HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Hawaii Tourism Authority is hosting its annual conference at the Hawaii Convention Center this week with an emphasis on responsible tourism as much of the industry works to change how incoming visitors impact the state.

“It’s a great time for us to regroup as an industry, get our messaging clear, figure out how we can collaborate and really make sure that tourism is working for our communities and not against our communities,” said Tamara Garrick from the Hawaii Farm Project.

HTA has planned workshops and breakout sessions with presenters like Garrick who are elevating a message of regenerative tourism across the state.

“There’s a big focus on agritourism, which is super exciting for me and the companies I represent like Maui Gold Pineapple. It’s also about taking a pause and taking a moment for us as an industry, to all come together to talk about the message we want to get out to visitors?,” added Garrick.

The conference runs through Sept. 2 at the Hawaii Convention Center.

Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

The Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) girls volleyball season continued over the weekend across the island. Most teams have reached the midway point of their regular season slates.

• • •

Kona 3, MLCA 0

Konawaena girls volleyball hosted its second consecutive Saturday match inside Ellison Onizuka Gymnasium — this time against local opponent Makua Lani Christian Academy. Much like a week ago against Honoka‘a, the Wildcats handled business quickly against the visiting Lions.

Kona beat MLCA in straight sets — 25-14, 25-11 and 25-8. With the win, the Wildcats (10-1) became the second team on the island to reach double-digit wins. Their next test will be up against DII powerhouse Parker on Saturday in Waimea. The last time the two teams met, the Bulls won in five sets.

The Lions (0-11) will also next face Parker at 3 p.m. Wednesday inside Waimea District Park Gymnasium, beginning with junior varsity.

JV:Kona wins 2-0 — 25-9, 25-7.

• • •

Hilo 3, Waiakea 2

Hilo girls volleyball outlasted local rival Waiakea in five sets Friday in Hilo.

The Warriors won the opening set 25-20, but the Vikings quickly evened things up with a 25-17 second-frame victory. Hilo won set No. 3 again 25-23, but Waiakea stayed alive in the fourth set to win 25-19.

In the decisive fifth frame, the Vikings closed things out in a 15-11 win.

With the impressive match victory, Hilo moved to 7-1 in 2024 — third in BIIF Division I. The Warriors fell to 8-3 and are placed fourth in their division.

The Vikings will next play Kea‘au at 5 p.m. Tuesday on the road. Waiakea will drive south to Kea‘au to play the Christian Liberty Canefire at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

• • •

KSH 3, Kea‘au 0

Kamehameha Schools-Hawai‘i girls volleyball traveled across Kea‘au Village to dance with the Cougars in a Friday match on the road. The Warriors made the trip worthwhile, sweeping Kea‘au in consecutive sets — 25-11, 25-19 and 25-15.

KSH continues to be the island’s top team in 2024, now moving to 12-0 on the season. With three matches remaining on the Warriors’ regular season slate, the team has won in straight sets in 11 of their 12 matches. KSH will look to keep it going against Ka Umeke at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Hilo.

The Cougars fell to 4-7 and remain at the bottom of the BIIF DI standings. They’ll also play Tuesday, hosting DI opponent Hilo at 5 p.m. Junior varsity plays first.

Other matches

West Hawaii Today and Hawaii Tribune-Herald could not obtain results from the following weekend matches by Monday’s deadline. If any readers have official scores, please email clangs@westhawaiitoday.com:

• 9/27 Ehunui at Honoka‘a

• 9/27 Pahoa at Ka Umeke

Kris Kristofferson has died peacefully at home in Hawaii.

The country music star and actor passed away on Saturday (28.09.24) at the age of 88 – three years after he retired from the entertainment business – at his property in Maui and he’s been remembered by his family in an emotional statement posted on Instagram.

It read: “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news our husband/father/grandfather, Kris Kristofferson, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 28 at home.

“We’re all so blessed for our time with him. Thank you for loving him all these many years, and when you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all.”

The statement was signed from the “Family of Kris Kristofferson”, and it added: “The family asks for privacy during this time.”

Kris is survived by his wife Lisa, his eight children and seven grandchildren.

He was also remembered by superstar Barbra Streisand, who starred alongside him in the 1976 version of ‘A Star Is Born’.

In a post on Instagram, she wrote: “The first time I saw Kris performing at the Troubadour club in L.A. I knew he was something special. Barefoot and strumming his guitar, he seemed like the perfect choice for a script I was developing, which eventually became ‘A Star Is Born’.

In the movie, Kris and I sang the song I’d written for the film’s main love theme, ‘Evergreen’.

“For my latest concert in 2019 at London’s Hyde Park, I asked Kris to join me on-stage to sing our other ‘A Star Is Born duet’, ‘Lost Inside Of You’.

“He was as charming as ever, and the audience showered him with applause. It was a joy seeing him receive the recognition and love he so richly deserved.

“My thoughts go to Kris’ wife, Lisa who I know supported him in every way possible.”

He was also remembered by fellow country star Dolly Parton, who performed several duets with Kristofferson over the years.

In a post on social media, Dolly wrote: “What a great loss. What a great writer. What a great actor. What a great friend. I will always love you, Dolly.”

Born in Texas in 1936, he went to school in California and later studied literature at college and at Oxford University in the UK where he made his first foray into music, recording tracks under the name Kris Carson.

However, his songs were never released and after university he joined the US armed services and served as a helicopter pilot before leaving in 1965 and moving to Nashville, Tennessee where he continued to chase his dream of music stardom.

After first working as a janitor at Columbia Recording Studios, he wrote songs for Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Stevens, Faron Young and Billy Walker, but his solo career faltered until his music came to the attention of country superstar Johnny Cash after Kristofferson landed a helicopter in the singer’s backyard.

Cash recorded his track ‘Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down’ and made it a huge award-winning hit and it led to Kristofferson recording his first album.

Other artists who scored hits covering his songs included Janis Joplin – who Kristofferson briefly dated prior to her death in 1970. Her version of his song ‘Me and Bobby McGee’ became a number one in the US after she passed away.

He went on to win a Grammy Award for ‘Help Me Make It Through the Night’ which was a hit for Sammi Smith and has been covered by stars including Elvis Presley, Gladys Knight and Mariah Carey.

Kristofferson ventured into acting in the early 1970s, appearing opposite Dennis Hopper in 1971’s ‘The Last Movie’ as well as in ‘Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid’ in 1973 and in Martin Scorsese’s ‘Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore’ in 1974 before his status in Hollywood was cemented by his turn in ‘A Star Is Born’ in 1976.

He continued making movies and music and in 1985 he formed supergroup the Highwaymen with Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings.

While in movies, he starred in ‘Lone Star’ in 1996, three ‘Blade’ movies playing vampire hunter Abraham Whistler opposite Wesley Snipes and 2009 ensemble movie ‘He’s Just Not That Into You’.

His last movie role came in 2018’s ‘Blaze’ directed by Ethan Hawke.

Kristofferson recorded 18 studio albums over the years and retired in 2021.

He was married three times – to Fran Beer, singer Rita Coolidge who he released duets album ‘Full Moon’ with and lastly to Lisa Meyers. The couple tied the knot in 1983 and welcomed five children together. He was also dad to three other kids from his two previous marriages.