If anyone thought Douglas Kahikina “Doug” Chang would be cast into relative obscurity when he moved from the large Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club to the tiny Hotel Hana Maui, they’d better think again. He recently assumed the position
If anyone thought Douglas Kahikina “Doug” Chang would be cast into relative obscurity when he moved from the large Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club to the tiny Hotel Hana Maui, they’d better think again.
He recently assumed the position of vice chair of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, and “absolutely” plans on bringing more Native Hawaiian values to the board whose members guide tourism planning, policy and funding in the state, he said.
Through public meetings regarding the HTA tourism strategic plan, two themes came through crystal clear and repeatedly from both members of the visitor industry and the general public: protect the native culture, and protect natural resources, he said.
He plans to do both.
He feels he and kumu Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewitt, bring the voices and networking of the Native Hawaiian community to the board. Hewitt is the cultural representative on the HTA board.
Governor Linda Lingle seeks to appoint folks to the HTA board who have both hospitality and cultural backgrounds, Chang said.
Chang, general manager of the 70-room Hotel Hana Maui, left Kaua‘i a few years ago after a short stint as general manager of the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club. He says the change has done him good.
“The lifestyle change has been incredible for us,” said Chang, an O‘ahu native who spent most of his early summers on Kaua‘i with his aunt, Lena Palama (his father’s sister), of Kalaheo. Chang also managed the Hanalei Bay Resort before getting the Marriott call. He lived on Kaua‘i for 20 years.
The small hotel in a small community presents different challenges and complexities compared to his time in management on Kaua‘i, he said. But he wouldn’t trade his position, nor his chosen career path, for the world, he said.
The visitor industry is “as healthy as it has been in many, many years,” and 2005 will be another record year, he said. Still, he knows the industry is “cyclic,” and affected by fuel costs, war, terrorism, and other factors.
Another thing impacting tourism in the islands is the high cost of housing that sometimes makes it difficult to hold onto workers, even in Hana. Further, Chang sees no changes in the tight housing or labor markets in the state.
“There are no real signs of relief on the horizon,” he added.
He takes over as HTA vice chairman from Kapa‘a resident Nadine Nakamura, who had been vice chair. “I think it’s good for all of us,” he said not only of Nakamura’s presence on the board, but also of the focus on Native Hawaiian matters of the current board leadership.
The HTA members support the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association (NHHA) leaders’ cultural initiative. Chang had been NHHA president.
He’ll look out for the Neighbor Islands while in his one-year term as HTA vice chair, he said. Rural communities on Maui and Kaua‘i, speaking of what he knows well, have different needs and concerns from Waikiki and O‘ahu, he said.
His term on the HTA board runs through June 30, 2008. His term as vice chair runs through June 30, 2006.
The HTA board members reelected John J. Toner to serve another term as chair at the same meeting Chang was elected vice chair. Chang had a large group at his hotel, and did not attend that meeting, he said.
Also at that meeting, board members welcomed new member Ronald K. Yamakawa to the HTA board.
Toner was appointed to the HTA board in May 2003. This is his second consecutive term as board chair. He is currently the executive vice president of Ko Olina Resort Association, where he is responsible for resort operations, positioning, branding and development.
Toner previously served in director and general manager positions at several Ritz-Carlton Hotels around the U.S., including the Ritz-Carlton at Kapalua, and has also worked at various Hyatt Hotels in sales and marketing positions.
Appointed to the HTA board in July 2004, Chang has extensive experience in Hawai‘i’s hotel and visitor industry, and currently is a board member for both the Maui Visitor Bureau and the Hana Chapter of the Maui Chamber of Commerce.
“Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to work with John and Doug separately as board members, and am very impressed with what each of them brings to the agency,” said Rex Johnson, HTA president and chief executive officer.
“And, now with today’s election, I look forward to working with them together as a leadership team, in concert with the other members of the board, as we strive to manage the growth of Hawai‘i’s visitor industry in ways that will benefit both our communities and the visitors now and into the future,” said Johnson.
“The addition of Mr. Yamakawa will bring a fresh perspective to the authority, and help us with our efforts to improve and preserve Hawai‘i’s cultural values and resources.”
As the executive director of the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA), Yamakawa will serve as an ex-officio, non-voting member on the board. Since 1976, he has served in various capacities at the SFCA, most recently being appointed executive director in 2002.
He previously served as SFCA’s acting executive director, manager of its Arts in Public Places Program, and curator of the Relocatable Works of Arts Collection.
Yamakawa’s appointment to the board became effective on July 13, upon the passage of Act 235, which established a new position on the HTA board.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority was created by members of the state Legislature in 1998 to ensure a successful visitor industry well into the future, Johnson explained.
Its mission is to manage the strategic growth of Hawai‘i’s visitor industry in a manner consistent with its economical goal, cultural values, preservation of natural rescues and community interests. For more information, please visit HTA’s Web site at www.hawaii.gov/tourism.
