Monthly Archives: June 2010
Shanghai-Hawaii Flights Possible
By Dr. Richard Kelley
The most vibrant, exciting city I saw during my recent trip to China was Shanghai. With a population of around 20 million, it is one of the world’s ten largest cities and is widely considered China’s financial and commercial center. Before long, it may also be linked to Honolulu with direct flights – more on that below.
Located at the mouth of the Yangtze River on the East China Sea, Shanghai has been a booming, growing metropolis for much of the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly during the decades leading up to World War II. The brutal occupation by Japan during that war, and, following that, the civil war and radical period of communes and “Cultural Revolution” under Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong brought economic growth essentially to a halt. Beginning around 1990, the economic reforms introduced by Mao’s economically liberalizing successor Deng Xiaoping resulted in massive redevelopment and revival of the city’s spirit. Today it is hosting the huge Expo 2010, which touts Shanghai as “the next great world city.”
The Bund Bull –– “Head looking up, tail pointing to the sky” Dr. & Mrs. Richard Kelley with friends Lennie Sorenson and Melinda Bush
The old European-style buildings along the Bund, Shanghai’s waterfront financial district and the hub of Western commerce in pre-Communist times, have been beautifully restored. On the street in front of the major banks, they have just installed an updated version of the famous Charging Bull of New York’s Wall Street. Arturo Di Modica, the artist who created the Wall Street bull, designed Shanghai’s as well, but with several refinements to make it uniquely appropriate for that city. According to the artist, the bull is reddish, in tribute to China’s politics. It is said to look “younger and stronger” than New York’s, with its head looking up and its tail pointing to the sky, signifying a prosperous, uplifting future.
After several extremely busy days in Shanghai, we were transported to the city’s superb Pudong International Airport on the fabulous “maglev” – magnetic levitation – bullet train. This is the world’s first commercial high-speed train of this revolutionary type. Built in Germany, the train “floats” on a powerful magnetic field that not only suspends it in the air above its guideway, but also pulls it forward at a top speed of 431 kilometers per hour (268 mph). During a test run, it hit 501 kilometers per hour (311 mph)! The train runs to and from the airport every 15 to 20 minutes and completes the nearly 19-mile journey in only seven and a half minutes.
The maglev bullet train speeds away from Pudong International Airport
With our limited time, we did not see Expo 2010. However, the week after we left Shanghai, it was Hawaii Week at the Expo. Governor Linda Lingle and several key legislative leaders joined the Hawaii Tourism Authority in opening the Hawaii celebrations in the U.S. Pavilion. They also spoke with officials from Hainan Airlines about that carrier’s plans to begin direct flights from Shanghai to Hawaii. There are many details to work out, and the most difficult might be not landing fees and time slots, but the U.S. visa application process.
The spectacular Pudong skyline, Shanghai
As I pointed out in Saturday Briefing two weeks ago, it takes up to 100 days for a potential traveler seeking a visa to enter the United States to get an appointment for the mandatory personal interview at the U.S. Embassy or nearest U.S. consulate. Applicants are interviewed alone without family or legal assistance. The visa application process – which is much the same in all countries that are not part of the “visa waiver program,” that is, most countries outside Western Europe, Japan, Korea and Australia – is intended to discourage illegal immigration by people posing as tourists. It seems a terrible way to treat the residents of a rapidly-modernizing country that is home to 20 percent of the world’s population.
Old European-style buildings along the Bund, Shanghai’s waterfront financial district
The policy seems all the more foolish in light of the fact that, in Hawaii, Chinese visitors spend more than any others – about $310 per day on average, approximately twice what North American tourists spend and even more than the average of $254 per day spent by travelers from Japan.
Let’s hope those direct Shanghai flights start soon. Hawaii needs the business, and I know that many Hawaii residents would like an easy way to check out Shanghai’s breathtaking growth.
Welcome, Sophie!
By Corina Ammann
Sophie Secombe
Outrigger’s Australian regional headquarters joins Human Resources in welcoming Sophie Secombe to the role of Conference Sales Executive for Outrigger’s Australia Properties. Sophie’s appointment is timely, as Outrigger prepares for the August 1 opening of the new AUD$350 million Outrigger Little Hastings Street Resort & Spa Noosa that will feature some of the region’s largest conference and meeting facilities.
Highly motivated and possessing extensive experience in marketing, event management, and business development, Sophie has secured and managed a number of large-scale national and international conferences at a range of venues throughout Australia. She most recently held the position of Conference and Events Manager at a leading Queensland-based events management company, while also holding the dual role of Business Development Manager for the Australian Conference & Events Bureau.
