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CONTENTS VOLUME 9 | ISSUE 3 | FALL 2017
6
Stephen Stills and Judy Collins reunite for a show at The Smith Center
LAS VEGAS
LIVING ALOHA
6
22 ALL IN THE FAMILY
CALENDAR
A three-month guide to events in Sin City
10 KING OF COOL
A tribute to Las Vegas icon Dean Martin
12 LOCAL FLAVOR
Island Sushi and Zenshin Asian Restaurant are your ninth-isle home away from home
18 BOYD CASINO WINNERS Lucky you!
20 CSI: THE EXPERIENCE
Live out your favorite crime cases from the hit television show
Four local companies with ‘ohana at their core
30 UH SPORTS
Head coach Robyn Ah Mow-Santos takes the helm of Rainbow Wahine volleyball
34 THIRD PARADISE
Ravizza Brownfield Gallery brings European art to Hawai‘i
40 REAL ESTATE
It’s not just the temperature that’s hot in Vegas
42 HEALTH
The unrecognized angels of the aging industry
Aloha Earlier this year, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser released the results of its annual Hawai‘i’s Best survey. The survey asked readers to name Hawai‘i’s best businesses in more than 150 categories, including restaurants, golf courses, florists, banks and more. Included in the mix is a category for travel agencies, and this year, for the seventh year in a row, Vacations Hawaii was voted Best of the Best travel agency! We’re as grateful to those who voted us number one as we are to those who select Vacations Hawaii as their first choice when going to Vegas. Whether you’re a first timer or one of many who visit our downtown casinos several times a year, we’re thankful having you as a customer, and we pledge to do our best to make your visits to Las Vegas as pleasant and exciting as we possibly can. A visit to Las Vegas begins with your arrival at McCarran International Airport. We’re happy to report that Omni Air International was recently offered the opportunity to move out of terminal one and instead operate Vacations Hawaii’s charter flights in and out of terminal three. For most of you, this will be your first time in our new home, and we know that you’ll love it. No more of the long, uphill walks that existed in terminal one! You might even call your walk in terminal three a leisurely stroll! We know you’ll appreciate the buses dropping you and your luggage curbside, with easy access to the check-in counters, TSA inspection checkpoint, boarding gate and aircraft. To pass the time between check-in and departure, Vacations Hawaii’s customers will now be able to visit nearby shops and food concessions while admiring the beautiful five-year-old facility. Amidst the change, there’s one thing that you can still count on. Vacations Hawaii’s escorts will still be there to show you the way! We hope you enjoy your visit!
Volume 9 | Issue 3 | FALL 2017
PRESIDENT
Jamie Giambrone
PUBLISHER
Naomi Hazelton
MANAGING EDITOR Kevin Whitton
ART DIRECTOR Keith Usher
EDITOR
Lauren McNally
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kim Baxter Lindsey Kesel
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Dave Miyamoto Darryl Watanabe
VP OF SALES & MARKETING Nicholas Riopelle
SALES
Jennifer Dorman
ADMINISTRATION Crystal Rogers Sally Shaner
PUBLISHER'S ASSISTANT Thomas Goodwin
Bill Smith Vice President / General Manager Vacations Hawaii
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VACATIONS HAWAII
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©2017 by Element Media Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reprinted without the written permission of the publisher. The views expressed in Las Vegas Bound do not reflect the opinions of Element Media or Vacations Hawaii.
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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017
AUGUST 25
August
Iration
AUGUST 18 311
First formed in 1988, 311 gets their unique sound from a fusion of reggae, hip hop, funk and metal influences. Revisit the band’s enduring hits from the ’90s and ’00s and hear them perform tracks from their 2017 album, Mosaic, at Mandalay Bay Beach in August. Mandalay Bay Beach $115 mandalaybay.com 877.632.7800
Sip cocktails and dip your toes in Mandalay Bay’s 1.6 million-gallon wave pool while getting irie with reggae-rock heavyweight Iration. Joined by special guests Irontom and Magic Giant, the band hits the Mandalay Bay Beach stage as part of Dave and Mahoney’s End of Summer Luau presented by alternative rock station X107.5. Mandalay Bay Beach From $29 mandalaybay.com 877.632.7800
September SEPTEMBER 3
6 LAS VEGAS BOUND
SEPTEMBER 8–OCTOBER 23
Bruno Mars
Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth
Hawai‘i native and multiplatinum-selling recording artist Bruno Mars continues his 24K Magic world tour this fall. Joined by pop singer Camila Cabello, the 17time Grammy nominee returns to Vegas to follow up his performance this past July with an additional concert date in September at Monte Carlo’s Park Theater.
Featuring riveting tales from the champ’s tumultuous life and career, Mike Tyson’s critically acclaimed live production has been extended for a limited run at Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club inside MGM Grand following a knockout premiere in 2012, a record-breaking run on Broadway, a worldwide tour, an HBO special and a string of sold-out shows in early 2016.
Monte Carlo Resort & Casino $36–$115 montecarlo.com 844.600.7275
MGM Grand Las Vegas Hotel & Casino From $55 mgmgrand.com 702.531.3826
SEPTEMBER 15 The Beach Boys
Beyond recording a torrent of hit singles and selling tens of millions of albums worldwide, The Beach Boys have forever changed America’s musical landscape. Now led by co-founder Mike Love and Grammy-winning songwriter Bruce Johnston, The Beach Boys are continuing the legacy with their 2013 music compilation Sounds of Summer and live performances of the group’s many iconic hits. The Smith Center $29–$115 thesmithcenter.com 702.749.2000
SEPTEMBER 16
SEPTEMBER 29 Imagine Dragons
Grammy Award-winning rock band Imagine Dragons brings its electrifying live show to arenas across North America this fall following the release of the group’s third album, Evolve. Imagine Dragons hits the T-Mobile Arena in September with headlining support from indie band Grouplove and rapper K.Flay. T-Mobile Arena $29.50–$99.50 t-mobilearena.com 888.929.7849
Kenny G
Top-selling instrumental musician Kenny G will charm audiences at the Star of the Desert Arena at Buffalo Bill’s in Primm Valley Resorts this September. The artist has broken several records over the course of his career, from producing the number-one best-selling instrumental album of all time to entering the Guinness Book of World Records for playing the longest note ever recorded on a saxophone. Buffalo Bill’s Resort and Casino $35–$65 primmvalleyresorts.com 702.386.7867
SEPTEMBER 29
Sublime with Rome & The Offspring Sublime with Rome is a reformed version of ’90s ska punk band Sublime, with singer and guitarist Rome Ramirez replacing the deceased Brad Nowell as the band’s frontman. Sublime with Rome will be joined by The Offspring, whose 1994 album, Smash, remains the highest-selling album of all time on an independent label. Downtown Las Vegas Events Center $25 dlvec.com 877.847.4858
SEPTEMBER 22–24
Life is Beautiful Festival With a stacked lineup of both big-name headliners and up-and-coming acts, Life is Beautiful returns to Downtown Las Vegas for a three-day celebration of music, art, food and creativity. Now in its fifth year, the festival will include performances from Muse, Wiz Kalifa, MGMT, Gorillaz, Lorde, The xx and more. Downtown Las Vegas $135–$295 lifeisbeautiful.com LAS VEGAS BOUND 7
LAS VEGAS
October OCTOBER 7
OCTOBER 7–8
Ali Wong
Art in the Park
Actress, comedian and writer Ali Wong is one of today’s boldest comedic voices. Wong’s first standup comedy—filmed while she was seven months pregnant— received critical praise and landed her a role on ABC’s new sitcom American Housewife as well as appearances on Late Night with Seth Myers, Comedy Central’s Inside Amy Schumer, NBC’s Are You There Chelsea? and ABC’s Black Box.
