SINGAPORE 18 April 2022: Norwegian Cruise Line hosted its NCL NFT marketplace on 14 April allowing global travellers and NCL aficionados to own a piece of history with their win or purchase of NFTs, which showcase the art and inspiration for NCL’s newest vessels, Norwegian Prima and Viva.
It took just 20 minutes to sell the art collection created by Manuel Di Rita, who is widely known as “Peeta”. The Italian artist designed the hull art on the record-breaking Norwegian Prima and her sister vessel Norwegian Viva. The collection of six pieces sold to the highest bidders can be viewed at https://nft.ncl.com.
One of the art pieces had an auction starting price of USD2,500, with the remaining NFTs sold for prices starting at USD250. The auction winner was also awarded a balcony stateroom on one of Norwegian Prima’s inaugural voyages in the US, setting sail from Miami.
(An NFT or non-fungible token, is a digital asset. It can be anything, a drawing, a doodle, a piece of music, text – as long as it is digital. In fact, most of the excitement around NFTs is about collecting NFT artworks.)*
All
proceeds from the NFT auction and sales will be donated to Teach For America.
Teach For America finds, develops, and supports a network of leaders who expand
opportunities for children.
Launching in August 2022, Norwegian Prima will offer voyages to Northern Europe from Amsterdam; and Copenhagen, Denmark beginning 3 September; and Caribbean itineraries from Galveston, Texas, Miami and Orlando, Florida, beginning 27 October.
For more information about the company’s award-winning 17-ship fleet and worldwide itineraries, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call NCL Hong Kong at +852 800 901 951 or visit www.ncl.com.
KUCHING, 18 APRIL 2022: The most awaited music festival in
Malaysia’s, famed Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF), is back once again,
celebrating its 25th anniversary from 17 to 19 June 2022.
Fo the first time since its founding in 1998, the festival
will convene as a hybrid event adopting the theme “Legendary Rainforest Celebration”.
The physical concert takes place at Sarawak Cultural Village, while viewers can
also Livestream it to their homes via an online viewing platform.
With the objective of bringing the world back together with
music, RWMF will welcome back a host of international performers from Canada,
India, USA, Finland, Thailand,
Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, China,
Bhutan and South Korea among others, with Majlis Seni Sarawak mixing
traditional Sarawakian music with international flavours opening the three-day
show in a first-time musical collaboration with Sarawak Tourism Board.
The announcement of Sarawak’s iconic event was made last
week by Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the Minister for Tourism,
Creative Industry and Performing Arts, along with Puan Sharzede Datu Haji
Salleh Askor, Chief Executive Officer of Sarawak Tourism Board and Capt
Nasaruddin A Bakar, Chief Operating Officer of MASWings representing the Malaysia
Aviation Group.
Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said: “I’m very proud
of how far our homegrown product has come. From around 300 spectators for its
first-ever concert back in 1998 to becoming the first hybrid festival of its
kind in Malaysia. Concertgoers who miss the feel of the physical concert can
come together in mutual appreciation of world music, and those around the world
can enjoy world music live from the comfort of their own homes.”
Sarawak Tourism Board CEO Puan Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh
Askor added: “Every year, we strive to make Rainforest World Music
Festival better than the year before. Last year’s Virtual Experience gave us
invaluable feedback on how we could work towards combining the best of both
worlds – physical and the digital – to create RWMF’s first hybrid edition this
year. We hope that creating this unique precedent for the 25th edition of the
festival will become a keystone for the next 25 years for the festival,
bridging the past with the future and sustaining and reinventing our musical
heritage and its traditions for many years to come.”
An Early Bird ticket sale starts today, 18 April, for both
the physical and virtual concerts on rwmf.net. For the physical concert,
festival-goers can buy tickets in various categories – Adult One-Day Pass
(MYR150), Adult Three-Day Pass (MYR375),
Child One-Day Pass (MYR80), Child Three-Day Pass (MYR155) and the
One-Day Family Package Pass- two Adult and two children (MYR400). Meanwhile,
virtual tickets are priced at MYR 25.
Meanwhile, Malaysia Airlines has been named the official
airline partner of the Rainforest World Music Festival. The collaboration,
which is also a continuation of the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG)’s partnership
with STB will see Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and Journify offering unbeatable
deals comprising flights and three-day event pass to drive visitors and drive
footfall to Sarawak.
