By Dr. Richard Kelley
The Honolulu Marathon has always attracted a large number of runners from Japan. For the past five years, over 60 percent of the registrations come from that country, significantly contributing to the total impact of the event on Hawaii’s economy. Read the rest of this entry
By Dr. Richard Kelley
I have always been proud of the fact that the Hawaiian Islands, remote and small in size and population, have over the years produced an astounding number of national and international leaders. This feeling was reinforced once again two weeks ago during my visit to Washington, D.C.
I did not get a chance to speak with the most prominent Hawaii-born Washington resident, President Barack Obama, but I was able to spend some time with Maj. Gen. Kelly K. McKeague, who was raised on Oahu.
Gen. McKeague received his commission in 1981 through the Georgia Institute of Technology Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program. During his military career, he has served in a number of positions where he has been able to use his expertise in engineering, as well as his leadership skills. He has also taken advantage of the educational opportunities offered by the armed services, including two years of graduate work at Georgia Tech leading to a master’s degree in industrial engineering.
He is currently working at the Pentagon as Assistant for National Guard Matters to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is responsible for making sure the interests and the capabilities of the National Guard are considered and coordinated, as policies and decisions are made at the highest levels of the government. With the National Guard having over a half million members, that is no small task.
I met McKeague at a reception at the home of Gen. Craig R. McKinley, Chief of the National Guard Bureau. We quickly found out that we were both raised on Oahu.
As typically happens when two “local boys” meet for the first time, even in Washington, D.C., we quickly asked each other, “Where did you go to school?” For kama‘aina, that question always means “high school.”
I said, “Punahou,” and he responded, “Damien.”
We chatted about the next most important thing, our schools’ football teams! Only later did we discuss some of the weighty topics of the world, such as national defense and the war on terrorism.
(Every culture in the world is different, and probably only guys and gals raised in Hawaii can fully appreciate that conversational sequence.)
The other Hawaii-born leader in Washington, D.C., is Eric Ken Shinseki, Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Shinseki was born on Kauai in 1942, and his birth certificate, like mine, reads, “Territory of Hawaii.” (Hawaii did not achieve statehood until August 21, 1959, just over 50 years ago.)
Shinseki attended Kauai High School, where he became Student Body President. He was appointed to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Artillery upon graduation in June 1965.
A few months later, he was a forward observer for the U.S. infantry in South Vietnam. In 1966, he stepped on an enemy land mine, which severely injured his foot. He was sent to Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu to recuperate.
He returned to Vietnam for another tour of duty in 1969 and was wounded a second time in 1970.
After recovering, he held numerous positions in the Army, including Commanding General of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood in Texas, a place that has been very much in the news this week following the slaughter of 13 servicemen and women on base last Thursday.
Gen. Shinseki’s military career reached its peak in 1999 when he was appointed Army Chief of Staff. He retired from active duty on August 1, 2003.
The U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii at Fort DeRussy, next to the Outrigger Reef on the Beach hotel, has an exhibit dedicated to Gen. Shinseki’s outstanding military career.
Gen. Shinseki’s public service is not over, however. He was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as Secretary of Veterans Affairs and was sworn in on January 21, 2009. Since then, he has made a huge impact on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
I heard W. Scott Gould, Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs and former Vice President of IBM, describe the magnitude of the VA’s domain. There are some 23 million veterans in the U.S., and in 2008 alone, approximately one-third of them received a service from the VA, including health care, scholarships, and insurance payments. Gould noted that some 100,000 burials were conducted in 130 VA cemeteries last year. The VA has nearly 300,000 employees, 153 medical facilities, and 232 counseling centers across the country.
Unfortunately, in the past, VA service has been less than five-star – often far less.
As described in last week’s issue of Saturday Briefing, the VA’s work is even more challenging this year, as it is dealing with large numbers of men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Secretary Shinseki is tackling those issues, using not only all of the skills he acquired in his military career but, at the same time, trying to make the services provided more personalized and focused on the individual – with the spirit of Aloha and ‘ohana – something he grew up with on the Garden Island of Kauai.
Many other Hawaii-born men and women have achieved national and international prominence, but this week, in honor of Veterans Day, November 11, let’s send our special Aloha to Gen. McKeague, Secretary Shinseki, and all the other men and women who have distinguished themselves by serving in our armed forces.
By Dr. Richard Kelley
At Outrigger and OHANA hotels, we have a long tradition of supporting the men and women who serve our country in the U.S. armed services – Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard – and, as we approach Veterans Day, November 11, it is appropriate to review that history, renew our dedication, and share a few thoughts about today’s military.