Drawing more than 100,000 visitors to Wilbur Square, Bicentennial Park and North and South Escalante Parks in Boulder City, Art is the Park is the largest outdoor juried art show in the Southwest. A fundraiser for the Boulder City Hospital Foundation, the event features more than 300 artists selling original artwork in addition to raffle giveaways, live music, food and beverage vendors and live demonstrations. Boulder City Free bchcares.org/foundation/art-in-the-park/ 702.293.0214
Monte Carlo Resort & Casino $36—$115 montecarlo.com 844.600.7275
OCTOBER 7 Wayne Brady
Wayne Brady is an Emmy Award-winning actor, recording artist, improv veteran, dancer and television personality whose credits include hosting The Wayne Brady Show and the daytime television game show Lets Make a Deal in addition to guest-starring roles on Chappelle's Show, 30 Rock and How I Met Your Mother. Don’t miss this multitalented performer at the Terry Fator Theatre at The Mirage in October. The Mirage Hotel & Casino From $39.99 mirage.com 702.791.7111
OCTOBER 7–14 Incubus
After two massive sold-out shows in September 2015, multiplatinum alternative rock group Incubus is back to rock even harder during a five-night run at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Every pair of tickets purchased includes a copy of the band’s new album, 8, released this past April. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino $49.50–$200 hardrockhotel.com 702.693.5222
8 LAS VEGAS BOUND
OCTOBER 11–28 Diana Ross
An inductee of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Diana Ross brings her enduring collection of award-winning hits to her show, Diana Ross: Endless Memories. The entertainer makes her debut at Wynn Las Vegas with nine exclusive performances at the Encore Theater in October, with one dollar from every ticket purchase going to the Diana Ross Charitable Foundation. Encore at Wynn Las Vegas $60.50 wynnlasvegas.com 702.770.9966
OCTOBER 14 Janet Jackson
Superstar Janet Jackson resumes her North American tour this fall following the birth of her first son, Eissa. Continuing her Unbreakable tour under the new name State of the World, the artist’s state-of-the-art live production includes a stop at Mandalay Bay Events Center and features fan favorites from her chart-topping Unbreakable album as well as other smash hits and soon-to-be released tracks. Mandalay Bay Events Center $59–$249 mandalaybay.com 877.632.7400
OCTOBER 13–15
Age of Chivalry Renaissance Festival Clark County Parks and Recreation presents the annual Age of Chivalry Renaissance Festival in Sunset Park, where more than 100 artisans will be selling their wares and lavishly costumed performers will present riveting live entertainment, including historical reenactments, jousting tournaments, medieval pageantry and more than 50 shows per day on several stages.
OCTOBER 21
Sunset Park lvrenfair.com $8–$15
The Smith Center $29–$115 thesmithcenter.com 702.749.2000
Stephen Stills & Judy Collins The fiery connection between Stephen Stills and Judy Collins was first immortalized in Crosby, Stills & Nash’s hit song “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes.” Now the acclaimed folk singer-songwriters, both known for shaping modern music in their own right, have reunited in celebration of how their past relationship transformed their musical careers.
OCTOBER 14 AgeWell Expo
Produced by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the fourth annual AgeWell Expo presents vital information on how to live life to the fullest after 50. Hundreds of local and national exhibitors will cover a range of topics on aging, including travel, career, fitness, financial planning, health and wellness, dating, retirement and more. The event is free and open to the public, with complimentary parking, shuttle service, food and entertainment. Cashman Center Free agewellexpo.com
OCTOBER 22 Arcade Fire
Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire stops in at Mandalay Bay Events Center with special guest Angel Olsen during the group’s Infinite Content tour, with one dollar from every ticket purchase going to the band’s initiative Plus 1, a movement to save lives, revitalize communities and transform public health in Haiti. Mandalay Bay Events Center $26–$85 mandalaybay.com 702.632.7580
LAS VEGAS BOUND 9
King of Cool A TRIBUTE TO LAS VEGAS ICON DEAN MARTIN
10 LAS VEGAS BOUND
K
nown for his laid-back persona and appearances with the infamous Rat Pack, Dean Martin made the Las Vegas stage his home. The city is celebrating the “King of Cool” with a tribute featuring rare Las Vegas memorabilia and exclusive photos and video from the Las Vegas News Bureau archives in honor of what would have been the Las Vegas icon’s 100th birthday. Known for hits such as “That’s Amore,” “Return to Me” and “Volare,” Martin knocked The Beatles’ “Hard Day’s Night” out of its number-one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964 with his single “Everybody Loves Somebody.” He hosted The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast in Las Vegas from 1974 to 1984 with a starstudded panel of roasters and was one of a group dubbed the “Gruesome Sixsome” who played golf at the Las Vegas Country Club nearly every day for six weeks when it opened in 1967. Featured photos include Martin on the set of My Friend Irma Goes West, filmed at the Flamingo hotel in Las Vegas. A sequel to My Friend Irma, the movie was one of 16 films that Martin and Jerry Lewis made together between 1949 and 1956. You can also see Martin with Lucille Ball on the set of the television film Lucy Gets Lucky at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in 1974, nearly a decade after he appeared in an episode of The Lucy Show entitled “Lucy Dates Dean Martin.”
top (From left) Rat Packers Peter Lawford, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Joey Bishop at the Sands Hotel & Casino in 1960. bottom Dean Martin poses with co-star Diana Lynn during filming of My Friend Irma Goes West at the Flamingo in Las Vegas.
WHERE: Las Vegas Convention Center
WHEN: Through August 31 Free 702.892.0711
lvcva.com
LAS VEGAS BOUND 11
LAS VEGAS
DINING
L OC A L 12 LAS VEGAS BOUND
F L AVOR Island Sushi and Zenshin Asian Restaurant are one-stop shops for Hawai‘i eats in Vegas BY LAUREN MCNALLY
LAS VEGAS BOUND 13
LAS VEGAS
W
hen Chef Terence Fong first arrived in Vegas in 1979, Sahara Avenue was the city’s main strip, at least for locals, and it ended on Rainbow Avenue. A Kaiser High School grad born and raised in Hawai‘i, Fong counts Roy Yamaguchi as one of his influences for his Asian twist on European cuisine. After majoring in hotel administration at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he worked part-time after college in several mom-and-pop sushi spots, including Bachi Hut at Melvin Square, while working his way up for 15 years at Caesars Palace first as a chef at Bacchanal Room and then at Palace Courts. That’s when he started experimenting with Euroasian Flavors. Fong then went on to be a sous chef at Andre’s French Restaurant when it was the number-one French restaurant in Las Vegas and one of the top in the nation. He then brought his Euroasian flavors to Gatsby’s at MGM Grand Hotel &
14 LAS VEGAS BOUND
Casino in 1995 as executive chef. During his time there, he got the restaurant to be named the best gourmet restaurant in Las Vegas/at the MGM. He stayed at MGM until 2000 and then went on to serve as executive chef/partner at Vegas’ first Japanese restaurant, Osaka Japanese Restaurant. He also served as culinary director at Malibu Chan’s Restaurant, a Euroasian eatery, and executive chef at Wolfgang Puck Chinois restaurant at the Forum Shoppes at Caesars for three years. Fong did some consulting work in 2008 before falling into/launching his bakery operation, Kama‘aina Fancy Treats, making malasadas and bagel chips for the California Hotel & Casino. He ended up renting a spot inside Island Sushi and Grill on TKTK Avenue. The business started taking off, but he was called back to Caesars Palace for a time—he worked as executive chef at the hotel’s Hyakumi Japanese Restaurant—before he decided to buy out Island Sushi’s previous owner in 2009.
