Hawaii Tourism News 

Outrigger Hotels and Resorts announces Jeff Wagoner as President and CEO

HONOLULU, Hawaii - Outrigger Hotels and Resorts today announced that Jeff Wagoner is joining the company as president and chief executive officer, effective April 26, 2018. KSL Resorts co-founder and CEO Scott Dalecio, who has been serving as Outrigger’s interim CEO since early 2017, has been appointed executive chairman of the global hospitality brand. Wagoner joins Outrigger with wide-ranging hospitality leadership experience in both domestic and international markets. His previous appointments... Read More
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HAWAII GOVERNOR ON THE WAY OUT

March 29, 2018 HAWAII GOVERNOR ON THE WAY OUT By Scott Foster HONOLULU: Those who might have been thinking things couldn’t get any worse for Hawaii’s Governor David Ige, a poll commissioned by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser indicates Ige’s most viable opponent (one of Hawaii’s two U.S. Representatives) Colleen Hanabusa has a stunning 20-percent lead over incumbent Governor Ige. With less than five months until the Democratic primary, “47 percent of likely... Read More
Georgia O’Keeffe on Leho‘ula Beach, near Aleamai, Hāna, Maui. Harold Stein 1939, Gelatin silver print, 2 x 2⅞ in. Alfred Stieglitz/Georgia O’Keeffe Archive, Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Global news for Hawaii 

Art exhibition of Georgia O’Keeffe’s Hawaii work: Cultural highlight of New York summer

Georgia O’Keeffe: Visions of Hawai‘i at The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) promises to be one of the most important museum exhibitions in New York City this year. Focusing on the iconic artist’s immersion in the Hawaiian Islands in 1939, this blockbuster show will offer a dramatic floral display in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory and bring more than 15 of O’Keeffe’s paintings back to the city, where they have not... Read More
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HAWAII POISED TO BECOME 7TH DEATH WITH DIGNITY STATE

HAWAII POISED TO BECOME 7TH DEATH WITH DIGNITY STATE “The defining civil rights struggle of our time.” HONOLULU: Hawaii is poised to become the 7th state in the nation to allow Medical Aid In Dying, AKA “Death With Dignity.” After a final committee vote last Friday, the legislation is now awaiting a full vote by the State Senate. The bill is expected to pass by a wide majority later this week.... Read More
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New report shows diversified characteristics of Hawaii’s top 14 race groups

HONOLULU, Hawaii – The Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) released a report today, “Demographic, Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics for Selected Race Groups in Hawaii,” which shows the different life styles among the 14 top race groups in Hawaii. “We have the most diversified culture, work force, and life style among all the states in the nation,” said DBEDT Director Luis P. Salaveria. “This gives us an... Read More
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Hawaii one step closer to passing medically-assisted death bill

Hawaii lawmakers today brought the medically-assisted death bill one step closer to becoming law in the Aloha State. The state’s Senate Judiciary Committee voted 4-1 to move House Bill 2739 forward which would make medically-assisted death for terminally-ill patients an option for Hawaii residents. The bill is known as the “Our Care, Our Choice” Act. A legally-assisted death means the law would allow doctors to prescribe lethal doses of prescription medication.... Read More
Global news for Hawaii 

Hawaii couple dies in helicopter crash on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

Honeymooners from Kona, Hawaii, died yesterday (Wednesday) when the tour helicopter they were on crashed near the Great Barrier Reef off Australia. The helicopter was attempting to land on a pontoon near Hardy Reef, a popular tourist spot to view coral, when it crashed. Pete Hensel (79) and Sue Hensel (65) had recently married in December and according to friends were looking forward to their honeymoon down under. The pilot was... Read More
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ABUSE OF HAWAIIAN PRINCESS INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

March 18, 2018 ABUSE OF HAWAIIAN PRINCESS INVESTIGATION CONTINUES Control of $215 million Trust At Stake HONOLULU - On March 15, 2018, Hawaii Judge Robert Browning ruled that the long battle for control over HRH Princess Abigail Kawananakoa’s $215 million trust must continue until the investigation into the alleged physical abuse by her wife and longtime companion, Veronica Gail Worth is finalized by the special master appointed in September, 2018. Princess... Read More
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UPDATE ON “SCATHING” 2018 Hawai`i TOURISM AUTHORITY AUDIT

March 18, 2018 UPDATE ON “SCATHING” 2018 HAWAI`I TOURISM AUTHORITY AUDIT Two Important Game Changing Bills Now Moving At State Legislature HONOLULU - The latest state audit of the Hawai`i Tourism Authority (HTA) was released on February 27, 2018, and was followed on February 18th by a “combative” two-and-a half-hour joint House & Senate Informational Briefing on tourism. The latest audit was in many ways, worthy of the old Yogi Berra... Read More
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SLOW MOTION TRAIN WRECK AT HONOLULU HALE

March 17, 2018 THE SLOW MOTION TRAIN WRECK AT HONOLULU HALE HONOLULU - Honolulu means "sheltered harbor" or "calm port” but these days, neither definition really applies at the Honolulu City Council. Much of the discord in recent years has been caused by Honolulu’s controversial Honolulu Transit Project which has been plagued from day one by massive cost overruns. Depending on who you ask, the cost estimates have grown from the... Read More
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ACLU of Hawaii disappointed by DOE response to gender equality demand

“The response we received from the DOE late last night raises more questions than it answers,” said ACLU of Hawaii Executive Director Joshua Wisch, commenting on the State DOE’s response to their Title IX demand letter. The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai'i Foundation (ACLU of Hawai'i) is clearly disappointed by the response the State of Hawai'i Department of Education (DOE) provided yesterday to its February 9, 2018 demand letter relating... Read More
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HAWAII GOVERNOR IGE ADDING INSULT TO INJURY

March 14, 2018 HAWAII GOVERNOR IGE ADDING INSULT TO INJURY At 8:10 AM on Saturday, January 13, 2018, Hawaii residents were stunned to receive the following cell phone message via the State’s emergency channel: “Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill.” It’s important to understand that we were already stressed by the “blow-by-blow” media coverage of the overheated, negative dialog then taking place between... Read More
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New report shows Hawaii households will see $710 million reduction in federal individual income tax for tax year 2018

The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) released a report today, “The Impact of the Federal Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA) on Hawaii Households,” which shows the total reduction in Federal individual income tax is more than $710 million for tax year 2018. “We’re looking at disposable personal income increasing by $710 million, where we will see an increase in consumer spending by more than $600 million,” said... Read More
Daniel Ho, backed by a hula halau, gave a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem. Global news for Hawaii 

Hawaii Night at STAPLES Center celebrates L.A. Clippers return to Honolulu

With the L.A. Clippers returning to Honolulu for training camp this fall to start the 2018-2019 NBA season, the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) staged Hawaii Night, a festive celebration held tonight at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles to welcome the team and its fans. Hawaii Night featured stellar ukulele performances by two modern-day legends of Hawaiian music, along with a hula halau performance before and during the game, giveaways of... Read More
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Cayetano: “Abolish Office of Hawaiian Affairs”

March 11, 2018 FORMER GOVERNOR: “ABOLISH OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS” HONOLULU - The day after the HawaiiNewsNow television news story revealed that the FBI had joined a state investigation into the mismanagement of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), former Governor Ben Cayetano called for the abolishment of the multimillion trust created by the Hawaii State Constitution for the benefit of the Native Hawaiian people. Cayetano said, “After nearly 40 years,... Read More