of great stature and indeed embodied the “Spirit of Aloha” who cared for the people and were loved by the people. The " Ms. Aloha Nui" honors the women of today and the women of yesteryear. Kalilu Theater in Kamuela   Hawaii Island Festival - 30 Days of Aloha - Kindy Sproat Falsetto & Hawaiian Storytelling Competition OCCURS ON: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2018, 6:00PM - 9:30PM   Our kane come out to show their skills to throw their voice in higher registers. They also share the manao of their mele, the songwriter and the hidden meaning (kaona). This is to honor the late Uncle Kindy Sproat, a true Hawaiian who lived in Pololu Valley, as his kupuna before him @Kahilu Theater in Kampala Kinda Sproat Segment https://youtu.be/ohp2i8OoLnU   Hawaii Island Festival - 30 Days of Aloha Poke Contest OCCURS ON: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2018, 11:00AM - 2:00PM   Featuring cube sized fish (poke) and various ocean delicacies, tako, opihi, loli. We share our delicious fish with the bounty from our ocean, limu eleele, limu kohu, opihi, opae, wana, loli. Visitors as well as our host culture get to taste various preparations of poke. Held at the Waikola Beach Marriot Resort   Big Island Blues Festival (2nd Annual) OCCURS ON: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2018, 4:00PM - 10:00PM   We are excited to announce the 2nd Annual Big Island Blues Festival!!! Where there will be something for everyone to enjoy - from Great Original Blues Music, Local Brews, Unique Vendors, to Delicious BBQ Food and More! This years wonderful event will takes place on Saturday September 8th Kin Kamehameha hotel ARTIST LINEUP:. • Bottle of Blue • Tomi Isobe Music • Ronnie V. & The Family Band     Hawaiicon - The World's First Sci-fi, Science, And Fantasy Tropical Vacation Convention OCCURS BETWEEN: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2018, 7:00AM - 11:00PM   This event will bring together leading cast members from TV shows and movies well as stars from a dozen other shows, cosplayers, space scientists, visionaries, gamers, comic book artists, and writers. We start with taking the celebrities out on tours with the fans around the island @Mauna Lani Bay resort       MAUI   La Ulu 2018 (Breadfruit Day!) OCCURS ON: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2018, 10:00AM - 3:00PM   Saturday, September 8, from 10 AM to 3 PM: La Ulu (Breadfruit Day!) In partnership with the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Maui Nui Botanical Gardens will host the second annual La Ulu: Breadfruit Day! This free community event will include food booths, breadfruit cooking demonstrations   Kū Mai Ka Hula 2018 OCCURS ON: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2018   Saturday, September 8, 2018; Castle Theater; 1:00 pm Preshow entertainment by the Napili Kai Foundation, from 11:45 am – 12:30pm Kū Mai Ka Hula features award-winning hālau competing in solo and group performances. This year's invitees include hālau from Japan and Hawai'i Male and female dancers perform both kahiko (traditional) and 'auana (modern) hula stylings. @ Castle Theater   Pioneers of Electronic Music @ Lahaina Public LIbrary OCCURS ON: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2018, 2:30PM - 4:00PM On Saturday, September 8, 2018, 2:30 - 4PM, Ebb & Flow Arts will present a free lecture at Lahaina Public Library, 680 Wharf Street. "Pioneers of Electronic Music" features composer/videographer and E&FA Technical Producer, Peter Swanzy. He will hold forth on the fascinating beginnings and development of the electronic music medium through the end of the 20th century. https://youtu.be/GOQR4tnWyGg     OAHU   Ohina Short Film Showcase-Oahu OCCURS ON: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2018, 6:00PM - 9:00PM `Ohina is back at the historic Hawai'i Theatre for an evening of incredible independent films before hosting a full weekend of filmmaker workshops with our `Ohina special guests. Since 1999, the `Ohina Short Film Showcase is Hawai'i's largest annual short film festival dedicated to gathering and  presenting original works by students, amateurs, and professional filmmakers. Although entries can come from around the world, there is only one requirement: a creative relationship to the Hawaiian Islands. Come early to walk the red carpet.   Kimie Miner OCCURS BETWEEN: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2018 - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2018, 6:30PM - 10:30PM Kimie Miner will be performing at Blue Note Hawaii with 2 shows nightly at 6:30pm & 9:00pm. Kimie's mellow and melodic music embodies many different styles of music, ranging from island contemporary/pop to R&B/reggae music. Doors open at 5:00pm and 8:30pm respectively. https://youtu.be/2gIp1gJ_0_Y     First Friday Art Walk - Downtown - Chinatown (September) OCCURS ON: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2018, 5:00PM - 9:00PM Come join us for the most exciting event to hit downtown Honolulu on the first Friday of every month! Chinatown is the place to be if you want to join the hip crowds at the many unique galleries, boutiques, cafes and restaurants that feature exciting art exhibits and free entertainment.    Kaha Native Plant Garden OCCURS BETWEEN: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2018 - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2018, 9:00AM - 12:00PM   Volunteers at Kaha Garden are taught to identify the native and Invasive plants, how to properly propagate and where to plant different species to maximize their ecological benefits, and how to properly remove invasive species. Community workdays are held quarterly at this site.   Old Pali Road 4.4 Miler OCCURS ON: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2018, 6:30AM - 9:00AM The annual Old Pali Road 4.4 mile run is a scenic experience starting on Kionaole Street in Kaneohe near the former Koolau Golf Club.    ' Aha Mele OCCURS ON: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2018 Hawaii Tourism Authority and Waimea Valley present a Aha Mele featuring: Henry Kapono, Paula Fuga, Jeff Rasmussen, Robi Kahakalau, and Roddy Lopez. Join us at Waimea Valley on the Main Lawn. Show starts at 12pm. FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!! Hawaii Tourism Authority and Waimea Valley   "Ho‘oulu: The King Kalākaua Era" Art Exhibit OCCURS BETWEEN: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 2019, 10:00AM - 4:30PM Ho‘oulu: The King Kalākaua Era considers art and experimentation in the Hawaiian Kingdom during the reign of King David Kalākaua (1874–1891). Cosmopolitanism—the idea that local polities share systemic parallels internationally as part of a world citizenry—was a thriving philosophy in the Hawaiian Kingdom, and it was expressed through art. People in Hawai‘i developed a visual language that merged art and politics, and that presented local iterations of global art styles. They expanded an existing visual culture using a combination of indigenous and introduced materials, concepts, and techniques. The show features experimental art works alongside academic art works to explore how both the avant-garde and the academic were deployed in the shaping of a national identity. The exhibition prompts conversations about issues of adaptability, economy, ceremony, and, more important, gets at underlying perceptions about the Hawaiian place in the world at turn of the century. It also challenges ideas about tradition, modernity, and culture in Hawai‘i through the collection and loaned works. The honolulu museum of art   Kauai   Grove Farm museum's Sugar Plantation BASH! OCCURS ON: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2018, 11:00AM - 6:00PM   Come join us for the 1st annual Grove Farm museum's Sugar Plantation BASH! There will be something for everyone, including a water slide and zip line for the keiki and a Beer Garden for those over 21. Live entertainment will be happening throughout the day   Makanaokahaku Live Hawaiian Music & Hula Concert in Waimea OCCURS ON: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2018, 2:00PM - 5:00PM Madison Makanaokahaku Scott announces the release of her Hawaiian music CD "Na Mele Punahele" (favorite songs). To celebrate the CD release, she will be performing a LIVE Hawaiian music concert with several of her talented "na hoa" (friends) on the west side of Kaua'i: @Historic Waimea Theater https://youtu.be/M0lVBCNo1jk           Music line up show #8   Madison Makanaokahaku Scott  song: Noho Paipai     Bottle of Blue  Bottle of Blue is a classic rock and blues band from Naalehu, Hawaii near South Point on the Big Island Scott Reagan - Lead Vocals Marion Geruschat - Acoustic Guitar, Keyboard, and Vocals Dan Corippo - Electric Guitar and Backing Vocals Dave Ojeda - Bass Jeff Borree - Drums https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcYgIIjXH7eVhJtYeCnTWAQ Songs: “The Plan” & “What I Wanna Do’ https://youtu.be/UjobZ-xLBVU https://youtu.be/i7dr-ysnG00       Tomi Isobe  http://www.tomiisobemusic.com Currently living on a Big Island of Hawaii. I have been singing & playing for last 35 years of my life in Boston, Georgia & Hawaii. “Diggin A Hole” https://youtu.be/5aAXEJJ7jis     Ronnie V & the Family Band  Ronnie V. & The Family Band is Kona's real deal Folk Roots Acoustic Blues Jam Band.    Snow-Mando Jerry-Drums Jeff-Uke Fish-Harp David-Guitar Ronnie-Guitar Song: “Fingers to the bone” https://youtu.be/sI5pNxlp16o   Kimie Miner https://www.kimieminer.com Grew up Kailua Kona. Went Kamehameha. lives honolulu Song: Bamboo   Support the show:   If you live on the islands and would like to promote for you music art film event restaurant  stop by the website and clic the contact button and LMK what you go going on   I have donation buttons for Vemo, PayPal, Crypto currencies like BTC, Ethereum, Dash, Litecoin and my favorite DOGE Coin   Change your life for the better with IZUMIO click the link on my website and you can order a case and you will see the difference   Stop By tiki’s Grill and Bar and Tell them that Tom from Hawaii Posts sent you and Support the Sponsors who Support this show. Buy a Kona Brewing Co. Beer or have a Miller Coors Product.  

Daniel Fenton is an Executive Vice President with JLL's Hotels & Hospitality Group. He is a 25-year veteran of the Hospitality and Tourism industries. Daniel led a destination marketing organization that completed a highly successfully re-branding, re-structuring effort that is used as a cutting edge model for others. He is the past Chairman of the Board of Destination Marketing Association International where he launched several initiatives designed to drive more effectiveness in Destination Marketing Organizations nationally. He graduated with distinction from the Cornell University School of Hospitality Management. Daniel has successfully completed and is currently the Project Executive for many tourism planning initiatives, most recently including Travel Portland; Visit Denver; Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau; New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau Miami Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau; Daytona Beach/Volusia County, Florida; Hawaii Tourism Authority; Visit Salt Lake; Atlantic City, New Jersey; Ft. Lauderdale/Broward County CVB, Florida; San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau and Charlotte NC. What you’ll learn about in this episode: Daniel’s background and how he got into the hospitality and tourism industry Destination Master Planning: enhancing the visitor experience Maximizing technology to reach target audiences What makes millennial travelers different from other generations How to deliver heritage tourism in a way that isn’t a passive experience How to work with regulatory agencies to overcome hurdles and find solutions Why economic development leadership is now more engaged with tourism How public-private partnerships are more effective than they used to be How planning departments have become advocates for small businesses Why density of activity leads to higher success for everyone How additional funds can be raised for tourism through business improvement districts Why an occupancy tax is not enough Why you need to assume that everyone has some interest in an initiative Ways to contact Daniel: Website: us.jll.com/tourism

Larry Johnson - Retired CEO of Bank of Hawaii, Board of Star Bulletin and MidWeek, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hawaii Pacific University, The Hawaii Community Foundation and The Nature Conservancy The post LARRY JOHNSON appeared first on Greater Good Radio - Leaders Inspiring Leaders.