Malaysia Airlines and Firefly will have early birds deals
that offer customers up to 15% and 10% off discounts on flights on selected
Malaysia Airlines, including from London, Australia and some ASEAN destinations
as well as the recently launched Firefly’s jet operations from Penang to
Kuching. The sales start from 25 April 2022 until 14 May 2022 for travel from 1
June until 30 June 2022. These tickets are available exclusively for those who
purchase the three-day pass through the airline’s respective websites, and they
are required to include a unique promo code to enjoy the great discounts on air
tickets.
Customers will also have the option to purchase
“value-for-flights” deals, exclusively available on Journify that
offers MHflypass plus a 3-day pass to RWMF event at a fixed attractive price,
giving them full flexibility convenience, and control over their spending for
the flights. Early birds can buy an MHFlypass low as MYR1774 for Zone 2 and
MYR1974 for Zone 3, with flights valid for one year. Multiple payment options
are available for customers, including an instalment plan or Buy Now Pay Later.
MHFlypass offers two convenient options for passengers travelling for RWMF based on their destination origin, allowing them to choose the zone that matches their travel needs best. Zone 2 offers passengers the opportunity to fly between Kuala Lumpur and destinations in Sabah and Sarawak. Meanwhile, Zone 3 allows passengers to fly from Sabah and Sarawak to Peninsular Malaysia destinations, with a connecting flight at Kuala Lumpur.
For more information and to book flights for your next getaway, visit the official Malaysia Airlines and Firefly website, and download their apps for easy access anytime, anywhere! Sign up to become an Enrich member to start earning Enrich Points today. To enjoy a great experience on Journify, visit myjournify.com or download the Journify app on iOS & Android to get the latest information and grab many other exciting deals!
HONG KONG, 18 April 2022: Despite Hong Kong’s strict Covid-19 rules limiting entry to just residents, passenger traffic during March reached a year on year increase of 61.3% at Hong Kong International Airport, according to the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK).
However, passenger traffic continued to remain significantly
lower than the pre-pandemic level in 2019. Meanwhile, cargo throughput and
flight movements recorded during the month were 352,000 tonnes and 9,870,
respectively, representing year-on-year decreases of 11.4% and 7.3%,
respectively.
The growth in passenger throughput was mainly attributed to
the growth in Hong Kong residents’ travel. During the month, departure
passengers to Southeast Asia and Mainland China experienced the most significant
increases.
Cargo throughput has declined due to flight reductions since
the emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Exports and imports
experienced double-digit year-on-year declines compared to the same month last
year. Overall cargo to and from North America and Europe experienced the most
significant decreases during the month.
Over the first three months, passenger volume increased
41.7% to 251,000. Cargo throughput and flight movements dropped by 9.2% and
1.0% to 1 million and 30,210, respectively.
On a 12-month rolling basis, the airport handled 1.4 million
passengers and 144,505 flight movements, recording a growth of 70.4% and 13.1%,
respectively. Cargo throughput rose 7.1% to 4.9 million tonnes.
The HKSAR Government lifted restrictions on arrival flights
from nine countries on 1 April. From 1 to 13 April, 251 flights carrying
passengers operated at HKIA, representing an increase of 77 passenger flights
from the 19 to 31 March period.
Meanwhile, HKIA was ranked the World’s Busiest Cargo Airport
in 2021 by Airports Council International. HKIA handled 5 million tonnes of
cargo, representing a 12.5% growth compared to 2020.
AAHK executive director commercial Cissy Chan said: “We
are delighted that HKIA maintained its leading position as the World’s Busiest
Cargo Airport in 2021. The pandemic has had a serious impact on flight
operations globally, but it has also generated high demand for e-commerce and
transportation of medical supplies. With the airport’s extensive freighter
network, high efficiency and dedicated cargo operators, we saw double-digit
growth in cargo throughput during 2021. AAHK is confident in the long-term
development of HKIA’s air cargo business and will continue to work closely with
our business partners to enhance our performance.”
KUALA LUMPUR, 18 APRIL 2022: The AirAsia Super App is partnering with Trip.com, one of the world’s leading online travel agents, a move that will give AirAsia Super App access to over 1.2 million additional hotels in 200 countries.
To mark the inking of the partnership, the AirAsia Super App
is offering 10% off all hotels across all countries by using the promo code
AATRIP10 from today until 17 April 2022. Travellers should click on the
‘Hotels’ icon on the AirAsia Super App to access the additional inventory.