In fact, our personal and corporate loyalty dates back to before the “official” birth of our company in 1947, the year the little Islander Hotel opened its doors on Seaside Avenue in Waikiki. In 1941, our founders, Roy and Estelle Kelley, were operating apartments in Waikiki and invited two of their tenants, Capt. John Schultz and his wife, Martha, to join them for breakfast on the morning of Sunday, December 7. Capt. Schultz arrived in his gleaming dress white Navy uniform and, when the bombs began to fall, he rushed to his ship in Pearl Harbor to begin World War II, as possibly the “Best Dressed” officer on duty at the moment. (That tale is humorous now, but at the time, nobody was laughing.)
We continued our support of the military through World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, and we are still doing so in many ways, as our troops are currently engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Recently, David Carey and I had an opportunity to visit military installations to get an up-close, personal, and better understanding of what our uniformed personnel are currently facing.
David visited Hurlburt Field, near the larger and better-known Pensacola Naval Air Station in the Florida panhandle. (World War II history buffs – I’m one too – may be interested to know that Hurlburt was the field where Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle trained his “Raiders” for short-runway takeoffs and landings before his carrier-launched raid on Tokyo on April 18, 1942.)
Today, Hurlburt is the home of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). The men and women stationed here are trained to conduct global special operations missions ranging from precision application of firepower, to infiltration, resupply, and refueling of special operations forces around the world. Similar in ability and employment to Army Special Forces and Navy Sea-Air-Land forces (SEALs), Air Force Special Tactics personnel are typically the first U.S. military forces to enter combat and often find themselves deep behind enemy lines in demanding, austere conditions, usually with little or no support.
My travels took me to Washington, D.C., where I spent the day at the Pentagon listening to high-level representatives from all branches of the service including:
Both David and I were reminded of and greatly impressed by the quality and dedication of the members of our armed services. David was struck by how capable the young men and women in our all-volunteer forces are. He found them “remarkable and inspiring.” All of them face unbelievable challenges these days, particularly those who are involved in operations in Iraq and the remote regions of Afghanistan.
The numbers of those who have been killed or have suffered traditional wounds in Iraq and Afghanistan are easily documented. However the effects of repeated deployments and of powerful roadside Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) have produced many non-traditional casualties, including:
Just this week, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) hosted a first-of-its-kind national summit to address the mental health care needs of America’s military personnel, families, and veterans, harnessing the programs, resources, and expertise of both departments to deal with the aftermath of battle.
The effects of PTSD and TBI are long-term, insidious and severe. According to a report in the New York Times, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, retired Gen. Eric Shinseki, noted that more veterans have committed suicide since 2001 than have been lost to combat deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Both David and I came away from our visits with a renewed respect for the members of our armed forces. We pledge that we will continue to offer any type of support we can, following the example set by Roy and Estelle Kelley in 1941 and the years that followed.
By Bill Peters
(Dr. Richard Kelley is traveling. His column will return on October 31.)
Outrigger’s Worldwide Contact Center in Denver has become greener than ever. In fact, as a distinct physical location that can be found on a map, it has ceased to exist. All its employees are now doing the Center’s work from their respective homes, tied together and to Outrigger and the rest of the world by purely electronic means. Read the rest of this entry
By Dr. Richard Kelley
This week, I was on the stump again pushing for sensible health care reform. My audience was the members of the Denver Kiwanis Club. Here’s a brief summary of my remarks. Read the rest of this entry
By Dr. Richard Kelley As you can see from the accompanying article by Lauren Chow, the Outrigger Enterprises Group has been recognized for promoting healthy lifestyles for the members of its extended ‘ohana. That is a particularly important concept right now, as our nation debates the possibilities of reforming its health care system.
Read the rest of this entry
By Dr. Richard Kelley
The news release on my desk began with the dry statement, “Outrigger’s Fran Kirk receives the prestigious ‘Oihana Maika‘i Award presented by The City and County of Honolulu.” Read the rest of this entry
By Dr. Richard Kelley
It was exactly 80 years ago this month, September 1929, that our founders, Roy and Estelle Kelley, arrived in Hawaii. Read the rest of this entry
By Dr. Richard Kelley As fall begins, we move again into flu season. As I do every year, I urge everyone in our ‘ohana to be aware of the dangers and take steps to protect themselves and their families from the flu. I particularly recommend flu shots.
This year, for the first time in memory, people will need two separate shots. The first one will protect them against ordinary seasonal flu. The second one will protect them from the expected resurgence of the H1N1 flu virus, also known as swine flu.
The seasonal flu vaccine is ready now, and this coming week we will offer free flu shots to members of our ‘ohana who work in Waikiki at our annual Outrigger/OHANA Health Fair
The swine flu vaccine is not yet available; however, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believes it will be ready for distribution next month. We will keep you up-to-date and make free swine flu shots available as soon as possible.
