Hawaii’s Olympians

Unless you’ve been living under a rock the last couple weeks you’ve probably been following the Olympics like I have. Due to Wyland’s involvement with the U.S. Olympic team, he created the “Faster, Higher, Stronger” art piece for the team and we’ve been proudly showing it on our TV’s in the lobby all day long.  Personally I love the Olympics, especially the Track & Field events since that was my sport in high school and college.

I thought it would be interesting for some of you out there to know how Hawaii is contributing to the Olympics. Some of Hawaii’s Olympians were born and raised in Hawaii, while others came to Hawaii to compete for our university and have gone on to represent their home countries. It really is amazing when you think about all the athletes these islands have produced, considering the state only has a population of around 1.3 million people.

Here is a list of our Olympians this year alone:

Brandon Brooks, Honolulu, Water Polo; Robyn AhMow-Santos, Honolulu, Volleyball; Lindsey Berg, Honolulu, Volleyball; Bryan Clay, Kane’ohe, Decathlon (World Champion); Lefke Van Belkum, University of Hawaii, Volleyball, The Netherlands; Stacey Porter, University of Hawaii, Softball, Australia; Natasha Kai, Kahuku, Soccer; Clay Stanley, Honolulu, Volleyball; Heather Brown, University of Hawaii, Volleyball; Daniel Coakley, Makapala, Swimming, Philipines; Jared Heine, Honolulu, Swimming; Marshall Islands; Beth Arnoult, Pa’ia, Wheelchair Tennis; Meike De Nooy, University of Hawaii, Water Polo, The Netherlands; Kim Willoughby, University of Hawaii, Volleyball; Taylor Takata, Wahiawa, Judo; Anju Jason, Salt Lake, Taekwondo; Christel Simms, Ewa Beach, Swimming, Philippines; Justine Smethurst, University of Hawaii, Softball, Australia, Clarissa Chun, Kapolei, Wrestling.

Not bad representation.

~RG

Double Upgrade Offer Means Great Time For A Vacation

I warned you that there may be some commercial posts here every now and then. This is a blog about my hotel afterall, so I’m entitled to a few, right?  Good news is, this commercial is packed with some great info for you so thanks for hearing me out!

There is no better time to come to Hawaii than this fall! Why? First, there are some pretty good airfares out there right now and two, because I just implemented a “Double Upgrade Special” which includes a full breakfast for two! That coupled with our already great value means you can enjoy The Wyland Waikiki and all the Oahu has to offer for and incredible price!

All you need to do is book a category that the special is offered in and receive a TWO CATEGORY UPGRADE! For example, if you book a kitchenette category room, you will be upgraded to a one-bedroom suite. Is that sweet or what?!

The Wy Bar

So what are you waiting for? Contact your travel provider or go directly to The Wyland Waikiki website to book your fall vacation now!

~RG

C&K 35th Anniversary Concert Sold Out, But We Have Tickets!

The year was 1976 and my good friend Steve McIntyre, his girlfriend Kim (now Mrs. McIntyre), my girlfriend and I headed to the Golden Bear Saloon in Huntington Beach, California (which is no longer there) to see a group known as C&K (aka Cecilio and Kapono).  Steve had spent summer school at the University of Hawaii and fell in love with their music.  I had never been to Hawaii at that point, but Steve brought back some albums (yes vinyl) and the music was great!  So when they toured California we always made a point to go see them…and today they are still one of my favorite artists!

So I am really excited that we get to be a part of their upcoming sold out 35th Anniversary Concert at The Waikiki Shell on Saturday, August 23. The “Back in the Day” concert is one of the hardest tickets to get next weekend, but since The Wyland Waikiki is the official hotel sponsor of the concert, we’ve got tickets for our lucky kamaaina (Hawaii resident) guests. Did I mention we’re giving them away FREE!?

HERE’S HOW TO QUALIFY
Simply book a room at The Wyland Waikiki between now and the end of the year at the special kamaaina rate of $109/night (plus tax) and you will be entered into a drawing to win a pair of VIP tickets to the concert (including backstage passes to meet C&K). Winners will be selected on Thursday, August 21 so make sure you book soon. For reservations, call 1-866-346-4679.

To get you in the mood, here’s a clip from YouTube of C&K performing one of my favorites songs of all time, “Sunflower.”

Those already with tickets to the show, CONGRATULATIONS. This should be one of the best concerts of the year. I’ll see you there!