Commenting on the partnership AirAsia Super App CEO Amanda Woo said: “Through this partnership, our capabilities as an OTA have been significantly expanded with Trip.com’s strength in technology innovation in the travel industry, enabling us to offer customers greater choice, convenience and seamlessness while we continue to leverage on the strength of the data we have built over the past two decades which allows us to understand our users better.”
Trip.com Group Flights Business Unit CEO Yudong Tan
commented: “We are excited to expand our partnership with AirAsia and work
together on supporting the growth of the travel market across the region.
Through the combination of AirAsia and Trip.com’s technological prowess and
vast audience, we are now able to provide travellers with over 1.2 million
additional accommodation options through the AirAsia Super App channel.
Trip.com is proud to embark on the next stage of this partnership and will
continue to seek to connect travellers and products around the world.”
The AirAsia Super App has recently announced partnerships
with MG Group, WebBeds, and Travelport.
SINGAPORE, 18 April 2022: Booking.com released new research
last week gleaned from more than 30,000 travellers across 32 countries that
suggest sustainable travel has gained our attention.
Research showed that 72% of Singapore travellers say they
want to travel more sustainably over the coming year, an increase over what
surfaced through the company’s 2021 data.
With 77% of Singapore travellers confirming that sustainable
travel is important to them, over half of all local respondents (57%) cited
that recent news about climate change has influenced them to make more
sustainable travel choices.
To that end, over a third (32%) of Singapore travellers say
that the sustainability efforts of accommodations and transport providers play
a strong role in their property and transport decisions, respectively. In fact,
69% of Singapore travellers say they would be more likely to choose a
sustainable accommodation – whether they were looking specifically for one or
not.
In search of more sustainable stays
Awareness and visibility of more sustainable stays continue,
with close to half (48%) of Singapore travellers confirming they have seen a
sustainable accommodation on an online travel site over the past year and 37%
indicating that they actively look for information on the sustainability
efforts of a property before they book.
Even more encouraging are the 54% of Singapore travellers
who say they have actually stayed in a sustainable accommodation over the past
year.
However, while a vast majority (84%) of Singapore travellers
intend to stay in a sustainable property at least once in the coming year,
there is still more to do to make more sustainable stay options easier to find
for everyone. Of those who didn’t stay in a sustainable accommodation over the
past year, 30% said they didn’t know they existed. While this is down 17% from
2021, indicating that awareness is growing, nearly one in three (31%) said they
still didn’t know how to find them. More than half (56%) admit that they don’t
actively look for the sustainability efforts of a property before they book,
but if made easily accessible, they say they will review it, which further
underlines the importance of making this sustainability information transparent
and understandable for a broad audience of travellers.
Alternative destinations and timing
There is consensus amongst Singapore travellers on wanting
to avoid busy and over-visited destinations, with almost a third (31%) saying
that they chose to travel outside of peak season and over a quarter (27%)
choosing to go to a less popular travel destination over the last 12 months to
avoid overcrowding.
To that end, when thinking about future trips, 37% said
they’d be willing to exclusively travel outside of peak season to avoid
overcrowding, and over half (64%) revealed that they would avoid popular
tourist destinations and attractions to ensure more even dispersal of the
impact and benefits of their visit. Almost a third (29%) would even be willing
to choose an alternative to their preferred destination to help avoid
overcrowding.
On the flip side, 43% struggle to find appealing
destinations that are less crowded and 41% feel like it’s not possible to find
sustainable travel options in cities or other popular tourist destinations.
This indicates an opportunity for travel platforms to work with accommodation
providers in these destinations to help them progress on their sustainability
journeys and in turn, highlight more sustainable options, as well as to help
consumers discover alternate times and places to take their trips without sacrificing
on experience.
Connection to culture and local communities
A regenerative philosophy is influencing decision-making,
with 54% of Singapore travellers saying they want to leave the places they
visit better than when they arrived and two-thirds (64%) wanting to have
experiences that are representative of the local culture. In fact, almost a
quarter (24%) say they have actively familiarised themselves with the local
cultural values and traditions at their travel destination in advance of their
trips and approximately one in four (27%) would be willing to pay more for
travel activities to ensure they are giving back to local communities.
The tipping point for transportation
Singapore travellers are also mindful of how far they
travel, how they get there and how they get around once they’re there. A
quarter (25%) say they chose to travel to a destination closer to home to
reduce their carbon footprint. One in four (25%) indicated that they researched
public transport and/or options to rent a bicycle in their chosen destination.
