Ewa Hotel Waikīkī is listed for $21M (~$228K per key). With the lease through 2045 and major renovations likely needed, that price feels steep.
Joe We Hardly Knew You!
Hawaiian Airlines CEO Joe Sprague retires; Diana Birkett Rakow steps up from Alaska Airlines’ public affairs team, a PR-savvy move amid the merger.
Déjà Vu at HTA
HTA names David Uchiyama as Chief Administrative Officer. A seasoned industry vet returns to stabilize the agency amid staffing loss and scrutiny.
Marriott Waikiki Swaps Out the Corner Office
Mark Weatherill joins Waikīkī Beach Marriott Resort & Spa as GM, succeeding Jerry Gibson. A longtime Marriott leader, he brings Houston experience to Hawaiʻi.
Big Island Pulls Up a Chair to the Delay Table
Hawaiʻi Island delays its new short-term rental law to March 2026, giving owners more time to comply, but leaving STR enforcement stalled yet again.
A Politician with A Rationale Idea?
Sen. Wakai summed it up bluntly: HTA can’t both grow tourism and police bad visitor behavior—marketing should stay with HTA, but stewardship belongs elsewhere.
When the Airlines Call You Back
Alaska/Hawaiian’s Daniel Chun offers added context on the merger, emphasizing Hawai‘i-based A330s, expanding routes, new local jobs, refreshed tech, and a Hawai‘i-focused leadership team, promising commitment while acknowledging the road ahead.
Green Fee Gets Its Brain Trust
Hawaiʻi’s new Green Fee moves ahead with a 10-member advisory council—now tasked with figuring out how to spend the $100M a year the tax will generate, even as questions linger over where the money will really go.
Maui Delays, Honolulu Stalls – It’s a Staycation for Vacation Rental Regulation
Maui’s Bill 9 inches forward while Honolulu’s 90-day rental rule remains stalled, leaving Hawaiʻi’s vacation rental regulations stuck in limbo.
The Ground Beneath Waikīkī Just Shifted (Literally)
Waikīkī just saw its biggest land sale in years as the Steiner family sold the ground beneath the Hyatt Regency for $215M, highlighting Hawaiʻi’s unique world of leasehold hotel real estate.