The malasadas are perfection: crispy on the outside, soft and airy on the inside, doesn’t deflate when you bite into it. The custard filling tastes rich and authentic, they don’t have that imitation flavor that so many malasadas tend to have. Is there anybody else who makes malasadas in Vegas? “A lot of people try to,” Danial jokes. “We’re always tweaking the recipe to make it better.’’ They make nearly 6,400 pieces a month wholesale, 5,600 of which go to 7-11 on the Big Island. They’ve been encouraged to come back and build a spot in Hawai‘i, but it’s actually cheaper for them to make it on the ninth island than back home. They’re fried, sugared and um and freezed and then packaged up and shipped from Long Beach, California, to the Big Island’s seven 7-11 retail stores. Fong also used to supply malasadas for the Cal and some of the L&L Drive-Inns in Vegas have malasadas and they also ship to San Francisco and L.A. The grill part of the restaurant had launched roughly six months before Fong came into the picture with the bakery operation. After Fong decided to buy out Island Sushi’s previous owner, he remodeled the entire place and had the foresight to open the restaurant on Sundays. Two weeks in, Fong kicked off the restaurant’s very first Sunday brunch. “It’s one of our
busiest days now,” Fong says. Once a steady albeit small operation, Island Sushi is bringing in six times as much in sales now than it was before Fong got involved. Yet with 55 seats on the sushi side and 20 seats on the grill side, it still has the look and feel of small mom-and-pop. Island Sushi does lots of takeout and the poke counter is a major draw. Just like back-home style in Hawai‘i, you can order by the pound and take it to go. They also have a poke bento, a variety of specials, nachos with housemade taro chips, salads and more healthy bowls with soba noodles. But it’s the plate lunch and all-you-can-eat sushi that are major draws. “A lot of our locals love it for when they have guests in town,” Fong says. “They don’t have to worry about somebody ordering lobster a la carte.” It isn’t a typical serve-yourself buffet line, however. Guests order their sushi and it’s made fresh and delivered to the table—a nice touch, especially when it comes to seafood. No surprise, Island Sushi gets a lot of locals looking for old favorites like plate lunch, poke and sushi. “Everybody comes in because they want to chit chat with everybody and talk story and have their coffee,” Fong says. “It’s just like back home.” But they also get Vegas natives and visitors who have never seen a real Hawaiian plate
(From left) Director of Sales & Marketing Danial Fong, Corporate Chef Yoji Shimonishi, Chef/owner Terence Fong, Director of Operation Steve Kim
LAS VEGAS BOUND 15
LAS VEGAS lunch before. Paired with the malasadas and bakery items, it’s a one-stop shop for the whole Hawai‘i dining experience. “Except for being right next to the ocean,” Danial laughs. At that point, the Plaza was on its down slope and eventually closed at the end of 2013, bringing that Island Sushi location down with it. The South Point Hotel & Casino was looking for operators for a restaurant it was opening inside the hotel that same year, and Chef Terence’s name came up. The hotel interviewed Fong as well as several other chefs, tried their food, and eventually selected Chef Terence to head up the new eatery. But first, he had to meet with South Point owner Michael Gaughan, a casino mogul who built and operated several properties in Las Vegas. Fong’s father, Herman Fong, knew him, since he had his own travel agency in Hawai‘i and used to bring groups from Hawai‘i to Las Vegas more than 50 years ago as one of the Hawai‘i representatives. Among the hotels the agency worked with was the Gold Coast Hotel & Casino, which Michael Gaughan built and operated before merging his Coast Casinos brand with Boyd Gaming in 2004. “I said, first Mr. Gaughan, I want to thank you,” Fong says. “From my family to yours.” “Who’s your Dad?” Gaughan asked. “Herman,” Fong says. “Herman Fong?” Gaughan asked. And just like that, Chef Terence got the job. “You got the job.” Gaughan shook Terence’s hand. “Give him whatever he wants,” Gaughan told management. “He’s in.” “It was very old school,” Terence says. “How come you never contacted me?” Gaughan asked. “I wanted to work my way up,” Terence says. “That way, no one could take anything away from me, beause I did all the work.” “Good,” Gaughan says. “That’s very good to hear.” “That was it,” Fong laughs, “He
16 LAS VEGAS BOUND
didn’t ask about any financials or anything—he just said, ‘You’re in.’” Fong brought his employees from the Plaza over to Zenshin. Nearly half of Zenshin’s staff are from Hawai‘i—in fact, they cover all four major islands. “We call them our ‘ohana,” Danial says. Rolling over the concept from Island Sushi, Zenshin offers the same Hawai‘i experience with a slightly more upscale feel and elegant interior. Zenshin sticks to the sushi concept—if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it—but added ramen and other trendy items like sushi burritos to its menu. Both Zenshin and Island Sushi is also known for their oxtail soup, a Hawai‘i staple. It’s 80 percent Japanese cuisine with tweaks using elements of Chinese and other Asian cuisines. Ramen has been a growing trend on the mainland for years. So has poke. There have been 25 or 30 of them opening in Las Vegas over the last few years, Terence says. They’re a relatively inexpensive operation since they don’t require a hood system and are frequently in an easy, Chipotle-style build-yourown format. But like all trends, it’s fading. Fong says many of
them are already selling. “Vegas isn’t like L.A., where it’s versatile and there are a lot of Asian communities,” Fong says. Fong says that they were thinking about opening the sushi concept in Los Angeles but knew we had our style and decided to stay true to what we do best. However, Las Vegas is growing at light speed. With a football team and hockey team in the works and a soccer team in the pipeline to help fill the new stadium, the city may even double in size by 2030. With the basketball teams coming in August and a lot of the L.A. and Hawai‘i groups coming in to stay at the South Point, Zenshin definitely keeps a little bit of Hawai‘i influence in everything they do at Zenshin. His son, Danial Fong—who sounds like he could have grew up in Hawai‘i, probably from picking it up from so many years at his dad’s restaurant— worked on and off at Island Sushi during college. After graduating in 2012, he started bartending at the Plaza location and later managed Island Sushi and then Zenshin Asian Restaurant and is now heading up the marketing and HR operations at both restaurants. Danial’s sister, Stephanie,
worked as a server and then manager at the Plaza location and went on to manage the Eastern location after Island Sushi closed at the Plaza. Meanwhile Chef Terence’s older sister, Raydeen, used to manage the kitchen in the Plaza location and she moved over to the Eastern location after it closed down, and still works in that capacity there today. “I’ve come and gone, too,” Danial says, “But now I’m back for good. It’s pretty much home.” Now 56 with two granddaughters occupying his time, the elder Fong is eventually looking to pass the torch to his son, Danial, and his business partner, Chef Yoji Shimonishi. “I worked a lot as a single parent,” Fong says. “I had to get a nanny to help out with my son and daughter. So now I want to try to be there for not only them but for their kids.” But he won’t be relinquishing his title of president and owner/chef for several years. “And that doesn’t stop me form trying to open other projects,” Fong says. Chances are, it’ll be something Hawai‘i transplants have to look forward to.
LAS VEGAS BOUND 17
PHILLIP
CHIYOKO
$20,000
$17,920
‘AIEA
DARRAH
HILO
MARK
ADELAIDA
$14,156
$12,000
$10,176
LOIS
ALFREDO
$25,000
$15,800
WAIPAHU
KANE‘OHE
JOSE
WAI‘ANAE
$10,580 18 LAS VEGAS BOUND
WAI‘ANAE
WAIPAHU
‘EWA BEACH
NEAL
HARRY
$10,000
$10,000
PEARL CITY
WAHIAWA
Island residents win big at the California, Fremont and Main Street Station Casinos. We hope to see your picture here soon!
