Takeaways from PATA and AHLA point to a K-shaped recovery in Hawaiʻi tourism, with luxury holding up while structural pressures, housing, labor costs, taxes, insurance, and weakening international lift, keep 2026 in a holding pattern.
A Star Is Born… If We Write the Check
A proposed Hawaiʻi bill would use state funds to bring Michelin to the islands, raising a broader debate over whether public dollars should pay for global validation of an already world-class dining scene.
Keep The Country, Waikiki?
Host’s $680M Turtle Bay acquisition includes $50M in expansion rights now facing legal pushback, as new development plans test whether large-scale growth can coexist with North Shore community priorities.
A $227 Million Plan. Zero Shovels. Now at Auction.
A planned $227M South Shore Kauaʻi resort, The ʻŌhia, is heading to bankruptcy auction after missing its 2023 debut, underscoring the financial and development risks facing large-scale Hawaiʻi projects.
Wyndham Quietly Grows on Kaua’i
Wyndham is quietly expanding its Hawaiʻi hotel footprint as Castle Resorts adds The ISO on Kauaʻi to the Trademark Collection, signaling a low-friction growth strategy through soft branding and distribution scale.
When Liability Explodes: The Messy Reality of Condo Management
A lawsuit following a deadly grill explosion at a Maui condotel exposes the tangled liability of condo and vacation rental management, raising hard questions about who is truly responsible when multiple owners, brands, and operators overlap.
Sue Kanoho Stepping Down After Three Decades
Sue Kanoho is stepping down after nearly three decades leading the Kauaʻi Visitors Bureau, marking the end of a long and influential chapter in Hawaiʻi’s visitor industry.
Green Fee: Still Waiting for the Plan
Hawaiʻi’s new Green Fee promises funding for climate resilience and sustainable tourism, but with allocations still unclear, the real test will be whether residents can see tangible projects tied to the $100M in annual revenue.
Heads in Beds, Hands in Cuffs
A recent Visitor Public Safety Conference highlighted growing use of drones, cameras, and AI in Waikīkī, raising a harder question: as surveillance expands for safety, how far should privacy be allowed to shift?
We Finally Stop Lecturing and Start Selling
HTA and HVCB have shifted from Mālama messaging to the new “Hawaiʻi Stays With You” campaign, leaning into cinematic, shareable storytelling that feels more invitational, while raising questions about reach on a limited budget.