Over a quarter (27%) also chose to travel by train instead of a car for longer
distances and over a third (36%) say they feel ashamed to fly because of its
impact on the environment. When booking transportation for their trips, 39%
actively look for sustainability information.
While 54% reveal that they don’t actively look for more
sustainable transport options, it still has an impact on booking behaviour and
customer satisfaction. For example, although 33% say sustainability efforts
don’t play a strong role in their transport choices, they report that they can
influence their final choice. And for the 28% who say that sustainability
efforts play no role in their choice of transportation, knowing that the
transport option booked follows sustainability best practices still makes them
feel good, opening up a wide range of opportunities to grow consideration for
more sustainable options across the entire trip experience.
“With increased pressure on our natural resources and the
undeniable impact our way of life is having on the environment, we are 100%
committed to leading the industry in charting a more mindful and responsible
course for the future of travel,” said Booking.com CEO Glenn Fogel.
“We have ambitious goals for what we want to achieve, but
together with our partners across the industry and the passion of our
innovative employees, we can continue to make it easier for everyone to
experience the world in a more mindful and responsible way. We believe that
travel is and should remain a powerful force for good, bringing enhanced
cultural understanding, socio-economic opportunities for countless communities
and the potential to help rejuvenate and protect our planet for the long term.”
SINGAPORE, 18 April 2022: Two of the four world regions, the
Americas and the Asia Pacific, showed a year-over-year increase in hotel
pipeline activity at the end of the first quarter, according to March 2022 data
from STR.
March 2022 (% changes
in comparison with March 2021)
Europe
In Construction: 226,597 rooms (-12.2%)
Final Planning: 158,057 rooms (-12.7%)
Planning: 164,690 rooms (+5.8%)
Total Under Contract: 549,344 (-7.7%)
Germany (42,712) and the UK (31,796) lead Europe in
total rooms in construction.
Asia Pacific
In Construction: 482,689 rooms (+4.3%)
Final Planning: 147,854 rooms (-19.3%)
Planning: 315,956 rooms (+16.9%)
Total Under Contract: 946,499 rooms (+3.3%)
Among countries in the region, China has the most rooms
in construction (301,879), followed by Vietnam (32,804).
Middle East &
Africa
In Construction: 126,860 rooms (-10.6%)
Final Planning: 37,830 rooms (-17.2%)
Planning: 69,398 rooms (+29.6%)
Total Under Contract: 234,088 (-2.9%)
Saudi Arabia (38,181) and the United Arab Emirates
(30,367) lead in construction activity.
Americas
In Construction: 207,018 rooms (-14.0%)
Final Planning: 209,353 rooms (-17.7%)
Planning: 346,277 rooms (+30.3%)
Total Under Contract: 762,648 (+0.3%)
The US holds the majority of rooms in construction in the
region, while Mexico (14,317) and Brazil (7,080) have the highest number of
rooms in construction in the region.
KOTA KINABALU, 13 April 2022: Firefly
celebrated its inaugural flight from Penang to Kota Kinabalu on Monday, with 85
passengers on board.
The Boeing 737-800 aircraft was greeted
with a water cannon salute as it touched down at the Kota Kinabalu
International Airport Monday evening.
Sabah Tourism, Culture, and Environment
Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin and his assistant minister cum Sabah Tourism Board
chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai were present to welcome the passengers.
They were accompanied by the state’s
tourism ministry permanent secretary Datuk Mohd Yusrie Abdullah @ Yantis
Goduan; Sabah Tourism Board chief executive officer Noredah Othman; Malaysia
Airport Berhad (Sabah) acting senior general manager Kamaruzzaman Razali; MASWing chief operational officer Captain
Nasaruddin A. Bakar; and Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board deputy chairman Datuk
Seri Dr Anil Jeet Singh Sandhu.
According to Jafry, the launch of Firefly’s
new Penang-Kota Kinabalu route should increase tourist arrivals to Sabah,
especially since Penang is close to Langkawi, which receives international
flights.
“The state government thanks Firefly
for choosing Kota Kinabalu as its destination route. I hope that cooperation
between the state government and Firefly will be strengthened further to boost
the state’s tourism industry.
“This Firefly route has unquestionably
made Sabah more accessible to Malaysians and visitors alike. As such, I invite
everyone to visit Sabah and immerse themselves in the state’s numerous
fascinating attractions and culture,” he said.
