Lahaina Loft - Photo courtesy of Kaua Photography Hawaii Tourism News 

Lahaina Loft answers growing demand for unique event cenues on Maui

Lahaina Loft, a contemporary oceanfront event space is Maui’s newest premier venue for weddings, corporate events and social gatherings, meeting the growing demand for alternative celebration venues on the island. The quintessential loft located on historic Front Street, features white walls, wood floors and large windows as well as an outdoor lanai (balcony) offering picturesque Maui ocean and sunset views. Featuring 2,000-square-feet of air-conditioned event space, the spacious layout delivers limitless... Read More
Duke's OceanFest Hawaii Tourism News 

Outrigger surfs into Duke’s OceanFest as official hotel partner

Outrigger Hotels and Resorts is again making waves in Waikiki as the official hotel sponsor of Duke’s OceanFest – the premier ocean sports festival from Aug. 18-16 that celebrates Hawaii’s original ambassador of Aloha, Duke Paoa Kahanamoku. With mix of surf contests, paddleboard races, beach volleyball and so much more – guests can ride the energy with the Duke’s OceanFest VIP Package – inclusive of access to the brand new Voyager... Read More
Hawaii economy kamaainas 

DBEDT releases population and economic projections for Hawaii to 2045

The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) released a report today, “Population and Economic Projections for the State of Hawaii to 2045.” The report shows that Hawaii’s economy, measured by real gross domestic product (GDP), will grow at 1.7 percent per year between 2016 and 2045; civilian jobs will grow at 0.8 percent annual rate; population will grow at 0.5 percent annual rate; and visitor arrivals by air planes... Read More
hawaii tourists Hawaii Tourism News 

Hawaii tourists love to spend money in the Aloha State!

“May was the fourth straight month that Hawaii’s tourism industry realized double-digit increases in air seat capacity and visitor spending, two key categories that are interrelated and vital to the state’s economic health,” said George D. Szigeti, President and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), commenting on the results of spending by Hawaii tourists for the month of May 2018. Visitors to the Hawaiian Islands spent a total of $1.42... Read More
Kona kamaainas 

National tech company expands to Kona, creating jobs

HONOLULU, Hawaii — With support from the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation (HTDC), Tridentis Advanced Marine Vehicles (AMV) launched in Kona last November to continue its development of the world’s most advanced autonomous and unmanned marine vehicles, working with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA). Tridentis AMV is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tridentis, LLC, a national technology company founded in Virginia. HTDC awarded the company with a Hawaii Small Business... Read More
Global news for Hawaii kamaainas 

Hawaii Tourism Journalist Presented Revealing Data During June Hawaii Tourism Wholesalers Association Event

UPDATED 6/27/2018 Honolulu Star-Advertiser Waikiki Bureau Chief Allison Schaefers’ June 13th, 2018, presentation to the Hawaii Tourism Wholesalers Association (HTWA) was entitled, “You've got the crumbs, they've got the bread: More than 70 percent of daily visitor spending goes to hotels, transportation and food.” Schaefers has covered Hawaii tourism for more than a decade and was a staff writer for the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville, Florida and has written for the... Read More
hawaii technology kamaainas 

Hawaii Technology Development Corp. awards over $900,000 in grant funds to local manufacturing companies

HONOLULU, HI — The Hawaii Technology Development Corporation (HTDC) recently awarded $930,680 in Manufacturing Assistance Program (MAP) grant funds to 29 Hawaii-based manufacturing companies. Of the companies awarded funding, 23 were first-time recipients of the MAP grant funds. “It’s great to be able to offer financial support to local manufacturers, knowing that the funding is used to improve their businesses,” said Robbie Melton, executive director and CEO of HTDC. “The grant... Read More
Hawaii solar kamaainas 

Hawaii secures $2 million in federal funding for solar desalination development

KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII – The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) is set to receive a $2 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) to advance solar-thermal desalination technologies, which can reduce cost and expand the market for creating freshwater from otherwise unusable waters. The project at NELHA will demonstrate improvements to thermal desalination technologies and low-cost integrated designs for solar-thermal collection and storage to... Read More
Jean Dickinson its Senior Director of Integrated Marketing, PacRim Marketing Group Global news for Hawaii 

PacRim Marketing Group names Jean Dickinson Senior Director of Integrated Marketing

HONOLULU, Hawaii — PacRim Marketing Group has named Jean Dickinson its senior director of integrated marketing. Dickinson will lead PacRim’s marketing team of multilingual specialists in Honolulu and Tokyo and will be responsible for client brand and positioning objectives through strategic communications, public relations, special events, promotional materials and advertising. Dickinson, who has an extensive background in public relations, advertising, marketing and strategic planning, comes to PacRim Marketing Group from Marriott... Read More
Aloha Tokyo Global news for Hawaii 

Iconic Hawaii-based hospitality company sponsors Aloha Tokyo

According to Hawaii Tourism Authority, Japan is Hawaii’s largest international market – in 2017, more than 1.5 million visitors from Japan travelled to the Hawaiian Islands. The Aloha Tokyo festival, now in its 16th year, helps to perpetuate this love for Hawaii. This event saw 170,000 attendees over 3 exciting days of Hawaiian-inspired food stalls, vendor booths, crafts and three stages – all kicking off Japan’s summer with a taste of... Read More
Kilauea Volcano kamaainas 

Hawai’i County residents may register for assistance from Kilauea Volcano losses

Residents of Hawai‘i County who suffered damage or losses from the recent Kilauea Volcano eruption and earthquakes, can now register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The amendment to the presidential disaster declaration of May 11, 2018 now makes federal assistance available to eligible individuals, business owners and private non-profit organizations in Hawai‘i County. A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC), jointly operated by the state of Hawai‘i and... Read More
Outrigger Global news for Hawaii 

Thailand company acquires 6 spectacular hotel properties from Outrigger for a cool US$310 million

Singha Estate Public Company Limited, a Thailand property development and investment holding company, today announced the successful acquisition of 6 spectacular properties from the Honolulu-based hotel chain and management company, Outrigger. The USD 310 million acquisition is part of Singha Estate’s strategic investment approach focused on the expansion and entry in high-yield tourist destinations around the globe. With 70 years of hospitality development and management experience, Outrigger’s resort properties are dotted... Read More
hawaii state energy kamaainas 

Hawaii State Energy Office schedules community meetings on utility model study

The Hawaii State Energy Office (HSEO) will host a series of community meetings across the state starting tomorrow to gather community input for the second phase of a study being done on future models for utility ownership and regulation in Hawaii. The latest round of community meetings will focus on the future of electric utility regulatory models, including performance-based regulation and the role the Public Utilities Commission plays in achieving state... Read More
Hawaiian Airlines Global news for Hawaii 

Hawaiian Airlines and Airbus mark firsts in delivery of NEO aircraft

Airbus has made its first US-delivered NEO aircraft to Hawaiian Airlines, also marking a first for the airline as it took delivery of its first US-produced A321. The aircraft, delivered from the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile, Alabama, is also the first new engine option aircraft (NEO) delivered from Airbus’ U.S. facility. It is powered by a Pratt & Whitney PW1000G high-bypass geared turbofan engine. Executives and employees from Airbus... Read More
kamaainas 

Is the Hawaii Convention Center Profitable?

Hawaii’s beautiful State Convention Center was officially dedicated on October 15, 1997, after many years of debate and political intrigue. At the time, I was on Governor Ben Cayetano’s staff helping to advance the project in the midst of a major economic downturn when the location was finally selected and the land purchase took place. Comparing it to Central Park in New York City, the visionary Governor Cayetano proposed that the... Read More