Allison Schaefers

Honolulu

Bureau Chief at Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Allison Schaefers, a national award-winning writer, covers Hawaii tourism for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. What could be better than a job that takes you to th

Articles

Golden Week sees slight bump in Japanese visitors

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Allison Schaefers

Golden Week, a traditional holiday time for Japanese travelers, attracted more visitors to Hawaii than last year but still brought only about half the volume of 2019. From about April 29 to May 5, Golden Week tends to attract more Japanese visitors because it includes four holidays during that time. By planning their travel around Showa Day (April 29 ), Constitution Day (May 3 ), Greenery Day (May 4 ), and Children’s Day (May 5 ), Japanese travelers can maximize their vacation time.
Golden Week sees slight bump in Japanese visitors

1 week ago | staradvertiser.com | Allison Schaefers

Golden Week, a traditional holiday time for Japanese travelers, attracted more visitors to Hawaii than last year but still brought only about half the volume of 2019. From about April 29 to May 5, Golden Week tends to attract more Japanese visitors because it includes four holidays during that time. By planning their travel around Showa Day (April 29), Constitution Day (May 3), Greenery Day (May 4), and Children’s Day (May 5), Japanese travelers can maximize their vacation time.
Senator seeks tourism ousters amid racism, sexism complaints

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Allison Schaefers

State Sen. Kurt Fevella called on Gov. Josh Green to seek the resignations of two top state officials from the two main state agencies overseeing tourism on Monday due to allegations of a hostile work environment, which he said included alleged racist and sexist comments against Native Hawaiians. Fevella (R, Ewa Beach ), said, “There is a toxic and hostile work environment at HTA.
Senator seeks tourism ousters amid racism, sexism complaints

1 week ago | staradvertiser.com | Allison Schaefers

State Sen. Kurt Fevella called on Gov. Josh Green to seek the resignations of two top state officials from the two main state agencies overseeing tourism on Monday due to allegations of a hostile work environment, which he said included alleged racist and sexist comments against Native Hawaiians. Fevella (R, Ewa Beach), said, “There is a toxic and hostile work environment at HTA.
Hawai‘i Tourism Authority under scrutiny amid allegations of hostile work environment

1 week ago | staradvertiser.com | Allison Schaefers

A state senator and some Hawai‘i Tourism Authority board members and former staff say the two main state agencies overseeing tourism failed to respond promptly to complaints about a hostile work environment — including alleged racist and sexist comments — that they said contributed to the recent resignations of five Native Hawaiian members of HTA’s leadership team. Sen. Kurt Fevella (R, Ewa Beach) told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Friday that he has asked state Attorney General Anne E.
Deportation of German teens raises concern

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Allison Schaefers

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Two German teens traveling to Hawaii made international headlines when they were handcuffed and deported. The international arrivals lobby at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport is shown Friday. JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Two German teens traveling to Hawaii made international headlines when they were handcuffed and deported. The international arrivals lobby at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport is shown Friday.
Deportation of German teens raises concern

2 weeks ago | staradvertiser.com | Allison Schaefers

Two German teens who planned to visit Ha- waii in March as part of a months-long world adventure recently told a German newspaper that they were instead handcuffed, imprisoned and deported — an account making headlines worldwide and raising concerns about the impact on tourism if some international visitors are facing heightened risks at U.S. borders.
State bill would change oversight of Hawai’i Tourism Authority

2 weeks ago | staradvertiser.com | Allison Schaefers

State lawmakers advanced a bill by the Legislature session deadline that will significantly change the governance model for the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority for the first time since it created the agency in 1998. A Senate and House conference committee delayed votes on Senate Bill 1571 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and met three times on Friday before finally approving a conference draft just before the 6 p.m. deadline. The bill heads to the full House and Senate for a final vote this week.
Hawaiian Airlines helps buffer Alaska’s $166M loss

3 weeks ago | staradvertiser.com | Allison Schaefers

Alaska Air Group posted weaker-than-expected first-quarter earnings Wednesday due to negative impacts of macroeconomic factors on air travel demand. However, the parent of Alaska and Hawaiian airlines said the results reflect strong initial progress on the integration of Hawaiian and the synergies it unlocks. It was the second full-quarter earnings report that Alaska has filed since it combined with Hawaiian. Alaska announced Sept.
Latest tourism agency allegations draw varied responses

3 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Allison Schaefers

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Visitors took in the sights Wednesday aboard an E Noa Tours double-decker bus on Royal Hawaiian Avenue in Waikiki. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Visitors took in the sights Wednesday aboard an E Noa Tours double-decker bus on Royal Hawaiian Avenue in Waikiki.