BENITO
VALTA
$13,500
$6,000
GARY
CHIYOKO
$5,019
$4,195
HONOLULU
ROBERT LIHUE
$5,813
WAIPAHU
HILO
HILO
LAS VEGAS BOUND 19
MYSTERY IN VEGAS Fans live out their favorite crime cases from the hit show CSI BY KEVIN WHITTON
20 LAS VEGAS BOUND
An exciting multisensory attraction awaits at MGM Grand on the Las Vegas strip. Based on the hit CBS show, CSI: The Experience comes to life seven days a week through a captivating multimedia setting featuring meticulous recreations of crime scenes and two state-of-the-art crime labs. Displaying true-to-life mysteries, the immersive forensic science exhibit invites guests to crack the case through hands-on activities and using real equipment. Participants are given the tools to gather the evidence, investigate the scene and solve the crime. Spanning 12,000 square feet and featuring thousands of handmade props, CSI: The Experience places guests in the role of crime scene investigator as they solve one of
three intriguing crime scenes. CSI: The Experience at MGM Grand combines the entertainment appeal of the hit show with real-life scientific principles and investigative techniques, ranging from DNA and fingerprint analysis to forensic anthropology and toxicology. “We are delighted to provide Las Vegas residents and visitors with an exploratory, multisensory look into the world of crime scene investigation,” says Christoph Rahofer, CEO & President of EMS Exhibits Inc., one of the companies that brought the crime-solving experience to life. “Blending entertainment with education makes CSI: The Experience a memorable adventure that the whole family will enjoy.”
Photos: Courtesy of MGM Grand
LAS VEGAS
Photo: UH Athletics
HEAD COACH
ROBYN AH MOW-SANTOS picks up where Dave Shoji left off
LOCAL COMPANIES WITH 'OHANA AT THEIR CORE RAVIZZA BROWNFIELD GALLERY
LIVING ALOHA
A LL IN T H E
FAMILY B USINES S
HOW FOUR HAWAI‘I COMPANIES MADE A NAME FOR THEMSELVES WITH THEIR FAMILY VALUES BY LINDSEY KESEL
It’s not an easy thing to do, raising a company in the isolated, ethnically diverse, tourist-centric landscape that is Hawai‘i nei. Things are done differently here—relationships are forged from good old-fashioned face-to-face interaction, loyalty is won only after making good on lofty quality and service promises, and reputations are built on island time, one happy customer at a time. These four local family businesses not only embody these qualities, they continue to endure the special challenges of the 808 State with grace and humility while putting family first and running things in a way that makes customers feel like family, too.
22 LAS VEGAS BOUND
LAS VEGAS BOUND 23
refresh
During Manuel Nobriga’s first day on the job delivering ice for Maui Soda in 1922, he got a quick lesson in loyalty and dedication. As he was walking back to his horse and wagon after delivering the first block, the horse took off suddenly with the cart of ice in tow. Thinking he had lost the day’s load, Manuel was mentally preparing himself to be fired when he saw his ride come to a stop ahead. Much to his relief, the faithful horse knew the route and wasn’t going anywhere without its rider. Not only did he still have a job, he had a long and storied career ahead. More than 20 years later in 1946, Manuel and his son, David Buddy Nobriga, joined a handful of employees and kama’aina families in purchasing Maui Soda from the Wadsworth family. In 1972, the company expanded to add Roselani Ice Cream to the Maui marketplace, and by 2004, the brand could be found in all major supermarkets across the islands, from Hilo to Hanalei. Today Buddy’s daughter, Cathy Nobriga Kim, is general manager and president of Maui Soda & Ice Works, and her four brothers are active in roles ranging from executive vice president to fleet mechanic. A fourth generation has also joined the company, including Cathy’s son Ethan, who serves as equipment technician. In 2016, the family operation reported gross sales of $24.5 million, a feat that requires constant collaboration. “Running a family business takes a lot of hard work, dedication and respect from everyone in the business,” Cathy says. “Building the business as a team means including others in small and large decisions and staying true to core values centered around employee well-being, team work, community stewardship and pride in what we do.” For Cathy and crew, the ties that bind include gathering around the table for celebratory meals to share in the company’s successes and spending time with their extended ‘ohana during company picnics and holiday gatherings. And to keep the family business moving forward, preparation is just as crucial as good communication. “Cultivate each generation as if they are capable of running the business tomorrow,” Cathy says. “Don’t wait until your age defines when that will be. Communicate regularly, agree to disagree and give new ideas a chance. Failure is just as much a success if you can learn something positive from it.”
Photos: Maui Soda & Ice Works
Maui Soda & Ice Works
Sun Noodle Headquartered in Kalihi with factories in California and New Jersey, Sun Noodle is the brainchild of founder and CEO Hidehito Uki. In this family business that delivers “artisan noodles with global reach,” Hidehito’s wife, Keiko, serves as controller, his son, Kenshiro, is vice president of operations, daughter Hisae is director of quality assurance and his other daughter, Jamie, helps out with the business as well. “If there’s anything local customers would say about my father, it’s that he is hardworking and trustworthy,” Kenshiro says. “He has created countless custom noodles for nearly every ramen and noodle shop in Hawai‘i because he is willing to listen to his customers and meet their needs. That’s why they trust his expertise.” In 1981, Hidehito left Tochigi, Japan, at the ripe age of 20 for the sole purpose of starting his own noodle outfit in Honolulu after working with his dad as a noodle maker. There were only a handful of saimin and ramen shops in Hawai‘i at the time, so he would make samples in the morning and peddle them door-to-door to local restaurants in the afternoon. His products weren’t well received at first, so Hidehito would go back to the drawing board to rework the recipes based on the feedback he received. When he realized what a personal process it was for each chef to create his own unique ramen broth, he decided that the noodles should be customized to each eatery in order to complement their signature dishes. With a little perseverance, he was able to land his first customers despite knowing just a few words of English. In 1983, Sun Noodle began selling its noodles in local supermarkets and, within 15 years, started shipping them to the mainland and Vancouver, Canada. The company opened a second factory in Los Angeles, a third in New Jersey and now has widespread distribution in the U.S. According to Hidehito’s daughter Hisae, the secret to Sun Noodle’s success is a high level of communication and trust. “We try to fly back home or to the other factories as much as we can,” she says. “It helps us stay involved with the different aspects of the business and learn lessons from our different regions and factories.” 26 LAS VEGAS BOUND
Photos: Sun Noodle
noodles
Drawing on family values in all aspects of day-to-day business is also key to the company’s success. “Be humble, listen, be empathetic,” Hisae says. “These are life lessons from our parents that we apply when we manage our employees.” Today Sun Noodle makes a whopping 600 types of noodles— ramen, yakisoba, udon, saimin, Japanese soba, Wakana soba, gyoza skin and wonton skin, to name a few—and the Honolulu factory alone produces 50,000 noodle servings per day. Dedicated to innovation, Sun Noodle’s latest venture is a pop-up ramen shop called Ramen Lab in New York City, and the company continues to partner with top chefs such as David Chang, Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong to develop custom ramen creations. “When I first started, I didn’t think we’d be shipping noodles to South America and Europe one day,” Hidehito says. “But now, so many different people from different countries know about and appreciate ramen. Sharing our noodles with the world has been a rewarding experience and I want to continue to do that.”
