3.5 MB PDF - Saturday Briefing

August 18, 2007
New Outrigger Staff Uniforms
Unveiled
By Luana Maitland
One of Hawaii’s most culturally-sensitive designers, Sig Zane, has created an
original design, Kekaulai‘o, for the Outrigger Beachfront properties’ new uniforms.
Zane and his son Kuha‘o recently made a special trip to the Outrigger Reef to
unveil the design to employees and to share the story behind it.
Done in an ‘Ohe Kāpala, (bamboo stamping) style, Zane incorporated the
wa‘a (canoe) that brings the family together, the hoe (paddle), pe‘a (sail), and nalu
(ocean waves) that have brought us to where we are and will take us where we are
going, as well as moku (islands) symbolizing independence and interdependence,
niho manō (shark tooth) symbol of strength and the power of nature, the kalo
(taro) symbol of ‘ohana (family), and the kaula (cord/umbilical) that ties the
Outrigger family together.
Continued on page 4
Front row: Kimberly Agas, Sig Zane, Kuha`o Zane, and Elliot Mills
Back row: Jim Heather and Barry Wallace
Hawaii Dodges
Triple Threat
This week, Mother Nature reminded
us all that the normally safe and tranquil
atmosphere of our Pacific resorts can
change into something quite dangerous
and chaotic in a very short period of time.
First, Hurricane Flossie was observed
following a northwesterly track, aiming
uncomfortably close to the Hawaiian
Islands. Then the Big Island experienced
earthquakes on Monday and Thursday
with a magnitude of 5.4 and 4.0
respectively. Finally, came Wednesday
afternoon’s brief Pacific tsunami
alert after a devastating magnitude 8
earthquake off the coast of Peru.
Fortunately, here in Hawaii we
merely experienced inconvenience,
but with a little change in direction or
location, any one of these events could
have threatened the security of our
properties, employees, and guests – not
to mention our families and neighbors.
We had some time to prepare
for Flossie. It appeared as a tropical
depression on August 8 and then
was followed closely, as it gradually
strengthened on a track similar to that
of 1992’s devastating Hurricane Iniki.
Hawaii Civil Defense, the Central
Pacific Hurricane Center, and the
Joint Typhoon Warning Center were
all confident that Flossie would come
close to the Big Island but not get
near enough to do much damage. The
atmospheric conditions that caused
Hurricane Iniki to make a sudden
Continued on page 6
Saturday Briefing
Page 1
Happy Birthday!
Sept 03: Clifford S. Acacio, Istor Naich, Yeu-Wah L. Kwan, Ambrosio R. Peralta,
Eufemia P. Arios, Chul Soo Choi, Zornitza E. Koteva, Akeneta B. Johanes, and
Thelma M. Fernandez.
Sept 04: Filipinas A. Isidro, Violeta M. Carnate, John S. Bumanglag, and
Kristina H. McCurley.
Sept 05: Ronnie Delgado, Manuel Nicolas, Dorota Horwacik, and Yong Cha Song.
Sept 06: Norma P. Butay, Ill Son Kim, Helen A. R. Delatorre, and Cindy D. Castillo.
Sept 07: Clodualdo S. Piros, Rosita D. Rosete, Concepcion C. Eugenio, Alicia A.
Vidal, and Regino C. Jarquio.
Sept 08: Zhi Mei Liang, Colleen K. Harada, Joletta L. Decosta-Mararagan,
Theresa L. Gonder, Lai Kam Kwan, and Zhie Liang.
Sept 09: Nelson P. Vaquilar, F-Son Roosevelt, Jun Ling Lu, Taryn A. M. Dizon, Carlita
Herring, Herminia Agbayani, Suncha Chang, Aaron J. Duenas, and Mark J. Turina.
If you are interested in the positions listed below and meet the
qualifications, please submit an in-house application obtained from
your Supervisor or Human Resources. If you have any questions,
please call Eric Ishikawa at (808) 921-6989. Application deadline for
the following positions is August 24, 2007.