Jafry added his Ministry is committed to
working with all airlines in the country and welcoming more direct flights to
Sabah in the future.
Meanwhile, Nasaruddin stated that Firefly
will operate a daily flight between Penang-Kota Kinabalu and Kota
Kinabalu-Penang until 24 April.
From 25 April onwards, the airline will
operate two flights daily on each route.
“The response has been very promising
and encouraging, especially during the festival and holiday seasons. The
Penang-Kota Kinabalu route is currently priced at MYR119 until 27 April.
“Pricing will change depending on
supply and demand, so we encourage passengers to book their flight early and
keep browsing for the best deal,” he said.
Firefly is a subsidiary company in the Malaysia Aviation Group, which also includes Malaysia Airlines and MASwings.
SINGAPORE 13 April 2022: Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) announced Tuesday the return to service of Pride of America, the only cruise ship to sail Hawai’i year-round.
NCL’s Pride of America, the fifteenth ship in its fleet to
return to service, sails weekly seven-day, roundtrip voyages from Honolulu,
providing guests nearly 100 hours of port time and the ability to explore four
islands in a week’s span. The itinerary includes overnights in Maui and Kauai,
allowing for more immersive experiences on land and unforgettable sights of the
Nāpali Coast. NCL has two remaining ships that will be returning to service,
both in early May, which will complete the Company’s Great Cruise Comeback.
“Being the only cruise line to sail year-round from Hawai’i,
we’re thrilled to be back at last,” said Norwegian Cruise Line President and
Chief Executive Officer Harry Sommer. “Pride of America will once again offer
thoroughly immersive itineraries and deeply authentic experiences that support
business and tourism in Hawai’i while providing travellers with everything they
seek from a vacation in paradise.”
“Hawai’i is one of the most popular destinations
amongst our Asian guests, for a good reason. With Hawai’i cruises recommencing
this week and sailing throughout the year, our award-winning itinerary aboard
Pride of America is the ideal escape for Asian travellers who can’t wait to set
sail again,” said Braydon Holland, NCL Senior Director, Asia. “No one
does Hawai’i like NCL, and now that international travel is back on the agenda,
cruisers can also take advantage of incredible savings of 70% on the second
guest and our popular five bonus offers.”
Pride of America set sail on 9 April and is available to
book through December 2025. Weekly voyages depart Honolulu every Saturday.
NCL’s fleetwide redeployment continues in partnership with local governments and is guided by the robust protocols of the company’s Sail Safe Health and Safety programme, which at its cornerstone requires that all guests ages twelve and over, as well as all crew, must be fully vaccinated to embark on all NCL voyages for the foreseeable future. Guests who are eleven years of age and under are welcome aboard unvaccinated, and it is the responsibility of the guest’s guardian to be aware of any local protocols and travel restrictions in place at the visiting destinations at the time of sailing. Working with the leading experts of the SailSAFE Global Health and Wellness Council, the robust protocols will be regularly evaluated and modified as needed, making science-based decisions to protect guests, crew and the destinations it visits. As protocols evolve and additional information becomes available, updates will be published at www.ncl.com/sail-safe.
As protocols evolve and additional information becomes available, updates will be published at www.ncl.com/sail-safe.
For more information about the company’s award-winning 17-ship fleet and worldwide itineraries, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call NCL Hong Kong at +852 800 901 951 or visit www.ncl.com.
BANGKOK, 12 April 2022: S Hotels & Resorts Pcl, the
flagship hospitality arm of Singha Estate Pcl, expects a return to robust
growth this year, forecasting record-high revenue of THB8.5 billion in 2022.
That would double the YoY growth compared with 2021, which closed with THB4.5 billion in revenue. In a media statement on its 2022 financial objectives, the group said it would become the second-highest revenue earner among Thai hotel operators listed on Thailand’s stock exchange.
Driving direct bookings is now the priority in 2022. The
company forecasts the revenue contribution from direct bookings will increase
from an average of 10% in previous years to 30% of all booking revenue in 2022.
