LIHU‘E — The Hawai‘i Lodging &Tourism Association endorsed Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami on Wednesday at the Royal Sonesta Kaua‘i Resort Lihu‘e.
LIHU‘E — The Hawai‘i Lodging &Tourism Association endorsed Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami on Wednesday at the Royal Sonesta Kaua‘i Resort Lihu‘e.
HLTA president and CEO Mufi Hannemann and Chairperson-elect Paul Toner, the general manager of the Royal Sonesta, both commended Kawakami for his leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The HLTA pair was joined by HLTA Kaua‘i Chapter board members, including area resort managers and visitor-industry allies in applauding Kaua‘i County’s overall pandemic response.
“Mayor Kawakami has been an exemplary leader for his community since the coronavirus first appeared in Hawai‘i,” Hannemann said in an HLTA release. “Throughout his first term, he expertly managed Kaua‘i County’s public-health needs while also trying his utmost to keep the economy running and residents at their jobs.”
Kawakami thanked the HLTA .
“I appreciate how the industry has decided to back our campaign to help lead this island that we all love into the future,” he said.