Saturday Briefing

By Dr. Chuck Kelley (Dr. Richard Kelley is travelling. His column will return on June 13.) –  Earlier this year, Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Director Laura Thielen unveiled a bold plan to improve the quality of our state parks.  Unfortunately, the bill that would have provided the $240 million needed to fund the improvements did not make it out of the just concluded legislative session. With “Plan A” dead, Thielen is now working on a “Plan B.” Unfortunately, one part of that plan includes charging non-residents for admission to some state parks. While making park improvements is a wholly commendable idea, the idea of charging for admission at this time is ill-timed. Read the rest of this entry

By Una Murray — The vuvale (family) at the Outrigger on the Lagoon - Fiji gathered last week to bid long-time employee Permal Sami a fond farewell after 29 years of service at the property. Permal started in 1980 as a Joiner at the Reef Resort, as the property was originally known. He was then promoted to Assistant Building and Maintenance Supervisor and kept that position until the Reef Read the rest of this entry

By Kaipo Ho — Back in April, we launched our Outrigger Value of the Week Program, and to date, we’ve reintroduced three of our eight company values Kina‘ole (Flawlessness), Equality (Kaulike), and A‘o (To learn and to share). The excitement and participation have far exceeded expectations, and there’s no shortage of brilliant ideas!

The main purpose of our Value of the Week program is to generate new discussions and new thinking about how we can live our values daily and create that unique Outrigger guest and work experience. To kick things off, hotels and departments have created dedicated bulletin boards to reinforce our company values and Ke ‘Ano Wa‘a activities in their respective areas. Bulletin boards are updated, as each new value of the week is rolled out. Outrigger Mission and Values cards were distributed to all employees, and new mission and values posters are proudly displayed in work areas.

At the OHANA Waikiki East, Alaka‘i and Managers have a variety of activities in place for each value. For Kina‘ole, everyone was invited to write a brief explanation on what that value meant to them on a paper flower. When all the flowers were turned in, the Alaka‘i strung an eight-foot lei that was unveiled in the Housekeeping department. The Financial Services, Accounting, Risk Management, and Marketing teams have displayed a Values Tree on the wall of their kitchen area. The staff is invited to contribute their personal thoughts on what the value of the week means to them, and with each new value and every contribution made, the tree is growing and blossoming.

The Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach Alaka‘i creatively merged their Ke ‘Ano Wa‘a and Value of the Week efforts with their hotel safety program. Special recognition is given to the departments who contribute the most examples of how each of our values can be demonstrated on the job.

At the OHANA Waikiki West, Managers and Alaka‘i lead the daily charge of reinforcing our values with their staff by their energy and enthusiasm.

The Wyland Waikiki ‘ohana were treated to a special luncheon and values celebration that included games and the presentation of a unique hotel historical timeline. The Alaka‘i and Managers are also taking advantage of the opportunity to merge the values of Ke ‘Ano Wa‘a with the Courtyard by Marriott culture.

On the island of Kaua‘i, the Outrigger at Lae Nani ‘ohana have taken our values reinforcement to a “spiritual” level, with daily reflections on how doing the right thing in the right way serves a higher purpose that benefits everyone in the end.

Speaking of Kaua‘i, the Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation Resort’s employees take time to appreciate our value of Wahi (Place) and were recently treated to a historical and cultural tour of the old Kiahuna Plantation and the Gardens of Kiahuna. Employees learned about their sense of place through ancient and current stories highlighting the Koloa district and the ancient uses of the land before the resort was developed. The Kiahuna orchid and cactus garden were also featured, along with some of the historical artifacts on the property. Employees discovered how the land is ever changing and evolving because of their own emotional involvement.

An unexpected benefit of all this activity is that more and more member’s of our ‘ohana are joining our Alaka‘i team. The Outrigger Reef on the Beach recently added a representative from each department, including Elite Valet Services, to assist in facilitating Ke ‘Ano Wa‘a at their hotel, and Company Services also saw an increase in it’s Alaka‘i team with the recent corporate offices May Day Celebration. We started with 36 Alaka‘i, including representatives from Denver and our Pacific ‘ohana, when we initially re-launched Ke ‘Ano Wa‘a and our 6-Paddles Process in 2007. Today, our Alaka‘i team has grown to more than 70 members strong. All the evidence points to a triumphant re-celebration and re-invigorating of Ke ‘Ano Wa‘a and successfully leading the Outrigger Way into the future.

By Ruthann Yamanaka  –  This is the fourth in a series of eight articles written by Outrigger’s executives in support of our Value of the Week program. Every other week, one of our company’s executives will introduce the value of the week and share what that value means to them. This week’s author is Ruthann Yamanaka, Outrigger’s Senior Vice President of Human Resources & Planning, and this week’s Value of the Week is: Na Mea Ho‘okipa (Hosts) – We, as hosts, welcome and entertain guests and friends with warmth and generosity. – Kaipo Ho Read the rest of this entry

By Ethan Chang — Memorial Day weekend was extra special this year at the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach with the help of our guests and ‘ohana who made lei to decorate the graves of veterans at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl and state veterans’ cemeteries

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By Ruthann Yamanaka
(Dr. Richard Kelley is traveling. His column will return on June 13.)

Mahalo, Outrigger Enterprises Group! In true Outrigger fashion, you ran, you walked, you enlisted family and friends, and you donated time and/or money in support of an exceptional 31st annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk last Saturday, May 16! Read the rest of this entry

By Kathy Oyadomori

Barry Wallace, Chuck Shishido, Laurel Cates, Dr. Chuck Kelley and Ruthann Yamanaka

On May 19, the Outrigger ‘ohana gathered to bid aloha to Laurel Cates, who retired after 36 years of dedicated service. Barry Wallace, Dr. Chuck Kelley, Ruthann Yamanaka, Chuck Shishido, and Karen Villarmia expressed their appreciation on behalf of Outrigger Hotels & Resorts for her hard work and contribution and presented her with gifts of aloha. Read the rest of this entry

By Nancy Daniels

Congratulations to Kellen Paik and Lihau Hannahs, the duo known as Kupaoa, for winning the Kani Ka Pila Grille Talent Search at last weekend’s Hawaii Book & Music Festival. Read the rest of this entry

By Kathy Hansberry

The 4th Annual Hawaii Book & Music Festival, held this past weekend, was a huge success for Outrigger Enterprises Group and the entire community. This annual two-day festival drew thousands of people to Honolulu Hale Civic Grounds and brought in both local and nationally- acclaimed authors, storytellers, talented musicians, and entertainers. The event was well-received by readers and music lovers from all over Hawaii and the mainland. Proceeds from the event go to Hawaii Literacy and Read To Me International. Read the rest of this entry

By Dr. Chuck Kelley

Dr. Chuck Kelley (back row center) and the recipients of the Estelle Louise Kelley Scholarships

On May 8, Kapi‘olani Community College held their 4th Annual Commencement, Scholarships, and Awards Banquet. A highlight of the event was the presentation of scholarships for the 2009-2010 school years. This year, 22 exceptional students, who are majoring in Hospitality, were granted Estelle Louise Kelley Scholarships to pursue their dreams. Read the rest of this entry