OʻAHU COMMUNITY & GOVERNMENT UPDATES

Wahi Pana, A Storied Place Initiative and Collaboration

• On November 18, Mayor Rick Blangiardi officially launched Wahi Pana (Storied Places), a temporary public art initiative designed to activate culturally significant sites across O‘ahu, celebrating stories deeply rooted in Native Hawaiian history. Launching its first of three phases in February 2025, this project will feature 11 multimedia installations created by local artists and storytellers, debuting in February, May, and September. Curated by the Mayor’s Office of Culture and Arts (MOCA) in partnership with the Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Economic Revitalization, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Puʻuhonua Society, Aupuni Space, Hawai‘i Contemporary, the O‘ahu Visitors Bureau, and Bishop Museum, this initiative is set to run from 2025 through 2028.
   
• Join us on this huaka‘i (journey) of connection—follow Wahi Pana’s progress at wahipana.com and on social media @wahipana to be part of the story as we unveil O‘ahu’s storied places.  If your organization wants to be more involved, supporting our O‘ahu wahi pana, supporting Native Hawaiian contemporary artists and supporting public art and connections, please reach out to the O‘ahu Visitors Bureau – Catherine Orlans, OVB Marketing Manager, at catherine@visit-oahu.com.
   
• For the Wahi Pana sizzle reel, click here.
  
  

DASL: A Chinatown Collaboration

• OVB supported The City and County of Honolulu OER with their new pilot event Dine, Art, Shop, & Love, Chinatown on 11/23/24 Saturday at The Hawai’i Theatre and Sun Yat Sen Park.  This is a buy local/regenerative tourism initiative to support local businesses in the community.
  
  

PUBLIC RELATIONS & COMMUNICATIONS

Consumer or Media e-Newsletter:

• O‘ahu Visitors Bureau distributed its Q4 News, Updates and Aloha from O‘ahu release on Tuesday, November 12.  These quarterly releases highlight updates from our industry, community and government partners and are distributed to media, travel trade partners and our HTA Global Marketing team for further reach and distribution.
   
• O‘ahu Visitors Bureau sent out a call for submissions for the Regenerative Tourism on O‘ahu release on Monday, November 11, 2024. The bi-annual OVB Regenerative Tourism release will be distributed on Thursday. December 19, 2024, to media, travel trade partners and our HTA Global Marketing team for further reach and distribution. 
  
  If you have a program or initiative that supports the destination’s commitment to regenerative and responsible tourism and want to highlight your activation and achievement, please reach out to the O‘ahu Visitors Bureau – Catherine Orlans, OVB Marketing Manager, at catherine@visit-oahu.com – as soon as possible. 

Visiting Media: The O‘ahu Visitors Bureau continues to vet and support media visits that will translate to stories that impact visitors, residents, and the industry positively. The O‘ahu Visitors Bureau hosted the following media:

• OVB continues to vet and schedule media visits for 2025 that will translate to stories that impact visitors, residents, and the industry positively.
   
• OVB supported freelancer Keri Bridgwater (Matador Network) with her visit to O‘ahu from November 3-8. Keri intends to produce two stories: A Guide to the North Shore and a review of Ka La‘i Waikīkī Beach Hotel, including activities around Honolulu and Waikīkī.
   
• OVB supported associate editor Annabelle Canela (Parents) with her visit to Oʻahu from November 16-22. Annabelle intends to produce a story for Parents focused on a family-centered trip to O‘ahu including activities, where to stay etc. in addition to a social media video. Her primary interests for the trip included family-friendly activities and adventure.

TRAVEL TRADE & SALES  

The O‘ahu Visitors Bureau is working closely with HVCB and the other Island Visitors Bureaus to align and prepare for sales activities in 2024.  

• FAMs:    

  • Delta Vacations – Travel Advisor Incentive FAM, November 5-10

  • OVB supported Meet Hawai‘i team with their Meet Hawai‘i City-wide Meeting Planner FAM. November 18-21

• Sales Trips

  • Signature Travel Network Conference, November 11-14; Las Vegas, NV
  • Midwest Hawai‘i ‘Ohana Trade Events and MAST Sales Sensation, November 18-21, Chicagoland area, St. Louis MO; Minneapolis MN

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES & SUPPORT

Global Marketing Team (GMT) Support. The Oʻahu Visitors Bureau, along with the other Island Chapters, assist the HTA GMTs with guidance and expertise on each island. The Oʻahu Visitors Bureau  provided support for the following programs:

• Consumer Efforts
  • OVB provided feedback and suggested edits for HTO November social media posts on Hawaiʻi Food & Wine Festival and Lyon Arboretum. 
  • Supported HTJ with communications to Oʻahu membership for their “Exporting Hawaiʻi-Made Products to Japan” Seminar held on Nov. 4 at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center
  • Supported HTE with waiver setup for their upcoming UK & Germany Travel Advisor FAM for Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island from Dec. 2-9, 2024. 
     
• Public Relations/Media
  • OVB provided HTO with O‘ahu suggestions for story angles around agriculture and culture & the arts for two visiting journalists for the launch of the new Hawaiian Airlines direct flight from New Zealand to Honolulu.
     
• Travel Trade Activities (FAMS & TT Events)
  • HTKorea CEO Trade FAM; November 6-10
  • HTOceania Hawaiian Airlines Trade FAM; November 16-19

UPCOMING TRAVEL TRADE & SALES (DEC – FEB)

• HTEurope Travel Trade FAM (O‘ahu & Hawai‘i Island), Dec. 2-5, 2024 (O‘ahu)
• HTCAN Air Canada Vacations O‘ahu FAM, Dec. 9 - 10, 2024 (O‘ahu)
• HVCB Sales Blitz West Coast (Cities TBC), Feb. 2-14, 2025

OʻAHU’S UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Kapolei City Lights Opening Night, November 30, 2024
• National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Commemoration Ceremony, December 7, 2024
• Honolulu City Lights Opening Night, December 7, 2024
• Honolulu Marathon 2024, December 8, 2024
• 2025 New Year’s ‘Ohana Festival, January 11, 2025
• Polynesian Bowl, January 17, 2025
• Hawai‘i Triennial 2025, Aloha Nō, February 15, 2025
• Wahi Pana (Storied Places), February 2025