“We foresee increasing demands in the hospitality business,
including our properties in the five top leisure destinations, particularly in
the UK and The Maldives, whose contributions are accounted for 44% and 28%,
respectively,” said S Hotels & Resorts Pcl Chief Executive Officer Dirk De
Cuyper,
“In the UK, experts project the revenue per available room
or RevPAR to return to the pre-pandemic level of 2019; while the upside to
restore 2022 RevPAR to pre-Brexit level is expected from MICE (Meetings,
Incentive Travel, Conventions, Exhibitions) activities, around 50% of which
containing in-person components, setting at hotels.
“The Maldives also sees strong demand thanks to the return
of visitors from Europe and the Middle East. In addition, the Maldivian
government expects the estimated tourist arrivals to the Maldives in 2022 to
increase from the same period last year by 21%, reaching 1.6 million visitors.”
“Tourism growth is also expected in other destinations, such
as Fiji, Mauritius, and Thailand, as Covid-19-related travel restrictions in
each market begin to ease. We, therefore, are confident that the macro trends
will significantly contribute to our revenues, considering we have an average
of 30% repeat guests in our hotels.”
Group expansion opportunities focus on resort projects at
coastal locations in the Asia-Pacific, the Mediterranean, and the Indian Ocean,
requiring an investment of around THB4.5 billion to fund acquisitions and
triple its portfolio by 2024.
HONOLULU, 12 April 2022: Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort has unveiled its new A’o Cultural Center and a renewed commitment to Hawaiian heritage all part of a USD80 million transformation, which is nearly complete.
The A’o Cultural Center at the lobby level features a collection of art pieces such as a model outrigger canoe, paddles, conch shells and traditional feather lei. The adjacent Herb Kane Lounge has also been updated with a new open-concept design and a conceptual woven map of the Hawaiian Islands by renowned rope artist Marques Hanalei Marzan.
Mural artist Kamea Hadar in front of his mural “Through the Past is the Future” which is part of a new Hawaiian cultural experience available at Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort.
“Both the lounge and cultural centre are places where guests can begin to make meaningful connections with some of the most profound aspects of the Hawaiian cultural renaissance,” said Markus Krebs, general manager of the property.
At the centre, guests can find out about Outrigger’s long-standing partnerships with the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) and the Friends of Hōkūle‘a and Hawaiiloa, a non-profit dedicated to the perpetuation of Hawaiian canoe building traditions.
“The centre also serves as a new place from which to explore the property’s newest artistic features and original works created by cultural practitioners who are on the leading edge of contemporary Hawaiian art and design,” said Krebs.
For example, the centre features a virtual exhibit designed by digital artist Kari Kēhau Noe picturing the legendary sailing canoe Hōkūle‘a. Through immersive projection, visitors are given the impression that the model of Hōkūle‘a is sailing on moving seas. As the canoe sails, various elements of the art of Polynesian navigation are highlighted, providing an engaging and educational experience.
The sail of the canoe model is made from pieces of the actual sail 32A that Hōkūle‘a used on its worldwide voyage from 2013 to 2017. A model of the sailing canoe Hawaiiloa, which was expertly restored by artist Ka‘ili Chun, is at the centre on loan from Friends of Hōkūle‘a and Hawaiiloa.
“The Aʻo Cultural Center exhibits show the genius of Polynesian wayfinding for visitors to the Outrigger,” said the society’s CEO and world navigator Nainoa Thompson. “It is part of Outrigger’s support of the Polynesian Voyaging Society and our mission.”
In 1975 Hawaii’s first voyaging canoe in 600 years, Hōkūleʻa, launched into the waters off Oʻahu island, realising a dream long-held by the society’s co-founder Herb Kawainui Kāne.
“Today, the rebirth of the Herb Kāne Lounge and Aʻo Cultural Center at Outrigger Reef is a fitting tribute to Hawaii’s rich voyaging past and its bright future,” said Thompson.
The cultural centre will also serve as the hub for guests to engage in a spectrum of Hawaiian cultural activities. Led by Outrigger’s veteran cultural director Luana Maitland (pictured above), hotel guests will be able to glean from her vast knowledge of the arts of Hawaii and participate in hula lessons, try their hand at Hawaii’s official instrument, the ukulele and make a lei or kukui nut kupe‘e bracelet, and more.
The resort has also resumed its quarterly O Ke Kai – “Of the Sea” – series with the Friends of Hōkūleʻa and Hawaiiloa. These gatherings will be a unique opportunity for guests to meet navigators and canoe builders, hear storytelling and enjoy hands-on demonstrations of traditional tools and artefacts.
Through the Past is the Future – a Mural by Kamea Hadar.