roofing
Commercial Roofing & Waterproofing Hawaii
WHOLESALE
Photo: Dave Miyamoto
Guy Akasaki had dreams of becoming an architect but ultimately discovered that his destiny was to build one of Hawai‘i’s most successful roofing companies instead. In 1993, he opened Commercial Roofing & Waterproofing Hawaii, with a construction “fleet” that consisted of a Nissan and a 1986 pickup truck. Despite nearing the end of his first year $350,000 in the hole, when it came time to settle the books, Guy discovered the company had actually turned a profit of $25,000. With a cadre of high-profile projects under its belt, including Harbor Court, Punahou School and Waialae Country Club, the growing family business now holds the number two ranking among Hawai‘i’s top-10 roofers for the seventh year in a row. Roofing Contractor magazine also named Commercial Roofing & Waterproofing Hawaii its Roofing Contractor of the Year in 2014. As president and CEO, Guy leads his team on a quest to keep
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Photo: Commercial Roofing & Waterproofing Hawaii
the company’s commercial clientele safe and secure with sustainably made roofing. His wife and cofounder, Lanette, helps steer the ship, with daughter Dana serving as chief corporate marketing director and younger daughter Candace as assistant controller. The company is dedicated to remaining on the forefront of roofing technology by integrating progressive and efficient building materials, and its proactive maintenance program CRWDIRECT has raised local industry standards. The company’s ever-expanding services include introducing new technologies into specific areas of need, such as solar-powered air conditioning as part of the Hawai‘i Department of Education’s “Cool the Schools” heat-abatement efforts. “Assembling the right crew has been integral in maintaining high quality and service,” Guy says. “Every individual comes in with a different background, experience and expectations, but if they can key into our vision and mission, then we all move in the same direction.” Another important component of managing a family business is the ability to let all employees, family or not, grow into their own. The desire to be involved in the business must be something that the members buy into
and believe in,” he says. “It shouldn’t be out of obligation or expectations.” Guy considers himself lucky to live and work in Hawai‘i’s familybusiness-oriented landscape and encourages his team to invest in relationships, seek mentors and learn from the experiences of those who have walked similar roads. And he
can’t stress enough the importance of preparedness when it comes to starting a family business—or any business, for that matter. “In times of feasting, prepare for times of famine,” Guy says. “Good times won’t last forever, and you’ve got to be prepared to weather the storms.”
energy
Hi-Power Solar
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HIVAC
With a mission to give the people of Hawai‘i quality solar solutions for a fair price, Hi-Power Solar has grown from a modest home business to operating out of its 7,500-square-foot Pearl City headquarters, complete with a business office and product warehouse. Vice President Cruz Romero is the second-in-command under his father, founder and President Ron Romero. Cruz’s brother Chase serves as sales manager, and their aunt, Ann, helps keep everyone in line as office manager. Ron had been immersed in the solar industry since 1981, working for different contractors around the island, when the family made a collective decision to open up their own full-service solar company. Since that day more than seven years ago, Hi-Power Solar has gained an impressive customer base thanks in large part to its ability to work with reliable partners and adapt in an ever-changing market. Though the company specializes in rooftop solar and solar water heating systems, it will soon be adding home renovation and construction services into the mix. So what’s kept the family together throughout Hi-Power Solar’s ongoing expansion? “Communication is crucial when you’re dealing with that much stress as a family, and putting it all out on the table helps to let that stress out,” Cruz says. “The key is to not take things personally—leave your home stuff at home and vice versa.” Coming from a corporate culture, Cruz works to replicate the professional, organized structure of a large company but without the bureaucratic red tape, ensuring both his customers and employees are treated to plenty of aloha. The thriving family business has found success by empowering team members, providing the right tools and training, and investing in its employees by treating them like family. Our team can make split decisions without having to go through so many fields of approval,” Cruz says. “Sometimes mistakes are made, but we learn together and move on.” Hi-Power Solar’s focus on community, through support of organizations like University of Hawaii athletic teams and Surfrider Foundation, has also gone a long way to endear these guys to the local market. Cruz’s advice for anyone starting a business with ‘ohana? “Give it 1000 percent effort. Give back to your employees and you’ll see them wanting to grow your business along with you. Listen to each other and try to take calculated risks. Be positive and believe in one another.”
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LIVING ALOHA
BY KIM BAXTER
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Photos: Hawaii Athletics
OLYMPIAN AND FORMER UH ALL-AMERICAN ROBYN AH MOWSANTOS TAKES THE HELM OF RAINBOW WAHINE VOLLEYBALL
LIVING ALOHA
T
Photos: Hawaii Athletics
he last time the University of Hawai‘i women’s volleyball team was coached by someone other than Dave Shoji, a gallon of gas cost 55 cents, the median annual salary was $13,900, Richard Nixon was forced to resign after impeachment hearings, Muhammad Ali defeated George Foreman in The Rumble in the Jungle and The Sting won the Academy Award for Best Picture. The year was 1974, and Alan Kang’s first and only season at the helm of the Rainbow Wahine ended with a 9-1 record. Since then, Shoji’s incredible 42-year tenure resulted in a deluge of accolades: 1,202 victories, 41 NCAA tournament appearances, nine Final Fours and four national titles. So when Shoji mulled retirement after last season, how did UH plan to replace the coaching legend? It hired another Hawai‘i legend, whose achievements as a player—both at UH
and with the U.S. national team—are unmatched. Robyn Ah Mow-Santos—who was a two-time AVCA First-Team AllAmerican setter for Shoji in the mid1990s before appearing in the Olympics in 2000, 2004 and 2008, earning a silver medal in Beijing—will now face the Herculean task of taking over the Rainbow Wahine program from one of the most successful coaches of all time. “Replacing Dave Shoji is impossible,” Ah Mow-Santos said in a press release announcing her hire. “I will never forget what he has done for me personally as well as the Hawai‘i volleyball program. Dave walked me out of the McKinley High School gym and into the Rainbow Wahine program that created a lot of opportunities for me. It’s a privilege for me to be able to give back to the university and the game that has given me so much.” UH enters uncharted waters with
Ah Mow-Santos at the helm when the 27-match regular season kicks off against Marquette on August 25. “There is no other person I can think of who represents the sport of volleyball, the spirit of Hawai‘i and the heart of a champion more than Robyn,” said UH Athletics Director David Matlin in a statement. For Ah Mow-Santos, however, this will be her first head coaching stint at a level other than a youth club team. After serving as assistant coach under Dave Shoji between 2011 and 2015, she is now tasked with taking over one of the most high-profile programs in the country. That means learning the ins and outs of managing a Division I team both on and off the court, including recruiting, juggling players’ class schedules and eligibility, dealing with boosters and rabid fans, handling all the media attention and demands, and more.
