Tourism Industry Workforce Development: Training and Strategic Plan

This project is funded by the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

This site, hosted by the School of Travel Industry Management, is intended to serve as a central point of information on the Tourism Industry Workforce Development: Training and Strategic Plan ("Workforce") project. Please send comments and corrections to Russell Uyeno.

Notices, updates, and changes to this web site are included here. Resource documents can be viewed or downloaded by clicking here or on "Resources" link to the left. Overall direction of the project is provided by the project Advisory Board, composed of representatives from key stakeholder groups across the State.

Project contact information:
Russell Uyeno, Director of Applied Research, School of TIM
 (808) 956-4886    ruyeno@hawaii.edu
George Ikeda, Project Coordinator
 (808) 956-8535    gkikeda@aol.com

Information and Updates

September 12, 2007

• The Tourism Workforce Development Strategic Plan was presented to the HTA Board of Directors on September 10.  The Board and staff of HTA made several useful suggestions, which will be incorporated into the final.  The Plan, as presented, is available for download and review by clicking on the links to the left.

July 10, 2007

• The Draft Tourism Workforce Development Strategic Plan is now available for review and comment.  The Draft Plan can be viewed and downloaded by clicking on the link at left, in the Resources section.  We welcome your comments.  Please feel free to communicate your comments via hard copy, email, or phone to Russell Uyeno at the contact information above.

May 11, 2007

• The Hawaii No Ka Oi Train-the-Trainer program for Hawaii Island has been scheduled as follows:

• June 4, 12, and 25 for East Hawaii
  
  Here's a photo from the Hawaii No Ka Oi training program in East Hawaii:
  
  Front row from left: Grace Kupuka'a (Ka Ohana Aloha Instructor); Marcia Timboy,
  East Hawai`i Cultural Council; Paula Thomas, Huiana Internship Program, Hawaii
  Island Economic Development Board; "Pualani" Billie Keawekane-Beere, Alu Like, Inc.; 
  Talena Adams, Ride The Rim Tours; Barbara Andersen, Shipman House Bed
  and Breakfast Inn; Leonani Naho`oikaika, Aha Punana Leo; Aloha Knaefler,
  Kapi'olani Community College.
  
  Back row from left: Marc Swanson, Kilauea Military Camp; George Applegate,
  Big Island Visitors Bureau; Palakiko Yagodich, Kapi'olani Community College;
  Vinnie Recinto, Imiloa Astronomy Center; Toni Robert, Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel.
  
  
• July 2, 9, and 23 for West Hawaii

For further information, please contact:

Ken Okimoto

Coordinator

Hawai‘i Island Train-the Trainer Workshop

Hawai‘i Community College

Telephone:   (808) 974-7531

Email:          okimoto@hawaii.edu

Fax:             (808) 974-7487

April 17, 2007

• Neighbor Island meetings have been scheduled to discuss the Draft Master Plan for Implementation.

Kauai
Monday, April 23, 2007, 1:30pm – 3:30pm, in room 114 of the Electronics Technology Building at Kaua‘i Community College

Hilo
Wednesday, May 2, 2007, 9:30am - 11:30am, in room 301 of the Campus Center at University of Hawaii at Hilo

Kona
Monday, May 7, 2007, 2:00pm - 4:00pm, room A1 of building 2 at the University of Hawaii Center West Hawaii

Maui
Wednesday, May 9, 2007, 1:30pm - 3:30pm, in room 102 of the Laulima Building at Maui Community College

Oahu
Wednesday, May 16, 2007, 1:30pm - 3:30pm, Kapiolani Community College, Ilima Building, Room 202B

April 10, 2007

• The Draft Action Plan is now available (under the Resources menu to the left).  We will be holding stakeholder meetings on Kauai, Maui, Oahu, and Hawaii Island to solicit feedback on this Draft Action Plan.  We also welcome feedback via phone or email to Ms. Dietra Myers-Tremblay at the number/address above.

February 1, 2007

• The project update presented to the HTA Board is now available (under "Resources" in the menu to the left).

January 18, 2007

• We are working with the Hawaii Department of Education and the UH Community Colleges to deliver the training identified through the public meetings and confirmed by the Advisory Board. The training will focus on two main areas: workforce readiness skills and the Hawaiian culture.
• The Progress Report for the period ending October 31, 2006 is now available for review.
• Ms. Dietra Myers-Tremblay has been hired as project analyst. Dietra is a graduate of the School of TIM and recently earned a Master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning. She has a broad background in tourism and has worked with the TIM Applied Research office on several other projects. Please feel free to contact Dietra if you have any questions about the project.

August 22, 2006

• The Progress Report (March 1 - August 15, 2006) has been submitted to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, and is now available for review.  If you would prefer a written copy, please contact Russell Uyeno at the number or email listed above.)  The Progress Report covers the focus group meetings held in Lihue, Kahului, Hilo, Kona, and Honolulu, as well as all of the discussions with stakeholders statewide through August.
• The immediate training priorities identified by the focus group participants will be forwarded to the project Advisory Group, who will then provide guidance in directing the training delivery portion of the project.

June 20, 2006

• Update on focus group meetings:

June 8, 2006

• Focus group meetings have been scheduled for Kauai (June 26 at Kauai Community College) and Maui County (June 29 at Maui Community College), with the date for the Big Island forthcoming.  These meetings, which have been preceded by discussions with stakeholders, will prioritize training initiatives for funding consideration by the project Advisory Group.  Please contact Liza Simon if you would like further information on these meetings.

June 1, 2006

• A warm mahalo to the members of the Singapore Workforce Development Agency who shared their experiences and methods with attendees at a public presentation at the School of Travel Industry Management on May 23: Dr. Gary Willmott, Deputy Chief Executive; Mr. Azzli Bin Jamain, Deputy Director, Tourism Division; and Ms. Soh Siew Luie, Manager, Tourism.  Attendees at the presentation were also able to chat with the visiting team at a reception following the presentation.  The Singapore WDA's impressive work on workforce skills qualifications in the tourism industry can be seen on their web site at http://wsq.wda.gov.sg/IndustrySkills/Tourism/.  

April 20, 2006

• Now available is a list of the members of the project Advisory Board, which oversees and provides direction to the project as a whole.

April 3, 2006

• Aloha and welcome to Ms. Liza Simon-Tuiolosega, who begins as the Project Researcher.  In this capacity, Liza will be responsible for a variety of research and analysis duties related to the development of the strategic plan, and for maintaining liaison with individuals and organizations involved in the project. 
• Aloha and welcome to Mr. Lance Kimura, who begins as a Project Research Assistant.  Lance is a graduate student in the TIM School's Master of Science program.  Lance will assist in the collection and analysis of data related to the project.
  

March 8, 2006

• Initial presentation of the project delivered to HTA Board. 

March 6, 2006

• Letters of invitation to the Advisory Board are scheduled to be mailed.