Adjacent to the cultural centre is an original mural by Hawaii artist Kamea Hadar (pictured right). Known for his large-scale portraiture, Hadar’s piece I Ka Wa Ma Mua, Ka Wa Ma Hope (Through the Past is the Future), depicts a traditional wa‘a, or sailing canoe, being crewed by children.
The next generation depicted are children of influential Hawaiian figures of the last century, including Hana Kakinami, great-granddaughter of Native Hawaiian writer, poet and cultural historian John Dominis Holt IV; La‘iku Blankenfeld, the grandson of PVS navigator Bruce Blankenfeld; Steel Scott, the great-grandson of Elmer Scott, who founded Scott Hawaii in 1932; and Kawena Kamakawiwo‘ole, the grand-niece of the great musician and songwriter Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole. Hadar’s own daughter, Nova Hadar, is also pictured at the steering paddle of the wa‘a.
“We as parents and elders do not yet know where our keiki [children] will arrive or even the nature of the canoe they will be sailing, but we do know that like in a wa‘a the next generation is all in this together,” said Hadar. “This mural illustrates this traditional, yet forward-looking perspective.”
Herb Kāne Lounge & Eia Hawaiʻi, He Moku, He Kānaka – a Sculpture by Marques Hanalei Marzan.
The legacy of the late artist, historian and founding member of PVS, Herb Kawainui Kāne, has been featured throughout the resort for decades and has now taken on new life in the renovated Herb Kāne Lounge, featuring earth-tone textures and an updated, modern design. The lounge includes four original paintings from Kāne and faces an expansive mural of a traditional sailing canoe that runs the length of the check-in desk.
A unique work by fibre artist Marques Hanalei Marzan is also featured in the lounge. The sprawling piece called Eia Hawaiʻi, He Moku, He Kānaka (Here in Hawaii, an island, a people), is an intricate woven sculpture of the Hawaiian Islands that stretches across the lounge.
It speaks to the interconnectivity of communities across Hawaii. It also recognises the ancestral ties and enduring relationships to Oceania. The work is inspired by Marshall Islands navigational stick charts which were used to teach oceanic seafaring practices and the knot-making skills of Hawaii.
True to the Outrigger name, the hotel’s connection to the ocean and care for the marine environment is incorporated in many layers. Upon arrival, visitors walk through the iconic canoe hale entrance. There, guests encounter Kalele: a 100-year-old outrigger canoe restored by the Friends of Hōkūleʻa & Hawaiiloa. A stone pathway carved with Hawaiian phrases will then lead guests alongside a bubbling waterway – symbolic of the life-giving streams and springs that Waikiki was named after.
In keeping with Outrigger’s commitment to ocean and reef conservation, the hotel also partnered with marine scientist and artist Ethan Estess. His sustainable sculpture Coming Home, which stands prominently at the resort’s entrance, is a partnership with Hawaii Pacific University’s Center for Marine Debris Research. Estess collected mounds of discarded fishing nets that were repurposed into this colourful mural of Diamond Head, which is to inspire individuals to be more sustainable and consume less single-use plastics.
As an embodiment of Outrigger’s commitment to conservation efforts through Outrigger’s ZONE (OZONE), US$3,000 was donated to The Center for Marine Debris Research, after the mural was unveiled.
Outrigger also worked with the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum to curate art pieces in the guest rooms and throughout the resort that honour Hawaii’s past and lend a residential feel to the property.
The first phase of Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort’s USD80 million transformation was completed in April 2021. It included renovated guestrooms and the reimagined Kani Ka Pila Grille restaurant. The second phase of the property, including the Diamond Head Tower, Waiola Wellness Wing and Coral Kids Club is slated to be complete by autumn 2022. The anchor restaurant, Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman, is expected to open by the end of 2022.
Malama Hawaii Ecotourism Option To take the Hawaiian experience outdoors, Outrigger has added an ecotourism option for guests visiting Hawaii by participating in the “Malama Hawaii” campaign, an initiative of the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) and Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB).
Malama in the Hawaiian language means “to take care”.
By booking Outrigger’s “Malama Hawaii Experience,” guests can participate in a hands-on, two-hour voluntourism activity at Kualoa Ranch Private Nature Reserve a 45-minute drive from Waikiki.
On the trip, guests immerse themselves in community service and cultural learning, including the importance of caring for the upland ʻahupuaʻa streams as they feed the loʻi down the valley.