Let’s look at some key facts about the flu. A slang name for influenza, flu is one of the oldest and most common diseases known. It is a viral illness that can produce many symptoms, including fever, cough, chills, and muscle aches. Some people may also experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Bronchitis and pneumonia, both potentially very serious, can easily develop as secondary infections.
Although flu symptoms are similar to those of the common cold, the two diseases are caused by different “bugs.” Flu is much more serious. According to the CDC, the seasonal flu – the kind that goes around during the cooler months – is responsible, on average, for the death of about 36,000 Americans each year.
Each winter, the seasonal flu virus re-emerges and spreads, usually as a newly-mutated or evolved strain. Some years, the new strain is comparatively mild, and relatively few people get sick. Other years, it is highly virulent, spreading rapidly and killing many, particularly young children and senior citizens. There is a wealth of information on seasonal flu available at www.cdc.gov/flu. <!–[endif]–>
The CDC warns that because of swine flu, this year’s flu season could be worse than usual. The H1N1 virus may cause more people to get sick and cause more severe illness than we usually experience with ordinary seasonal flu. See the CDC report 2009 H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) and You for more information (www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm).
That is why we will be making swine flu shots available too, as soon as possible.
Seasonal flu shots offer excellent, although not complete, resistance to the disease. They not only protect us from the current year’s flu, there is evidence that they strengthen our immunity over the years. There is also evidence that seasonal flu vaccination may provide some protection for pandemic flu.
Flu shots are especially important to people who work in Travel & Tourism. Travelers can carry the flu virus thousands of miles in only a few hours, rapidly turning a local outbreak into a global event. Travel industry workers who greet guests from all over the world are thus at greater risk of catching the flu. <!–[endif]–>
I urge everyone to get their flu shots as soon as possible. Don’t delay. This is serious business. “Just do it.”
FLU SHOTS – Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I get the flu shot?
The flu shot will help protect you against catching the flu, which at the very least, would be a huge inconvenience and unpleasant experience. In the worst case, the flu can be deadly.
And don’t forget, you want to protect your family and loved ones. If you catch even a mild case of the flu, you will be highly contagious even before you realize you’re sick. This means you could spread the flu to your children, spouse, parents, friends, and others.
If I got my flu vaccine late last year, do I need another shot this year?
Yes. Why? Because the flu virus is continually mutating and evolving into new strains. So each year, flu vaccine is formulated differently in order to be effective against the new strains of the disease. In short, last year’s vaccination may not be effective against this year’s virus. That’s why we all need a new shot each year.
Can the vaccine give me the flu?
No, absolutely, positively not. There is no live virus in the vaccine.
Who should get vaccinated? Anyone can benefit from getting the flu vaccine because it reduces the chances of developing the flu and its complications. We encourage all employees to get vaccinated. However, people who are at higher risk of developing flu-associated complications are especially encouraged to get their flu shot. If you belong to one of the groups below, it is especially important to talk to a health professional about getting the vaccine.
Who should NOT get vaccinated?
The flu shot can be harmful to some people, including those who are severely allergic to chicken eggs, those who have developed serious allergic responses to the flu shot in the past, people who developed Guillain-Barré Syndrome within six weeks of getting a flu shot, and children under 6 months of age.
Where can I get the shot if I am unable to make it to the Health Fair?
For those of you who are able to come to Waikiki, our Human Resources department has made arrangements for you to receive your vaccine at Doctors On Call. There is no appointment needed, and it’s free.
On the neighbor islands, the Human Resources department is currently making arrangements with some of the local clinics and pharmacies. There will be no charge for employees. Details will be sent to your property managers shortly.
You always have the option of receiving the vaccine from your regular health care provider, but there may be an insurance co-pay or administration fee for which you will be responsible.
The Hawaii State Department of Health maintains a long list of providers on all islands who can administer the vaccine. Some locations are free; others require payment of an administration fee. The list can be viewed at: http://hawaii.gov/health/family-child-health/immunization/flu-shot-schedule.pdf.
If you are working at one of our properties outside the United States, contact your Human Resources department for information.
How else can I protect myself from the flu?
Besides getting the flu shot, you can avoid the disease by practicing good hygiene. For example:
By Dr. Richard Kelley
Over the next two weeks, we, in Outrigger and OHANA hotels across the Pacific, will take some time away from our regular duties to honor our Housekeepers. We will give well-earned recognition to those who work tirelessly every day of the year to keep our rooms and public areas looking as great as they do, and we will thank them for everything they do. Read the rest of this entry
You'll find insight and observations about travel, tourism and all things Outrigger at The Saturday Briefing. Featuring Chairman Richard Kelley's weekly blog, plus the latest news, happenings, photos, guest stories and updates on the special Ohana that is Outrigger Hotels and Resorts.
RSS
Email Dr. Kelley