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Global news for Hawaii Hawaii Tourism News 

Hawaii now also deadly for COVID-19

Juergen Steinmetz
The first Hawaiian Resident passed away from COVID-19 There have been 224 cases of COVID-19 identified in Hawaii. Of those cases, 6% have required hospitalization, and over 80% were residents returning from other areas. Update: COVID-19 is spreading globally, nationally, and now locally. We have identified the first death in a person who had COVID-19 and are in the process of investigating the circumstances of this death. While the majority of cases... Read More
News for Visitors Hawaii Tourism News kamaainas 

Official COVID-19 Statement by the Hawaii Department of Health

Juergen Steinmetz
The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) was notified today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that an adult male who traveled to Maui from Jan. 28 to Feb. 3 and to Oahu from Feb. 3-7 has been confirmed for COVID-19. The individual is a Japanese national who developed severe symptoms, sought medical care, and was diagnosed and tested after leaving Hawaii and returning home to Japan. The Department... Read More
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Invitation to Readers: Mufi Hannemann speaks at the Hawaii Tourism Wholesalers Association

Juergen Steinmetz
Hawaii news Online readers are invited to attend the Hawaii Tourism Wholesalers Association meeting on Wednesday, November 13, 2019. Guest speaker is Mufi Hannemann, President & CEO of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association. His organization represents Over 700 lodging properties and businesses through education, advocacy, and philanthropy. This will be a particularly good opportunity to learn the very latest about the quickly changing business trends affecting Hawaii's tourism industry. Mufi... Read More

The Island Air and Honolulu Rail Connection in Federal Bankruptcy Court?

Juergen Steinmetz
HART and Island Air may be connected in a conspiracy of corporate greed, lies, and possible fraud in hiring David Uchiyama. A complaint filed on August 12 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Honolulu alleges Uchiyama was hired knowingly by Island Air owners to run the company into the ground. Many loyal workers for Island Air lost their jobs and health insurance overnight. Hawaiian Airlines almost became a monopoly overnight, increasing their... Read More

Hilton Hawaiian Village: About to strike

Juergen Steinmetz
The strike authorization comes after weeks of negotiations with Hilton for a contract covering 1,700 Hilton Hawaiian Village hotel workers. Workers complain that the company is not yet addressing key issues specific to the hotel. Desiree Hee, a member from Hilton Hawaiian Village Accounting department voted yes to strike: “I voted yes because I’m tired of technology and automation combining our jobs—meaning one person doing more than one type of work.... Read More
Hawaii Tourism News News for Visitors 

The most important person in Hawaii

Juergen Steinmetz
Tourism leader Chris Tatum  may very well be the most important person in the US State of Hawaii. The largest industry in Hawaii is tourism, and even if someone is not employed in that industry, it remains everyone’s business. The state agency in charge of tourism is the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), and since January 1 of this year, Chris Tatum has taken over as the Chief Executive Officer and President of... Read More

Hawaii Tourism Authority concerned about storm watch

Juergen Steinmetz
The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau and its Island Chapters, and Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association, are monitoring a low-pressure storm system as it approaches the Hawaiian Islands, in collaboration with the State of Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, National Weather Service and County emergency management agencies. HTA has created a special Alert page on its website to provide industry partners, residents and visitors with information, updates and... Read More
Hawaii Tourism News News for Visitors 

Hawaii Tourism paradise has a dark side: 117 people dead in 2018

Juergen Steinmetz
One of the most popular US travel and tourism destinations is also a destination with a dark track record of 117 people that died on its roadways in 2018. One outspoken leader in the travel and tourism industry is the CEO of Charley's Taxi in Honolulu. She has been outspoken in traffic safety issues and invested heavily to make a difference. Her name is Dale Evans. Tourism income is at its peak... Read More
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Christmas eve for homeless in Honolulu means Sweeps

Juergen Steinmetz
The ACLU of Hawai‘i reached out to the office of the Mayor this weekend, urging the City to reconsider and cancel its planned “sweep” of Waikiki’s houseless community this Christmas Eve. As of 1:30 p.m. today, the City has refused. The ACLU and homelessness experts note that nothing prevents the City from connecting people with services, including helping people get into shelters or more permanent housing, without the threat of arrest.... Read More

Hawaii Special Alert: Federal Government Shutdown

Juergen Steinmetz
The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) has created a special Alert page on its website providing industry partners, visitors and residents with information and online resources about national parks, monuments and wildlife refuges in the Hawaiian Islands that could be affected by the partial federal government shutdown. The partial federal government shutdown, which took effect on Friday, December 21 at 7:00 p.m. HST, may result in closures at national parks, monuments, and... Read More
Hawaii Tourism News kamaainas 

Ala Moana mall fire: $6 million in damage at Bottega Veneta, Italian luxury store

Juergen Steinmetz
Bottega Veneta is an upmarket Italian brand specializing in leather handbags, plus ready-to-wear women's & men's fashion.  There is a story on the 2nd level of Ala Moana Shopping Center in Honolulu. On Friday a fire at this Italian luxury goods store caused nearly $6 million in damage. The fire started at about 12:25 p.m. and four employees extinguished most of the fire with a fire extinguisher. Ala Moana security also... Read More
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ACLU: Female Athletes at Campbell High School file Federal Civil Rights Lawsuite

Juergen Steinmetz
Two female student-athletes attending James Campbell High School (“Campbell”) filed a class action lawsuit in federal court against the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (“DOE”) and the Oahu Interscholastic Association (“OIA”).  today. The lawsuit is brought under Title IX, also known as the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, a federal law that requires gender equity in education, including in athletics. The plaintiffs are represented by the ACLU of... Read More
Hawaii Tourism News kamaainas 

Interview with Dale Evans: Issues facing Hawaii’s transportation industry

Juergen Steinmetz
Dale Evans of Charley's Taxi in Honolulu is a long-time leader in Hawaii’s transportation industry. Charley’s 80-year history, issues facing transportation in Hawaii, the City’s efforts to deregulate the taxi industry, the challenges faced by taxi companies in the age of Uber. Dale was a taxi driver in 1957 and proudly showed her badge during this interview. Today she is the CEO of the second largest taxi company in the State... Read More

The Hotel Strike Must go on

Juergen Steinmetz
Local 5 issued the following statement Friday night : Local 5 members have worked hard since the end of our contract in July to initiate a productive discussion with management about the core issues affecting our industry. We took a step forward tonight. There is a significant distance remaining, but we know that we’re walking with a strong community of workers and allies.Our strike will continue until further notice. Our picket lines remain strong... Read More
Global news for Hawaii 

The 2018 Hawaii Global Tourism Summit

Juergen Steinmetz
The 2018 Hawaii Global Tourism Summit concluded on October 3 despite the management challenges at the Hawaii Tourism Authority. The remaining HTA staff rose to the occasion and produced a stellar annual event. With a theme of Charting the Course, the event presented a variety of exceptional national and international keynote speakers who addressed “the ever-present need of destinations and travel suppliers to continuously balance the power of tourism’s popularity globally... Read More