Busser/Server (Full Time)
A minimum of two years experience working in a high-volume
hotel/restaurant environment as a server/busser. Must be able
to maintain service standards with a positive, service-oriented
attitude towards our guests, employees, and our company.
Knowledge of banquet service is preferred. Banquet service
shifts will be available based upon experience.
Food Runner (Full Time)
A minimum of two years experience working in a highvolume hotel/restaurant environment as a food runner. Must
be able to maintain service standards with a positive, serviceoriented attitude towards our guests, employees, and our
company. Knowledge of banquet buffet set-up preferred.
Guest Service Manager/Concierge Manager (Full Time)
A minimum of two years Front Desk and Concierge
management experience and excellent organizational and
interpersonal skills required. Must be able to manage hotel
Front Desk operations and provide a high-level of guest
service.
Guest Service Representative (Full Time)
A minimum of one-year customer service experience
required. Must be computer literate, have 10-key by touch
skills, and be able to type 30 wpm. Must also have excellent
communication skills and be flexible to work any shift
and day.
Steward (Full Time)
A minimum of two years experience working in a highvolume hotel/restaurant environment as a steward. Must be
able to maintain service/cleaning standards with a positive,
service-oriented attitude towards our guests, employees,
and our company.
Saturday Briefing is published by and for employees of Outrigger Enterprises Group.
Editor-In-Chief: Richard Kelley
Senior Editor: Marie Casciato
Assistant Editor: Lehua Kala`i
Contributing Writers: Employees of Outrigger Enterprises Group
Visit us online at: www.outrigger.com/sb or www.ohanahotels.com/sb
Submit suggestions, comments, and news tidbits to Marie Casciato at marie.casciato@outrigger.com
or via interoffice mail to OEH/Executive Office, or contact her at (808) 921-6601.
© 2007 Outrigger Hotels Hawaii
Saturday Briefing
Page 2
An Equal Opportunity Employer
Outrigger on the Lagoon - Fiji Monthly
Staff Get Together
By Jane Turaga
The Outrigger On The Lagoon - Fiji
held its monthly celebration to honor its
most outstanding employees and celebrate
the birthdays of its vuvale (family).
Congratulations to July’s Honorees:
Back of the House
Employee of the Month
Jone Yavaca
Team Leader
Housekeeping Department
Front of the House
Employee of the Month
Kalesi Nainoca
Japanese Coordinator
Sales Department
Manager of the Month
Wame Kurimosi
Grounds Supervisor
Grounds Department
Thanks to all the vuvale at the
Outrigger on the Lagoon - Fiji. Your
wonderful smiles and commitment
to guest satisfaction have made your
property the place to stay in Fiji.
A birthday cake, complete with candles, was presented to the July birthday honorees:
Moh’d Riyaz, Liku Galala, Pradeep Kumar, Selai Ucece, Salote Moceiwaiyevo, Alumita Ratumaiyale,
Tepola Natadra, Titilia Bulobuli, Mere Thaggard, and Lorima Duwaka
Executive Chef Keith Kornfeld presents the July Honorees with their awards
Left: Jone Yavaca - Back of the House Employee of the Month
Center: Kalesi Nainoca - Front of the House Employee of the Month
Right: Wame Kurimosi - Manager of the Month
Saturday Briefing
Page 3
New Outrigger Staff Uniforms Unveiled
Continued from page 1
The Outrigger Reef
‘ohana will wear their
uniforms with pride and will
relate the special meaning
of each part of the design
to our guests. This sharing,
in the spirit of Ke ‘Ano Wa‘a
(The Outrigger Way), will
foster a special relationship
with our guests. The ‘ohana
at the Outrigger Waikiki on
the Beach and Outrigger
Keauhou Beach Resort will
receive their new uniforms in
the coming months.
Mahalo to Sig Zane,
Nalani Kanaka‘ole (Zane’s
wife), Kuha‘o Zane, Barry
Wallace, Kimberly Agas,
Elliot Mills, Jim Heather, and
Marylou Foley for their time
and effort in creating this
meaningful design.
