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High-profile speakers trade popular conference for picket line

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High-profile speakers trade popular conference for picket line


HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Several high-profile guests invited to a forum of Hawaii’s top women leaders canceled Friday because of the ongoing workers strike at the venue.

U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii, was supposed to be inside the Hilton Hawaiian Village, speaking at the annual Wahine Forum.

She chose not to attend, saying she had to stand with striking hotel workers.

“I don’t care how great a conference it is in there — and it really is a great conference — but the future of Hawaii, to me, what we mean when we say we support workers and families, it’s right out here on the picket line,” Tokuda said.

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Thousands of Local 5 unionized Hilton Hawaiian employees, everyone from housekeepers to restaurant workers, have now been on strike for nearly three weeks. They want wage and staff increases, and say they won’t give up until they have an agreement.

Related story: Striking Hilton Hawaiian Village workers could set standard for hotel industry

“How can we talk about elevating and supporting women and families when they’re right out here?” Tokuda said. “Right out here, marching and fighting for the most basic thing, like the fact that one job should be enough, but more importantly, for a hard day’s work, they should be fairly paid.”

Hawaii Business Magazine sponsors the forum. We’ve reached out for comment on the cancellations.

A group of invited guests who also skipped the event told us the fight for workers’ rights is also a fight for women’s rights.

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State Rep. Della Au Belatti, D-Makiki, Punchbowl, said, “We must act in solidarity. We have only gotten here today as the state with the best health care in the nation because of what we did collectively.”

Deborah Zysman, Hawaii Children’s Action Network executive director, said, “We fight for families, and we fight for what’s important for all of our keiki, and we were not going to cross that picket line. I reached out to many, many others, and also told them to not go inside.”

Honolulu City Council member Radiant Cordero also joined the picket line to support the union and her family.

“Not only did I used to work at Sheraton Waikiki and the Royal Hawaiian, but my brother also works at Hilton Hawaiian and struggles to make a living,” Cordero said, choking back tears. “So he has struggles, not only just with the job he has, but also just being on strike.”

Hilton previously said that it’s “committed to reach a fair and reasonable agreement” for the workers.

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The union’s supporters say it needs to happen soon.

Congresswoman Tokuda said, “It is about standing in solidarity with our workers and our labor unions, saying enough is enough, let’s get them back to work. Let’s get them a fair contract.”



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Hawaii Island asks for the public’s assistance finding elderly woman, Jacquelyn Glenn

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Hawaii Island asks for the public’s assistance finding elderly woman, Jacquelyn Glenn


HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii Island police are renewing their request for the public’s assistance in locating 82-year-old Jacquelyn Glenn of Kailua-Kona, who was reported missing by her family.

Police said she is considered endangered due to her age.

Glenn was last seen on Friday, Dec. 5, around 6:37 a.m., on the 75-200 block of Nani Kailua Dr. in Kailua-Kona.

She was wearing a peach-colored shirt, blue denim jeans, and black tennis shoes. She reportedly mentioned going to Hilo with friends, but did not say when she planned to return.

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She is described as 5′6″, 125 Ibs, with curly grey hair and brown eyes.

Police ask anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jacquelyn Glenn to call the Hawaii Police Department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.



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Hawaii gets nearly $190 million for rural health care | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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Hawaii gets nearly 0 million for rural health care | Honolulu Star-Advertiser




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Hawaiian announces $600 million airport, wide-body upgrades | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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Hawaiian announces 0 million airport, wide-body upgrades | Honolulu Star-Advertiser


COURTESY HAWAIIAN AIRLINES

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Hawaiian Airlines today announced an investment of more than $600 million over five years to improve airport passenger areas across the state and interior upgrades to widebody aircraft.

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Hawaiian Airlines CEO Diana Birkett Rakow told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser ahead of today’s announcement at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport that other improvements will include better apps, a better website that will make it easier for passengers to change flights, among other things that also include better integration with Alaska Airlines, which acquired Hawaiian in 2024, making it a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group.

“We have pushed a lot of change through the system for the last couple of months,” Rakow said. “We’re working on integrating our ticketing systems because right now we’re on two separate ticketing systems that don’t talk to each other.”

After late April, she said, booking on the shared Alaska Air and Hawaiian Air ticketing system “will be much more seamless.”

In announcing the renovations and changes, Hawaiian pledged “a significantly smoother guest experience … once Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines share the same passenger service system and Hawaiian Airlines joins the oneworld alliance, both scheduled for late April.”

Right now, Rakow acknowledged, “unfortunately there is some friction.”

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“There’s been so many changes and all of that friction is really painful,” she said. “We are committed to making sure we are addressing the issues. … We are certainly not perfect, but we are committed to working together. … Really, after April, it is going to improve significantly.”

Each island airport also will see renovated lobbies and gates designed to increase comfort, provide better seating and amenities such as improved power charging.

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Daniel K. Inouye International also will get a new 10,600-square-foot lounge at the entrance of the Mauka Concourse in Terminal 1.

And starting in 2028, Hawaiian’s wide-body Airbus A330s will get new seats, carpets, lighting, business class suites, a Bluetooth-enabled in-flight entertainment system with high-definition screens and free Starlink Wi-Fi.

Gov. Josh Green said in a statement ahead of today’s announcement that, “Hawaiian Airlines’ investment is exactly the kind of long-term commitment Hawaiʻi needs. Modern, welcoming airports improve the experience for residents and visitors alike, strengthen our economy and keep Hawaiʻi competitive as a global destination. We appreciate Hawaiian Airlines’ partnership in advancing workforce development, regenerative tourism, clean energy, and community programs that reflect the values of our islands.”

The New Year began with a .75% increase in Hawaii’s Transient Accommodations Tax that will help the state fight climate change.

Rakow said that Hawaiian is working to better inform inbound passengers about how to respect Hawaii’s culture and environment.

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Hawaiian said it will continue to support “programs promoting regenerative tourism, culture and conservation.”

The airline also said it will fund grants to nonprofit organizations “promoting cultural programs, environmental preservation, and perpetuation of native Hawaiian art and language through the Alaska Airlines | Hawaiian Airlines Foundation.”




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