Australia’s Regional General Manager Grant James, said, “Sophie’s widespread contacts in the industry and inherent understanding of MICE markets has already generated forward conference bookings for Outrigger Little Hastings Street prior to opening. Outrigger Little Hastings Street adds a much-needed boost to Noosa’s conferencing mix, and we are delighted to have Sophie onboard,” he added.
Sophie has a Diploma in Event Management from the Southbank Institute of Technology, and is an accredited meetings specialist. We enthusiastically welcome her to the Outrigger `ohana!
Save Me!
By Kathy Foley
Help us Go Green! If you currently receive a hard copy of this newsletter and would like a link to your e-mail instead, please email pilasb@outrigger.com and type “LINK PLEASE” in the Subject Line.
These little guys thank you, and so do we!
Beyond the Call of Duty
By Angelica Loughlin
Nena Ratuita, Lovewell Timothy, and Charlene Goo
Lovewell Timothy was awarded the Integrity Award for Beyond the Call of Duty on June 17. Lovewell had received a $200 tip for cleaning two connecting rooms. The tip for each room was placed underneath the pillow. Lovewell was concerned that the guest might have mistakenly given her a wrong amount for her tip. She then reported it to her supervisor. After contacting the guest, it was acknowledged that the guest had mistakenly given Lovewell the wrong amount for her tip. The guest thanked Lovewell for her honesty and vowed to return back to the Outrigger Guam Resort.
Congratulations, Lovewell!
Aloha, Jim!
By the Kanaloa `Ohana
If you ever visited Outrigger Kanaloa at Kona, you probably came across Jim Griffin, he is a long-time employee that holds the position of Chief of Security.
Jim Griffin
Jim has made the decision to end his working years on June 30, 2010, having had a very colorful career. He did a tour of duty with the US Navy as a Deep Sea Diver and Gunners Mate (shooting 40 mm rounds) and then signed up for the Honolulu Police Force and served almost 20 years. Jim then moved to Kona in 1981, opened and ran a very successful furniture business, but decided to close shop. After that, he came to Kanaloa to sit in as a Security Guard, and as they say, the rest is history. Jim put in more than 15 years.
On the personal side, Jim and his lovely wife Jean will celebrate their 59th wedding anniversary this December. They have two daughters and one son.
Jim truly is an ambassador of Aloha; his contagious smile and laughter will be missed around here. When Jim says “Aloha” at the gate, he means it, and it is always from that big heart of his.
Thank you for your dedicated years of service; we wish you well in all you do. Mahalo and Aloha.
Your friend,
Chuck Okazaki
Hi Jim – I’ll miss seeing you in the morning with your jovial greetings and hearing your stories.
Mildred Bunghanoy-Aiu
Aloha Jim – Things sure won’t be the same without you. We are all going to miss you.
The Security Bunch
Jim welcomes everyone with Aloha
Aloha Jim – We are all going to miss your smile and laughter and all the fun we had over the years. May God guide you wherever you are on your journey.
Mahalo,
LeeAnn Frias and the Housekeeping `Ohana
Jim – We are going to miss your stories and jokes. Thanks for all the laughs, hope you have a great new adventure. God bless and take care.
Shannon Hao and the Grounds Crew
Jim – I will sure miss our talks about Aala Park and Hotel Street back in the old days in Honolulu.
Joe Quiyote
Aloha Jim – I truly hope you enjoy your retirement, if you can call it a retirement with that honey-do list your wife will have for you. We will all miss your smile when coming into work in the mornings; that always started my day off on a good note. Jim, you take good care of yourself and your wife.
Friends always,
John Caravalho
Hey Jim – I just wanted to wish you the best in your retirement. The 15+ years we have worked together have come and gone way too fast. I’ll miss our short morning walks to the front door and the hilarious stories and jokes you told. The laughter you gave me in the mornings prior to our shift will be deeply missed, as you always knew what to say to get a laugh out of me. Take care of yourself (and Mama) and A Hui Hou!
Sandy Niihau
Loco Moco Smack Down at Waikiki Beach Walk®
By Nancy Daniels
Billy V, Catherine Toth, Steve Uyehara, Conchita Malaqui, Raeceen Woolford, and Charles Criscola
The loco moco is a famous island dish that can be found on the menus of many of Hawaii’s restaurants. There are numerous variations, but the essential ingredients are white rice topped with a hamburger patty, a fried egg, and brown gravy.
Who makes the best loco moco in Waikiki? That’s what the folks at Waikiki Beach Walk want to find out, so they’ve asked a number of their own restaurants, plus a few neighboring eateries, to bring out their best loco mocos and let the public decide. From June 19 through July 20, people are being asked to try the various loco mocos at participating restaurants and then vote on their favorite loco moco via Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #WBWloco.
