The acquisition of Sea Life Park by the Hawaiian Council places the historic attraction under Native Hawaiian stewardship, setting the stage for reinvestment that integrates cultural storytelling with marine science and community education.
Fewer and Fewer
The passing of Aston Hotels & Resorts founder André Tatibouet marks the loss of a pivotal hospitality pioneer, underscoring a broader generational shift away from local, hands-on hotel leadership toward remote institutional asset management.
The Escape Hatch Opens
Maui County Council nominated over 2,000 short-term rentals for hotel rezoning under Resolution 26-111, creating a legislative carve-out that raises questions about the phase-out’s ability to return units to local housing.
Help Wanted: HTA CEO
The Hawaii Tourism Authority’s CEO search has drawn a small applicant pool due to governance and salary concerns, underscoring how political volatility continues to deter top executive talent from tourism leadership.
Did you know an octopus has Nine Brains? I didn’t.
Nine Brains acquired the fee-simple interest in Pacific 19 Kona for $23 million, completing a leasehold buyout and underscoring the scarcity of fee-simple hospitality assets in Hawaiʻi.
Turtle Bay’s Tiniest Residents Win a Round
A Hawaiʻi court has halted permits for Host Hotels’ Turtle Bay expansion until a new environmental review is completed, highlighting the regulatory risks of relying on legacy entitlements for resort development.
HLTA Is Hiring. The Bigger Question Is Why.
HLTA has launched an executive search following Mufi Hannemann’s retirement and appointed Dean Nakasone as interim director, raising broader questions about the association’s strategic identity and future advocacy role in Hawaiʻi.
Musical Chairs: Hawaiʻi’s Executive Shuffle Continues
A wave of high-profile executive and general manager appointments across Hawaiʻi hospitality properties signals ongoing leadership reshuffling, underscoring strategic realignments and talent mobility in a highly competitive resort market.
More Flights… Just Don’t Forget to Pack Lunch
Major airlines are expanding mainland routes to Hawaiʻi while pausing international flights, driving strong domestic lift from secondary U.S. markets and underscoring a persistent shift in visitor demographics for island hotels.
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The Friendly Isle… Not So Friendly?
The National Park Service’s proposal for limited guided tours to Kalaupapa has sparked debate over local community consultation, highlighting broader tensions around cultural site management and visitor access governance.