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“We are in a pretty good place,” Shoji said of the program during an interview in March. “We’ve been national contenders or a top-20 program for many years, and I think we’re right there now. I think Robyn will carry the torch, and it would be nice to see us stay there. It’s really hard nowadays, but I think with our history and with our tradition and our fan base and the excitement around the community about volleyball, we can stay there.” To assist her, Ah Mow-Santos has brought in her former teammate, Angelica Ljungqvist, UH’s first fourtime All-American and the 1996 AVCA National Player of the Year. It will be an undoubtedly steep learning curve for Ah Mow-Santos, but the first-year head coach will lean heavily on her youthful energy—she looks like she could still step on the court and school her players—and her love of the game. “I’m nervous but excited,” said Ah Mow-Santos after leading her first UH practice in early April. “I live for this. I love doing this. This is my passion.” Ah Mow-Santos has inherited a team that went 23-6 and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2016. Though the Rainbow Wahine lost Nikki Taylor’s powerful right arm (1,377 career kills) to graduation, they will return junior outside McKenna Granato, senior middle Emily Maglio, senior outside Kalei Greeley, sophomore setter Norene Iosia and senior libero Savanah Kahakai. Granato was one of 35 athletes chosen to join the U.S. Collegiate National Team this summer, while Iosia was named to the U.S. Women’s Junior National Training Team. Iosia, Maglio and Kahakai were all named to the Big West first team in 2016. But Ah Mow-Santos’ first goal with her new team was to work on conditioning. She watched replays of three UH matches in the spring and confessed that she thought several players looked out of shape. Her goal, she says, was for the players to focus on getting stronger first and then work on technique. “We’ve just got to get a little more disciplined in what we do,” Ah Mow-Santos says. “Get the discipline [and] the errors [will] go away, the team starts working together, [and] we’re all good.” After 42 years of Shoji’s voice dominating the sidelines, a new voice in the gym may spark change in a program that has seen very little of it over the years. UH has seen its fair share of success, but repeated NCAA Tournament second-round losses—five in the last seven years—and the lack of national titles since 1987 have proven frustrating for many fans. Shoji set a high bar for his successor, but after just one practice in April, it was clear that Ah Mow-Santos had made a mark on her new team. “Very intense environment,” Iosia says of her first practice with Ah Mow-Santos. “It was a change of energy.”
SAVE THE DATE
NOVEMBER 2-12, 2017 For more information HIFF.ORG
LAS VEGAS
Third Paradise Ravizza Brownfield Gallery brings European art to Hawai‘i BY LAUREN MCNALLY
On first glance, the jumbled heap of fabric piled in the old Fresh Café space on Nu‘uanu Avenue doesn’t look like much, but that’s because it’s only one side of the story. An identical stockpile of brightly colored clothing cascades from the other side of a giant mirror dissecting two halves of a whole, creating mirror images that test the boundaries between perception and reality. Depending on where you’re standing, you could be looking at a mountain of colorful rags or forlorn castoffs from a wardrobe after Labor Day.
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Photos: Ravizza Brownfield Gallery
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The work is the centerpiece in a solo exhibition by Italian artist Michelangelo Pistoletto, an influential figure in arte povera (“poor art”), a subversive, antielitist contemporary art movement that emerged in Europe during the 1960s. Brought to Hawai‘i by gallery owners Allegra Ravizza and Shari Brownfield, the installation debuted in March at the duo’s new Ravizza Brownfield Gallery in downtown Honolulu. The 500-square-foot gallery space is a newcomer to the neighborhood, and its owners are challenging the notion that Hawai‘i is a dead zone for the avantgarde. Honolulu may be the most isolated city on the planet, but it isn’t just a happygo-lucky locale lightyears behind art hubs like London and New York City. Italian native Allegra Ravizza specialized in contemporary European art at Sotheby’s London and held a prestigious position as a gallery director in Milan before opening Galleria Allegra Ravizza in 2007. She’s published more than 20 books on 1960s art history and opened a second eponymous gallery in 2013 in Lugano, Switzerland. Shari Brownfield, Ravizza’s counterpart, once emptied her bank account at 19 to buy a lithograph by renowned Spanish painter Antoni Tàpies. Drawing upon her 20 years of gallery, 36 LAS VEGAS BOUND
museum and art brokerage experience, Brownfield launched the art advisory firm Shari Brownfield Fine Art in 2015 before teaming up with Ravizza to help fill the dearth of modern European art in Hawai‘i. Another of Pistoletto’s works on view at Ravizza Brownfield Gallery is a sitespecific mural that explores the notion of a “third paradise,” which the artist initially conceived as a middle ground between nature—the first paradise— and the manmade paradise of scientific progress and technology. Modified from the mathematical sign for infinity, it’s a symbol ubiquitous throughout Pistoletto’s body of work, but this time, it’s comprised of a single phrase, “love difference,” translated into the languages of the countries that represent modern-day Hawai‘i. The piece is rooted in a concept Pistoletto first mined in 2002 to promote peaceful dialogue between Mediterranean nations. Extending this theme to the Pacific, Pistoletto’s entreaty to “love difference” is an appeal to not just tolerate but embrace the different cultures, religions and social structures that comprise our increasingly globalized world, suggesting that the greatest paradise of all exists at the juncture of disparate places.
left Ravizza Brownfield Gallery opened its doors in March with a blessing ceremony and site-specific installation by Michelangelo Pistoletto. right Gallery owners Allegra Ravizza and Shari Brownfield.
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HEATING UP
IT’S NOT JUST THE TEMPERATURE THAT’S HOT IN VEGAS BY RANDY HATADA Randy Hatada is the owner and broker at Xpand Realty & Property Management. As a Las Vegas resident born and raised in Hilo, he especially enjoys assisting kama‘aina with their real estate needs. randy@xpandrealty.com than 1,500 acres. Geared toward people with active lifestyles, Inspirada encompasses 85 acres of themed parks and trails and features a community center, heated pools, splash pads, amphitheaters, sports courts and fields. Filled with parks and trails, splash pads, an amphitheater, free bike-sharing facilities and WiFi, Cadence ranks 24th in the nation. Spanning over 2,200 acres, this Henderson masterplan recorded 231 new home sales. Appealing to families and those with active lifestyles, Cadence has certainly come a long way since breaking ground a few years ago. It will eventually include a projected 13,250 home sites, 1.1 million square feet of commercial property, 30 acres of trails, six schools and a casino. One of Cadence’s highlights is its 50-acre Central Park. With Summerlin already recognized and branded nationwide, I’m sure there are even more exciting changes to come. Inspirada and Cadence are also experiencing very exciting times, helped by the fact that Henderson was ranked one of America’s best cities by Bloomberg Businessweek and America’s second safest city by Forbes magazine in 2011.
Photo: Toll Brothers
With the addition of a professional NHL hockey team, an NFL football team, legalization of recreational marijuana and Resorts World Las Vegas on the way, it’s no wonder that Southern Nevada’s economy—including home sales—has been doing very well the last four years. What may surprise you is that three local communities ranked in the top 25 in the country for new home sales this year! These three master-planned communities are Summerlin, Inspirada and Cadence. Summerlin, encompassing over 22,500 acres, is the largest master-planned community in Las Vegas. It led the way, ranking seventh in the nation. Builders sold an estimated 470 new homes in only the first half of 2017, a whopping 25 percent increase from last year! This development officially commenced with its first residential “village” in 1990. Downtown Summerlin shopping center is one of its newest additions. Inspirada, another flourishing master-planned community located in Henderson, ranked ninth in the nation, right behind Summerlin. Home to over 2,500 residents and approved for 8,500 homes, it opened in 2007 and covers more
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HEALTH
UNRECOGNIZED ANGELS BY KELIKA ISHOL
Kelika Ishol is the director of sales, marketing and resource development at Good Samaritan Society Pohai Nani and has over 18 years of experience in retirement communities and nonprofit development. Sitting on the plane during my trip to Vegas with Vacations Hawaii this past June, it was obvious to me that many of the kupuna on my flight were not independent travelers. They all had companions—friends, daughters, sons, hired caregivers—to help them with the simple things that you and I take for granted. Fifteen years ago I was a caregiver for my own aging grandparents. My 91-year-old grandmother was afflicted with Alzheimer’s and my 104-year-old grandfather had physical inabilities. I was also a single mom with four young children. But as with most families, I made it a priority to take care of my grandparents and give them the best life possible. I took them to Taco Bell, Zippy’s, the supermarket, doctor’s appointments and anywhere else they needed to be. I picked up their prescriptions, made sure they took their medications, prepared their breakfast, shaved my papa and served him his afternoon coffee with cream, sugar and some sort of pastry. However, it was time consuming, taxing and, often times, extremely stressful. Even while working full time and raising my children, I selfishly didn’t want to let anyone else take
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care of them because I felt I was the only one who could give them the compassionate care they deserved. But the stress of having to keep an eye on my grandmother every moment of the day, taking leaves of absence from my job, relying more and more on my older kids to help with child care, lack of sleep from helping my grandmother when she became disoriented late at night—I became the classic burntout caregiver. I decided to look for some help. Even if it was only 10 to 15 hours per week, hiring a caregiver was a huge weight off my shoulders. I trusted this woman who became a part of our family and truly saved me from burnout. Ten dollars an hour is a small price to pay to ensure that two of the most important people in my life were taken care of. Perhaps it’s time we acknowledge these caregivers for the unrecognized angels they are. As a former caregiver and a professional working in the aging industry for the past 18 years, I commend the many folks bringing their aging loved ones to Vegas and helping them enjoy the last years of their lives. Even thousands of miles from home, caregivers are right there ready to assist and extend a loving hand.