Steve Uyehara realizing why his bowl is still full of food ~ Fellow contestant Catherine Toth spooned her food onto Steve’s dish!
The participating restaurants are Ocean House at Outrigger Reef on the Beach, Cheeseburger Beachwalk, Jimmy Buffett’s at the Beachcomber at OHANA Waikiki Beachcomber, Giovanni Pastrami at Waikiki Beach Walk, Keoni’s by Keo at the OHANA Waikiki East, and Hula Grill at Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach.
To kick off this tasty promo, a Loco Moco Smack Down was held last weekend at Cheeseburger Beachwalk in which five local celebrities challenged each other to a loco moco eating contest….blindfolded. The daredevil foodies included blogger Catherine Toth of The Daily Dish, Steve Uyehara of Hawaii News Now, Billy V of Hawaiian 105 KCCN, Miss Hawaii 2009 Raeceen Woolford, and local photographer and DJ Charles Criscola.
Billy V – showing off his “three finger poi” method
There was a lot of “smack talking” before the “smack down” actually took place, but things got serious when the contestants donned their Outrigger Reef robes, took their seats at the table, and the loco mocos were placed in front of each competitor. The tension was high, as the crowd wondered who would, or could, finish their loco moco within the two-minute time period. Many thought it might be Steve, who is known to have a voracious appetite! But Billy V pointed out that he’d been “training” for the competition and had starved himself from the night before! DJ Charley reminded everyone that it was the skinny guy you always had to watch out for, and, of course, Catherine and Raeceen let it be known that they were in it to win!
Loco Moco Smack Down Eating Contest Winner DJ Charles Criscola and Conchita Malaqui
After each contestant donned their blindfolds, it was time to start; and at the word “go,” the contestants were off and running…or I should say gorging! Billy V chose the “three finger poi” method – bowl at chin level and shovel food into mouth! Raeceen chose the slow-and-steady method, while Steve and Charley both went with the “hover” method – hover over the bowl and eat as fast as possible. However, it was Catherine who came up with the most unique method – as soon as the contest started; she tore off her blindfold and started scooping her food into Steve’s bowl!
It was a hilarious two minutes, and when time was called, it didn’t take long for Steve to figure out what Catherine had done – especially since his plate was still full of food and her’s wasn’t! In the end, however, DJ Charley’s words of caution to watch out for the skinny guy proved prophetic, as he was declared the official winner of the first annual Loco Moco Smack Down Eating Contest.
A big mahalo to our celebrity contestants who took time from a busy Saturday to participate in the Loco Moco Smack Down Kick-off Event. Thank you also to Donny Freeman and his restaurant staff for their outstanding support of the event at Cheeseburger Beachwalk! Huge mahalos to Ocean House, Giovanni Pastrami, and Jimmy Buffett’s at the Beachcomber for providing their signature loco moco dishes for a Hawaii News Now on-air appearance earlier in the week with Waikiki Beach Walk General Manager Conchita Malaqui. And special kudos to Melissa Chang and Russ Sumida of Adstreamz, who not only livestreamed the kick-off event, but are also livestreaming from each participating restaurant each Friday at 11:30 a.m. through July 10.
If you want to weigh in on the best loco moco in Waikiki, make sure to visit one of the participating restaurants before July 20, then vote on Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #WBWloco. Finally, you can check out all the hilarity of the eating competition online with a play-by-play from Nadine Kam of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser at http://tgif.staradvertiser.com/archives/tag/waikiki-beach-walk.
China’s Hotel Industry Booming
By Dr. Richard Kelley
During my recent trip to China I saw evidence that its hotel industry is booming. Soon, Outrigger will be part of that growth. Read the rest of this entry
Aloha and Mahalo Consolacion and Clarita!
By Kathy Oyadomari
On June 15, employees of the OHANA Waikiki Beachcomber gathered to bid aloha to Consolacion Tomas and Clarita Pagtulingan, who both retired after 23 years of dedicated service. Read the rest of this entry
Community Training Outrigger on the Lagoon-Fiji
By Una Murray
As part of the larger community of Sigatoka, Outrigger continuously reaches out to the community to support the young men and women who wish to get trained in the industry. Read the rest of this entry
A WAVE of honor hits Outrigger Reef on the Beach
By Rob Solomon
The Outrigger Reef on the Beach has been honored by TravelAge West, the leading travel industry trade publication in the western United States, with a prestigious WAVE (Western Agents’ Votes of Excellence) Award as “Best New Resort or Major Renovation in Hawaii.” Read the rest of this entry
