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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
kamaainas 

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
Hawaii Tourism News News for Visitors 

Polynesian Culture Center now 55 years old

Juergen Steinmetz
Today, the Polynesian Cultural Center is celebrating its 55th anniversary, marked by its continuing commitment to showcase the traditions, arts, music and cultures of Polynesia and its people. “Fifty-five years ago, the Polynesian Cultural Center embarked on a journey our founders envisioned as a uniquely rare opportunity to educate the world about the magnificent people of Polynesia,” said Alfred Grace, president and CEO of the Polynesian Cultural Center. “We celebrate this... Read More
Hawaii Tourism News 

Request a pilot next time when calling Charley’s taxi in Honolulu

Juergen Steinmetz
Do you prefer a pilot to drive you in Honolulu? It's not another tourist attraction, or is it? To request a pilot next time you need a taxi, call Charley’s Taxi at 808-233-3333. In some countries, taxi drivers have to be able to control their cars on ice. There is no problem with ice on Hawai's roads, but Hawaii has some of the roughest roads in the United States, and floodings... Read More
Global news for Hawaii kamaainas 

Global Tourism Summit Honolulu: Are you Tourism Safety Certified?

Juergen Steinmetz
Become Tourism Safety Certified is an important message at the upcoming Global Tourism Summit in Honolulu at a session on October 3. George D. Szigeti, HTA president and CEO, said, “This session is a must-do for any organization whose operations are dependent on public safety and security, especially during an unexpected crisis. These panelists have dealt with the aftermath of major tragedies and will provide valuable advice and recommendations that every destination... Read More
kamaainas Hawaii Tourism News 

Would a green wave traffic system have prevented a serious accident in Honolulu today?

Juergen Steinmetz
A middle age man was seriously injured this afternoon when he was hit by an SUV on Nimitz Highway by South Marina trying to cross the 6 lane road using a clearly marked crossroad. A witness posted this to his Facebook: "Shocking! Driving on Nimitz Hwy towards town and by South Marina across from the harbor, a guy was trying to cross the 3-lane at each direction Nimitz Highway using the... Read More
kamaainas Hawaii Tourism News 

Daily Workout in Waikiki NO Gym necessary

Juergen Steinmetz
Marco has been a professional fitness instructor for more than 25 years. Equipped with a top German diploma and a unique approach to only use your own body - you can say goodbye to expensive gym memberships. Marco says: "I train exclusively with my own body or body weight to correct deficits in the muscular area with full-body exercises and coordination training. I always use movements from everyday life and always... Read More
kamaainas Global news for Hawaii 

Bail Reform in Hawaii: ACLU wants to end Money Bail

Juergen Steinmetz
The ACLU of Hawai‘i Foundation invites the public to “#EndMoneyBail for a Better Hawai‘i and a Better Nation” – a panel discussion focused on bail reform on Thursday, September 29th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Arts at Marks Garage in downtown Honolulu. The event will also be streamed live and remote audience questions taken over Facebook Live. The panel will include experts addressing the scope and framework for ending... Read More
DaleEvans, Charley's Taxi kamaainas Hawaii Tourism News 

Uber speechless: Charley’s Taxi CEO Dale Evans fights back

Juergen Steinmetz
Charley’s Taxi made Uber utterly speechless, and this is how. First of all, not all taxi companies are created equal. This becomes very clear when looking at the transportation industry on the island of Oahu in Hawaii With almost 80% of ride shares falling under the likes of Uber and Lyft, and just a little more than 20% falling under taxis, the perception is that Uber and Lyft are always more economical and... Read More