Designer Sig Zane (center) with Front Desk ‘ohana Reyn Nakamasu (left) and Susie Kim (right)
Bellmen
Wes Ansai,
Cisco Valeho, and
Ikaika Maeda
Continued on page 5
Saturday Briefing
Page 4
New Outrigger Staff Uniforms Unveiled
Continued from page 4
Doormen Ike Celebrado and Kerry Iha
Frank Hinds of Maintenance
Kwai Choi Mak, Mercie Valdez, and Sonia Damaso of Housekeeping
Front Desk ‘ohana Ray Soriano and Renee Kiyono
Saturday Briefing
Page 5
Hawaii Dodges Triple Threat
Continued from page 1
northward turn and slam Oahu and Kauai
– which took the brunt of this Category 4
storm’s 160-mph wind gusts – did not appear
to exist in this scenario.
Regardless, the Outrigger Emergency
Command Center prepared for the possibility of
a change in direction and requested all the hotels
to start down the 36-hour Hurricane Milestones
path. According to Safety & Emergency Planning
Specialist Jerry Dolak, our hotels checked and
replenished supplies, prepared emergency work
schedules, and tested emergency generators.
Operations contacted vendors for the possibility
of more fuel, sandbags, and glow sticks. Our
computer center backed up vital information
and was prepared to protect it. Command
Center sent out morning and afternoon bulletins
updating everyone on the location of the storm,
its intensity, and the possible storm surge, wind,
and flood impact it might bring to the Big Island.
Fortunately, the storm quickly weakened
as it neared the Big Island, and there was
no damage. Likewise, the two Big Island
earthquakes caused only a couple of
landslides, and the Peru earthquake did not,
after all, generate a tsunami.
Hawaii has not always been that lucky. I
was just a 12-year old kid on April 1, 1946,
when a magnitude 7.8 earthquake in the
Aleutian Islands unleashed a tsunami that
crashed into Hawaii without warning a few
hours later, killing 159 people, 122 on the
Big Island alone. I happened to be checking
the surf conditions at Diamond Head Beach
that morning and, like the tourists during the
recent tsunami in Thailand, I watched the
water suddenly recede, exposing the reef with
fish flopping around. Moments later, the water
returned, much higher than usual, and waves
were slamming against the seawall next to
our home. (Things were much worse in Hilo,
where the shape of the bay funneled the water
into 25-foot waves and sent them straight into
the downtown/waterfront area, much of which
was leveled, with people washed out to sea. It
happened again in 1960 when an earthquake
in Chile generated a tsunami that killed 61
and flattened 537 buildings in Hilo.)
In November 1982, Hawaii had little
warning when Hurricane Iwa arrived. I recall
I was giving a deposition in a lawyer’s office in
downtown Honolulu and strong winds started
to rattle the windows. We finally had to cancel
the deposition, and within a few hours, we felt
Continued on page 7
Saturday Briefing
Page 6
Photo: Courtesy of the U.S. Ñavy
The 1960 tsunami that struck Hawaii hit Hilo the hardest. Parking meters were bent by the force
of the debris-filled waves and only buildings of reinforced concrete or structural steel remained
standing and even these were generally gutted
Even sandbags were not enough to stop the water from rushing into the basement
of the Outrigger Reef during Hurricane Iniki
Hawaii Dodges Triple Threat
Continued from page 6
the fury of the storm, which nicked Oahu
before slamming into Kauai and causing
$239 million in damage.
When Hurricane Iniki hit a decade
later, damage came to about $3 billion,
and Hawaii’s hotels and its economy,
particularly on Kauai, took a long time
to recover.
My congratulations and thanks to
all of the members of our ‘ohana who
worked together as a professional team to
be ready for Flossie. While we mourn for
the hundreds killed in Peru this week, we
can be thankful that we in Hawaii were all
spared from harm. However, we should
remind ourselves to always be prepared,
because as the past has repeatedly shown,
things can change overnight—and
sometimes even faster.