W
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Better Care . Better Lives
A Five-Star Experience When it comes to family, everyone always insists on the best. Palolo Chinese Home’s team of healthcare professionals do, too. We continually work hard to deliver the very best care for Hawaii’s seniors and treat them like family. With more than 120 years of experience, we know what’s important to families. We pay attention to the details. That’s why we earned an extraordinary, five-star rating — the highest mark attainable in the industry — for our commitment to rigorous standards of care.* * Palolo Chinese Home has consistently received outstanding five-star ratings from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, based on health inspections, fire safety inspections, staffing, and quality standards.
Palolo Chinese Home 2459 10th Avenue Honolulu, Hawaii 96816 (808) 737-2555 palolohome.org Skilled Nursing Care . Physical Therapy . Occupational Therapy . Speech Therapy . Memory Care . Hospice Care . Care Home . Senior Day Care . Home Care . Light Housekeeping . Meal Preparation . Companionship . Meals-to-Go
Reinventing Health Care St. Francis Healthcare System is taking healthcare delivery to a new, exciting level. The Liliha campus is now being completely transformed into the St. Francis Kūpuna Village, Hawaii’s first one-top health and wellness center dedicated to serving seniors, caregivers and other family members. In today’s harried world, families will find a comfortable, casual haven to relax and unwind as they enjoy breathtaking sunsets and spectacular Honolulu skyline and ocean views from the courtyard. The courtyard will be the hub for an exciting array of amenities: a senior community center, where seniors can enjoy educational, social and recreational activities together; a wellness center, bistro, beauty salon, and much more.
The St. Francis Kūpuna Village is designed to seamlessly blend health and wellness activities, all at one convenient site. The campus already features a skilled nursing facility and future plans include an adult day care program, an assisted living facility with a wing dedicated to serving the Sisters of St. Francis, and an independent living community.
Be one of the first to learn about St. Francis Healthcare System’s newest programs! Join our e-mail list by sending your name and email address to: info@stfrancishawaii.org
Live Every Moment (808) 547-6500 stfrancishawaii.org
Caring for the Whole Family Jerry Correa, Chief Executive Officer St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii In Hawaii, do people want to remain at home as they age? Yes, “living in place” is not only the preference among seniors in Hawaii, but also across the nation. In the past, this was referred to as “aging in place.” Our multi-cultural, multi-ethnic influences create strong expectations for older adult children to care for their parents as they age. However, we know that sense of duty and honor can create a tremendous burden on working family members.
What is St. Francis Healthcare System doing to address this issue? The Sisters of St. Francis always believed in finding a way to meet the needs of the community. We are creating the St. Francis Kūpuna Village to offer a spectrum of services for seniors and caregivers all in one convenient location.
We envision a campus that offers different levels of care: adult day care, independent living, assisted living, intermediate and skilled nursing care with rehabilitation services, and other services. We are now in the process of building and filling in the gaps in our overall strategic vision. This will occur over the next five to seven years. Some of this will be the result of collaboration and alliances with other healthcare providers, just as we have partnered with Ohana Pacific Management to offer skilled nursing care on our campus.
While the vision for the campus unfolds, what is St. Francis doing in the meantime to meet the immediate needs of the community? St. Francis Healthcare System has a number of existing service lines, including islandwide bathing and personal care services,
adult day care in Manoa and Ewa, islandwide home and inpatient hospice care, a social worker-based palliative care program, an affordable independent living community in Ewa, and a preschool, also in Ewa.
What is your newest service for the community? This past year, we introduced caregiver education and training sessions for caregivers. The response to these hands-on, interactive sessions has been positive and we plan to continue to offering them throughout 2017. For a list of upcoming sessions, visit the St. Francis Healthcare System website at stfrancishawaii.org.
Live Every Moment (808) 547-6500 stfrancishawaii.org
KNOW BEFORE YOU
GO
What to expect on a Vacations Hawaii experience to Las Vegas ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION
CARRY-ON LUGGAGE
You are required by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to provide an acceptable form of identification at check-in and at the security checkpoints in Honolulu and Las Vegas. Acceptable forms of identification include photo identification issued by the US Federal or State Government or US and foreign government-issued passports. Additionally, the identification must contain a name, date of birth, gender, expiration date and some tamper-resistant feature. Bus passes, library cards and fishing licenses are among the forms of identification that are NOT acceptable.
In addition to one personal item (briefcase, purse, laptop computer, backpack) each person is allowed one piece of carry-on luggage. The maximum dimensions for each piece of carry-on luggage is approximately 9 x 14 x 22 inches and the weight restriction is 25 pounds. No more than three ounces of liquids, aerosols or gels may be included in carry-on luggage. Additionally, all of the above items must be consolidated in a single quartsized zip lock bag, which must be placed separately in the security bin during the security screening process.
CHECKED LUGGAGE l In Honolulu, check in two hours prior to departure at Omni Air International’s ticket counter located in Lobby 6 of the Honolulu International Airport.
l PLEASE BE AWARE THAT : • Baggage that needs to be checked needs to pass through the agriculture checkpoint before heading to the ticket counter. • In addition to affixing the hotel tags provided by Vacations Hawaii, all checked luggage must be tagged with your own personal identification tag. • You are allowed two pieces of checked luggage with a maximum weight of 50 pounds and maximum dimensions of 62 linear inches (length+width+height). • A fee of $25 will be assessed for each of the first two pieces of checked luggage on each flight segment. Passengers who check in more than two pieces of luggage will be charged $100 per piece for each additional item of checked luggage per each flight segment. • In addition to the checked baggage fees set forth above, Vacations Hawaii may, in its sole discretion, accept oversized or overweight luggage when space is available, subject to the payment of a fee of $100 per piece on each flight segment. Checked baggage that exceeds a maximum outside linear dimension of 62 inches and/or exceeds a maximum weight of 50 pounds constitutes overweight luggage. Items heavier than 70 pounds will not be accepted for transportation. • First Class passengers and Emerald cardholders in Boyd’s B Connected program will be allowed two pieces of checked luggage at no charge, except for oversized and overweight pieces described above, which will be subject to fees. • Styrofoam coolers will not be accepted unless packed within an outside box or container. Special rules and restrictions govern the transport of dry ice.
