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

Karishma Chowfin Director, Market Activation & Program Delivery, Oʻahu Visitors Bureau

kchowfin@hvcb.org

Phone

808-524-0722

"The Leeward Coast of Oʻahu is my home and favorite place in Hawaiʻi. I love the ocean breeze, friendly faces, farmers markets, sunsets and watching whales swim by during whale season. Most of all, my ahupuaʻa on the West Side grounds me, revives me, refreshes me, and rejuvenates me every single day."

Catherine Orlans Manager, Communications & Content Delivery, Oʻahu Visitors Bureau

corlans@hvcb.org

Phone

808-524-0722

"Māʻili Beach Park on the west side of Oʻahu holds a special place in my heart as my favorite place in Hawaiʻi. As the sun sets, vibrant hues of orange, pink, and purple paint the sky, casting a mesmerizing glow over the beach. Whether it's a solo retreat for self-reflection or a gathering with friends to witness the beauty of nature, Māʻili Beach Park is a cherished place for me and my ʻohana."

Island Chapter Advisory Board

Simeon Miranda Oʻahu Chapter Chairperson

General Manager, Embassy Suites Waikiki

Alison Tomisato Alves Oʻahu Chapter, Co-Chair

Director of Marketing, The Waikīkī Collection, Marriott International

Kelly Knox

Corporate Responsibility Advisor, Southwest Airlines

Frank Among

Director of Sales & Marketing, Kualoa Ranch

Joy Tomita Anderson

Director of Sales & Marketing, Prince Waikīkī Hotel & Resort

Charlene Nakamura

Area Director of Sales, Hilton Hawaiian Village/Hilton Waikoloa

Michael Miller

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

Sweetie Nelson

Director of Destination Marketing, Ko Olina Resort Association

Seth Casey

Vice President of Marketing, Polynesian Cultural Center

Kelly Camp

Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Polynesian Adventure Tours

Theresa Van Greunen

Assistant Vice President, Corporate Communications, Aqua-Aston Hospitality

Shayreen Peltier

Director of Marketing & Sales, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

Haʻaheo Zablan

General Manager, Kaimana Beach Hotel (Highgate)

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

About HVCB

Members

We recognize the use of linguistic markings of the (modern) Hawaiian language including the ʻokina [‘] or glottal stop and the kahakō [ō] or macron (e.g., in place names of Hawaiʻi such as Lānaʻi). We acknowledge that individual businesses listed on this site may not use the ʻokina or kahakō, but we recognize the importance of using these markings to preserve the indigenous language and culture of Hawaiʻi and use them in all other forms of communications.

Get to know this special place we call home. Explore our Official Hawaiʻi Statewide Visitors' Guide.