Oʻahu Visitors Bureau

The Oʻahu Visitors Bureau (OVB) is a department and Island Visitor Bureau (IVB) of the Hawaiʻi Visitors & Convention Bureau (HVCB). HTA contracts HVCB for statewide U.S. leisure destination marketing, global MCI and group sales, and global support services. OVB collaborates with teams managing these contracts, leveraging our island-specific knowledge of O‘ahu to inform strategies, tactics, and address pertinent local issues.

Additionally, HTA contracts HVCB for the Island Visitor Bureau's expertise in Island Destination Brand Marketing and Management Services. Under this contract, OVB partners with other HVCB IVBs to support, strengthen, and enhance the destination marketing strategies of HTA’s Global Marketing Teams (GMT) in the United States, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, and Oceania (Australia and New Zealand), as well as the Meet Hawai‘i, Cruise, and Destination Stewardship teams, while also supporting other HTA brand initiatives. Primarily focused on Oʻahu, OVB collaborates with island stakeholders across the visitor industry, government, and community sectors to enhance leisure and business sales and marketing, community initiatives, and emergency preparedness and crisis management, while recognizing the importance of all the Hawaiian Islands.

For more information on the island of O‘ahu, visit: gohawaii.com/oahu.

Island Chapter Staff Directory

Noelani Schilling-Wheeler Executive Director, Oʻahu Visitors Bureau

nschilling-wheeler@hvcb.org

Phone

808-524-0722

"My most cherished memory in Hawaiʻi, is raising my daughter here in a place that generally accepts everyone, is fiercely protective of the importance and values of ‘ohana and keiki, and has helped us raise her with kindness, generosity and Aloha."

Karishma Chowfin Director of Sales, Oʻahu Visitors Bureau

kchowfin@hvcb.org

Phone

808-524-0722

"To know better is to do better. I have always felt an incredible sense of responsibility to do right by this destination, for my home, for my nieces, nephews, friends and family who call this place home as well. Sharing how to be pono, act pono, inspires and motivates me about my kuleana at HVCB & OVB."

Catherine Orlans Marketing Manager, Oʻahu Visitors Bureau

corlans@hvcb.org

Phone

808-524-0722

"My most cherished memory of my time visiting other islands in our state comes from Kauaʻi and the aloha spirit their residents share, while waiting outside of a store at 6am for it to open, an older gentleman shared with us some advice as newlyweds, to keep the spark alive in his relationship he said he jokes around with his wife with a "YOU KNOW WHAT...." and then continuing on with an "I love you!" response after she answers him. My husband and I still joke around with that after 10 years of marriage!"

Leilani Robertson Administrative Coordinator, Oʻahu Visitors Bureau

lrobertson@hvcb.org

Phone

808-524-0722

"My favorite place in Hawai'i is the west side for the sunsets. I enjoy going to Ko 'Olina Lagoons and sitting on the beach and watching the sunset reflect off the ocean"

Island Chapter Advisory Board

Joe Ibarra Oʻahu Chapter Chairperson

President & General Manager, The Kāhala Hotel & Resort

Simeon Miranda Oʻahu Chapter Vice Chairperson

General Manager, Embassy Suites Waikiki

Sweetie Nelson Past Oʻahu Chapter Chairperson

Director of Destination Marketing, Ko Olina Resort Association

Frank Among

Director of Sales & Marketing, Kualoa Ranch

Joy Tomita Anderson

Director of Sales & Marketing, Prince Waikīkī Hotel & Resort

Eric Co

Vice President of Reiliency, Harold K.L. Castle Foundation

Joann Erban

VP Sales & Marketing, Roberts Hawai‘i

Kelly Knox

Community Outreach Advisor, Southwest Airlines

Susan Koehler

Director of Sales & Marketing, Courtyard by Marriott O‘ahu North Shore

Michael Miller

Director of Operations/Partner, Tiki's Grill & Bar

Charlene Nakamura

Area Director of Sales, Hilton Hawaiian Village/Hilton Waikoloa

Sandy Narvaez

Market Director, Leisure-Hawai‘i & French Polynesia, Marriott International, Waikīkī Luxury Collection

Sonja Rogers

Communications Director, Polynesian Voyaging Society

Tina Yamaki

President, Retail Merchants of Hawaiʻi

Did you know?

The only official royal palace on U.S. soil is ʻIolani Palace, the final residence of the last two reigning monarchs of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. The palace is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and located in Honolulu.
Global WWII history is anchored at Pearl Harbor (Puʻuloa) on the island of Oʻahu, starting with the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial. To understand the history of WWII in the Pacific theater, to honor the many who perished and to inspire and teach future generations, Pearl Harbor is home to four key historical attractions: Pearl Harbor National Memorial (Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and the USS Arizona Memorial), Battleship Missouri Memorial, Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.
The Royal Hawaiian Band, known as the “King’s Band” was founded in 1836 by King Kamehameha III. It is the oldest and only full-time municipal band in the country. Visitors can catch performances Friday’s at ʻIolani Palace.
Oʻahu is considered the birthplace of surfing and the sport of surfing is attributed to the Hawaiian people. The small town of Haleʻiwa on Oʻahu’s legendary North Shore is affectionately known as the Mecca of Surfing, as the largest purse in surfing competition takes place annually along the surf beaches of Oʻahu’s North shore starting in November attracting professional surfers from around the world. Waikīkī was home to the legendary ambassador of surfing, Duke Kahanamoku, who introduced surfing around the world. He was an incredible waterman winning three Olympic gold and two silver medals collectively in the 1912, 1920 and 1924 Olympics in swimming for the United States.
Oʻahu is home to one of the most recognizable Hawaiian landmarks, Lēʻahi. When foreign travelers and traders first encountered the extinct crater in the 1700s, on Oʻahu Southeastern shore, they mistook the glistening calcite crystals in the rocks to be diamonds, thus for centuries the iconic landmark was called Diamond Head. Today, Diamond Head State Monument is reintroducing her Hawaiian name, Lēʻahi
The Island of Oʻahu has been and continues to be the filming location of many popular movies and television shows. More movies and television shows have been filmed on Oʻahu than any of the other Hawaiian Islands.

Oʻahu Visitors Bureau Updates