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SPECIAL NEEDS (Wheelchairs, Oxygen, Oxygen Concentrators) Customers with special needs should make their reservations with Vacations Hawaii as far in advance as possible and should request the special services available to them. Arrangements can be made for special seating and handling at the same time that your charter reservations are made. Wheelchairs are available through the porter service at both Honolulu International Airport and McCarran International Airport for the convenience of passengers. Arrangements can be made in advance to rent wheelchairs for use in Las Vegas. Customers also have the option of taking their own personal wheelchairs with them as checked luggage on the chartered flights. Oxygen can be provided at a cost for any customer who provides Vacations Hawaii with a prescription that has an acceptable flow rate and meets the government’s criteria when the request for oxygen is made. Oxygen concentrators are allowed on the airplane but are subject to restrictions concerning the make and model of the concentrator and the amount of battery-charge available. Consult with a Vacations Hawaii representative for a full description of terms and restrictions.
DEPARTING HONOLULU
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Again, once at Honolulu International Airport, please check in two hours before departure at Lobby 6. A 5 1/2-hour flight will take you from Honolulu to Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport. The charter approaches Las Vegas from the south, giving passengers a clear view of the Strip and Downtown as the plane descends for its landing.
ARRIVING IN LAS VEGAS
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The flight arrives at Terminal 1, where a Vacations Hawaii ground agent will greet you, answer any questions
NEED ASSISTANCE? l If you need any help while you are in Las Vegas, please contact the Duty Escorts at the Vacations Hawaii office in the Main Street Hotel and Casino. Escorts are at the office 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You may also call 702.249.8404 for assistance.
Kikaha
and direct you to the buses that will take you to your hotel. At the hotel, you will be greeted by another agent and proceed to the front desk to retrieve your meal-ticket book and room keys. Your luggage will be brought to your room shortly. During your stay, there are countless ways to stay busy with gaming, shopping, day trips, sightseeing, free shows and more. For a list of some possibilities, contact your hotel’s bell desk representatives.
On the day of your departure, your luggage will be retrieved from your room by the bell desk. You will meet in a designated room and await the buses to take you back to McCarran Airport, Terminal 1. At the terminal, you will need to retrieve your luggage (or use a SkyCap) and take it to the check-in counter. Check in with the Swissport counter agents. There, you will be issued your boarding pass and luggage claim tags and directed to the proper departing gate. Once you arrive at the Honolulu airport, your luggage is typically sent to Baggage Claim E. An announcement will be made in-flight to let you know where to pick up your baggage. <
Passenger Entrance >>>
EXIT
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LAVATORY
2D 3D 4D
2F 3F 4F
7D 7E 7F 8D 8E 8F 9D 9E 9F 10D 10E 10F 11D 11E 11F 12D 12E 12F 14D 15D 16D
EXIT
LEAVING LAS VEGAS
LAVATORY
14E 15E 16E
14F 15F 16F
2H 3H 4H
2K 3K 4K
7H 8H 9H 10H 11H 12H 14H 15H 16H
7K 8K
First Class Rows 1 – 4
9K 10K 11K 12K 14K 15K 16K
Premium Class Rows 7 – 16
LAVATORY
LAVATORY
17H* 17K* 18D 19D 20D 21D 22D 23D 24D 25D 26D 27D 28D 29D 30D 31D 32D 33D 34D 35D 36D
| 1-877-718-8901
Omni Flight Departure & Arrival Information
18E 19E 20E 21E 22E 23E 24E 25E 26E 27E 28E 29E 30E 31E 32E 33E 34E 35E 36E
18F 19F 20F 21F 22F 23F 24F 25F 26F 27F 28F 29F 30F 31F 32F 33F 34F 35F 36F
18H 19H 20H 21H 22H 23H 24H 25H 26H 27H 28H 29H 30H 31H 32H 33H 34H 35H 36H
18K 19K 20K 21K 22K 23K 24K 25K 26K 27K 28K 29K 30K 31K 32K 33K 34K 35K 36K
Coach Class Rows 17 – 36
LAVATORY
Thank You For Choosing Vacations Hawaii! LAS VEGAS BOUND 47
PRO ADVICE
GET THE 411 FROM THE EXPERTS
STAY OR NO STAY Understanding your Medicare Options BY EDWARD Y. MOTOSUE Medicare serves more than 55 million people. In 2015 Hawaii had 244,364 Medicare beneficiaries. Every year during Medicare Open Enrollment Period (also called Annual Election Period) Medicare beneficiaries can add, drop, or switch their Medicare plans. Every year plans change. Medicare health plans and prescription drug plans can make changes each year - cost, coverage, and services. Every year Medicare beneficiaries need to consider their own needs and their budget. Situations change. For every senior, Medicare Open Enrollment Period October 15 - December 7 is an important time of the year. It’s decision making time. Do you stay with your Medicare plan or do you look at your Medicare options?
48 LAS VEGAS BOUND
Understanding your care and options for care is crucial to making healthcare decisions that are right for you. Look around. See what is out there. Look at your “2017 Medicare & You” book which you received in the mail early October. Important Medicare information is on page 128. It lists all the Medicare Health Plans in Hawaii. The chart provides basic information about what your cost will be in each plan. It compares service area, monthly premium, out-of-pocket limits, primary care visit, specialist visit, etc. Medicare beneficiaries can also compare plans by going to Medicare.gov. Click on Medicare plan finder, then compare plans. Sort results by lowest estimated annual health and drug costs. You can compare three plans at a time. You might be surprised. The Medicare Program rates all health and prescription drug plans each year based on a plan’s quality and performance. You can use these Star Ratings to compare plans performance to other plans. This year, do yourself a favor and check out your Medicare options.
Edward Motosue is the President of Financial Benefits Insurance and has over 10 years experience in the Life and Health Insurance industry. 808-792-5194 www.fbihi.com
VEGAS, DISNEY PACKAGES, CRUISES AND SO MUCH MORE WITH
TRAVEL AGENCY DEPARTMENT
FANTASTIC CHARTER PACKAGES FEATURING
BUILD YOUR OWN NON-CHARTER PACKAGE FEATURING
• A wide body 767 aircraft • Non-stop round trip flights to Las Vegas
• Hawaiian, American, Delta and United Airline packages
• Comfortable accommodations at select Boyd Gaming hotels
• Disneyland, San Francisco or Cruise packages with your Las Vegas trip
• Baggage handling and hotel transportation
• Visit the East Coast and stop in Las Vegas
• Three meals per day and more!
• Two through seven night packages at your favorite Boyd Gaming hotel and more!
NFL & UH FOOTBALL PACKAGES
LET OUR TRAVEL AGENCY DEPARTMENT BUILD A PACKAGE FOR YOU! CHARTER DEPARTMENT
TRAVEL AGENCY DEPARTMENT
808-591-4777 or 800-548-8951
808-591-4700 or 800-253-4422
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On Oahu
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@VacationsHawaii
1585 Kapiolani Boulevard, Suite 900, Honolulu, HI 96814
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121488Fnt_VH_LVBAugOut2017_AD_8.375”x10.875”_Bleed .25”_Insertion Date: 6.26.17
o how do you choose the S right senior living community? Fun is important. So is comfort. But what about those deeper questions? Questions like whether our lives will have as much meaning and purpose? We’re the Good Samaritan Society – Pohai Nani, part of the nation’s largest not-for-profit provider of senior care and services. And we’d like to help you answer those deeper questions that belong at the very center of your search.
To learn more about our community in Kane’ohe, call (808) 247-3448.
The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society provides housing and services to qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, disability, familial status, national origin or other protected statuses according to applicable federal, state or local laws. All faiths or beliefs are welcome. Copyright © 2014 The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society. All rights reserved.