Hurricane Iniki caused sand and water to spill onto Kalia Road,
fronting the Outrigger Reef and former OHANA Edgewater
The Outrigger on the Lagoon – Fiji
Welcomes Ita Buttrose
By Una Murray
The Outrigger on the Lagoon – Fiji (FOR) was pleased to
welcome businesswoman, journalist, author, and professional
speaker Ita Buttrose and her daughter Kate McDonald for a
week of rest and relaxation.
Ms. Buttrose was twice voted Australia’s Most Admired
Woman publisher. She was also the founding editor of Cleo
magazine, and later became editor of the Australian Women’s
Weekly and then publisher of Australian Consolidated Press
Women’s Division.
Guest Service Manager Delores Rawaqa, Ita Buttrose, Kate McDonald,
and Chief Butler Mosese Saukalou
Upon their arrival at the FOR, Ms. Buttrose and her
daughter were greeted by General Manager Darren Shaw
and the FOR vuvale (family) who performed the “Bula Bula”
welcome song. They were also given a tarutaru (a traditional
lei of the Tikinas districts) by the The Butler Service vuvale.
Ms. Buttrose said that she visited Fiji a few years ago, but
this was her first visit to the Outrigger on the Lagoon – Fiji,
and it won’t be her last. She said she found it very relaxing,
and the staff was very friendly and accommodating.
Kate McDonald, Public Relations Manager Una Murray,
and Ita Buttrose
Saturday Briefing
Page 7
Waikiki Beach Walk’s® New Kaiwa Waikiki Offers
Unique Japanese Cuisine
By Barbara Campbell
The newest restaurant to open at Waikiki Beach
Walk is Kaiwa Waikiki, and people are already
scrambling to be among the first to experience the
food and ambience of this wonderfully unique
restaurant.
Kaiwa Waikiki is located on the second level of
the Waikiki Beach Walk’s retail promenade and is
another great option for dining, with its stylish décor
and teppan fushion menu! The restaurant features
defined “sections” for the different styles of cuisine
offered: a teppan counter, a sushi bar, and a tatami
room with traditional tatami seating, meaning the
floor is raised so that guests can sit comfortably at
the table without a chair.
With an interior designed by Tokyo’s Ken
Numatani, Kaiwa’s décor is inspired by the energy of
Waikiki, the cool beauty of Hawaii’s ocean, and the
urban sophistication of Tokyo.
Kaiwa Waikiki’s menu is full of modern
Japanese dishes that use locally-grown ingredients
and authentic Japanese cooking techniques. Some
of Kaiwa’s menu items include artistic presentations
such as Maguro Blossom Carpaccio, thin petals
of fresh ahi arranged as a delectable flower,
encasing a kabocha-tomato ratatouille with shiso
balsamic vinaigrette. Another dish is the Artist’s
Palette which includes Kona kampachi, maguro,
salmon, kazunoko, tamago, cucumber, myoga, and
takuan assembled in a spiral shape to show off the
ingredients’ vibrant colors.
Kaiwa’s name is derived from the word “kai,”
which by itself means “ocean,” and “wa,” which can
be translated to “Japan.” The name “Kaiwa” references
the ocean between the United States and Japan and
the culinary connection between east and west.
Kaiwa Waikiki is owned by the Tokyo-based
firm Partner International, Inc., and is the company’s
second Hawaii restaurant. The first, Restaurant Kai,
is a popular choice with local residents and is located
on Makaloa Street, just off of Keeaumoku Street.
Kaiwa Waikiki is open daily for lunch from
11a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner from 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Guests can also enjoy the lounge and cocktail bar
with live music from 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. daily.
For reservations, call (808) 924-1555.
Kaiwa Waikiki is another unique and exciting
concept for Waikiki Beach Walk, and if the first
week is any indication, we know it will be popular
among guests and residents who appreciate authentic
Japanese cuisine.
Saturday Briefing
Page 8
Kaiwa Waikiki’s Owner and President Isamu Kubota and Conchita Malaqui
Kaiwa Waikiki is the newest restaurant to open at Waikiki Beach Walk