COVID-19 Might be an Act of God That Voids Business Contracts
It’s possible that some businesses in Hawai‘i will try to claim that circumstances surrounding COVID-19 absolve them of obligations under a business contract. Whether they have…
Government & Civics
New Hope for Struggling Businesses
The federal Small Business Reorganization Act makes bankruptcy a more realistic option for small companies in Hawai‘i The Small Business Reorganization Act has made filing for Chapter 11 protection a lot easier for many businesses. The SBRA was passed by…
How to Increase Visitor Spending
Millions of tourists come to Hawai‘i and venture beyond the resort areas – crowding our parks, beaches, hiking trails, roads and more. But in 2019, total inflation-adjusted visitor spending actually declined, which means there was no extra money to fix this worn infrastructure. Here are three ways to turn that problem around.
Impact of Oʻahu's Vacation Rental Crackdown
A new law went into effect Aug. 1 on Oʻahu that limits the number of new short-term rentals — which are rented for less than 30 days at a time — bans the advertising of unpermitted rentals and imposes hefty…
Cades Schutte: More than 97 Years of Dedicated Legal Service
Cades Schutte’s association with Merging Visions 2019 confirms that even Hawaii’s largest law firm must look past today to be ready for tomorrow. Supported by more than 97 years of dedicated legal service, Cades Schutte is Hawaii’s largest full-service law…
Talk Story: Chris Tatum, President and CEO, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority
The longtime Marriott executive has been at HTA less than a year, but Tatum’s strategic changes are already clear: a flattening bureaucracy, a reduced fixation on the number of tourists and a shifting of marketing dollars. Q: What organizational changes…
Hawai‘i Island Identity Crisis
The dream of a Hawai‘i vacation is often nurtured by a steady stream of messaging from the Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau and its island chapters. Their job, in a nutshell, is to ensure steady growth in the tourism industry.…
A New Locally Owned Hotel Company
Ben Rafter, who previously ran Aqua, wants to turn OLS Hotels & Resorts into “the next great Hawaii hotel operator” In an era when Hawaii’s hotel industry is dominated by offshore owners and operators, Ben Rafter wants to build Hawaii’s…
Voluntourism in Hawaiʻi
The opportunities for tourists to volunteer are growing along with the demand for those opportunities. From beach cleanups to cultural exchanges, forest conservation to farm stays, visitors are looking for experiences that are authentic, intimate and altruistic.