~RG

Duke’s Oceanfest Celebrates Hawaiian Waterman

The Outrigger Duke’s OceanFest is set to take place August 17-24 right here in the waters of Waikiki.  The festival will feature all types of water competitions, however, the main objectives are to honor Duke Kahanamoku’s legacy, provide a Waikiki watersports celebration for residents and visitors to enjoy, and raise funds for the ODKF’s college scholarship and athletic grants program. You can check out the Duke Kahanamoku Foundation website for complete schedule of events.

For those who may not know, Duke is revered as the “Father of International Surfing” and Hawaii’s greatest athlete, winning six Olympic medals-including three swimming gold medals between 1912 to 1932 (there could of been more but the 1916 Olympic games were cancelled due to WWI).  He was the first person inducted into both the International Swimming Hall of Fame (1965) and the International Surfing Hall of Fame (1966).

Duke Kahanamoku statue fronting Kuhio Beach in Waikiki.

Duke honed his legendary waterman skills off Waikiki Beach and brought worldwide attention to the islands with his incredible exploits and charismatic warmth as Hawaii’s “Ambassador of Aloha.”

Duke with Johnny Weissmuller who were competitors and friends.

Hope you’ll come out to support the Duke’s Oceanfest. I’ll see you in the water!

~RG

The Place to be Seen

The Wyland Waikiki is truly becoming one of the places to be seen in the Honolulu social community!  This past Friday we hosted our 2nd Art on the Avenue party with two new upcoming artist; Carl Lindstrom and Kristie Fujiyama Kosmides.

Kristie Painting on a Keoki Surfboard

Carl painting on Keoki surfboard

Thanks to master surfboard shaper and Resident Director of Surfing for The Wyland Waikiki Carl and Kristie were able to put their artistic creations on two of Keoki’s boards.

The event was actually almost a week long program with a well attended cocktail and pupu party on Friday night.  It was a great time by all and once again The Wyland Waikiki showed what a great place it is to throw a party!

So stay tuned for more events!

~RG

My Not-So Conventional “Ride”

A general manager of a hotel is considered to be something of a high profile job.  You are very active in community events, social gatherings, and business entities, not to mention your responsibilities in and around the hotel.  To most high profile business people, cars are important part of their personality or image.  Lexus, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, etc. are cars that you see a lot of in these circles. As for me, I was able to find my dream car a little over a year ago. A 1968 Volkswagen Bus.

My 1968 VW Bus

For those of you who may not know what a classic VW van looks like, you might recognize them in movies such as Scooby Doo (the Mystery Machine!) and Little Miss Sunshine. Furthermore, it is often identified as one of the most popular vehicles during the hippie era of the 60s and 70s, during which many anti-war activists replaced the VW sign with peace symbols and used their own creativity to paint murals on their vans.

To me it personifies the surf culture in which I am entrenched in.  It’s great for loading my boards in the back and I keep all my surf gear in the van just in case the surf comes up.  I have a wide selection of music I play (loudly) such as classic rock ‘n roll, surf music like Dick Dale, Ventures, Surfaris, Beach Boys and Aqua Velvets to name a few.

It’s evident that Volkswagen is a popular brand in the Hawaii too! On the popular photo website Flickr.com, there’s even a group called “Hawaiian Island VW Scene.” I guess it’s time for me to join them.

Are any of you VW van fanatics or a happy VW owner? I’d love to hear your feedback and experiences.

~RG

When there’s no surf on the North Shore…

…I’m probably surfing on the other side of the island. But every now and then it happens. You get to the motherland of all big wave surfing to find there’s no surf. Even if that’s the case, there’s still plenty of fun to be had on Oahu’s North Shore. A day in the country is never a bad thing, so between exploring historic Haleiwa Town, all the mom and pop shops, and absorbing the surf culture and lifestyle, he’s some other things to consider:

• If you looking for a thrill, Soar Hawaii at Dillingham Airfield will take you high into the sky for a 30-mile view of the North Shore. I haven’t done this yet, but my brother did and he described it as very surreal.  All you hear is the wind and you feel like you are touching the heavens.
• For the ultimate thrill seeker, Pacific Skydiving Center in Mokuleia is the answer. No better way to take in some fresh Hawaii air than by jumping out of a plane thousands of feet with a parachute on your back.  I can’t explain the rush you get when you jump out of a perfectly good airplane at about 12,000 feet and free fall for about 60 seconds at over 100 miles an hour!  At what’s really cool is they play music in the plane on the way up…guess what we were listening to?  Eric Clapton’s “Knocking on Heaven’s Door”.
• For the more laid back travelers looking for something different, consider checking out the Hawaii Polo Club at Dillingham Ranch, where matches are played every Sunday through October.
• And after a long day on the North Shore, the best way to finish it off is with a giant plate of shrimp from one of the many shrimp trucks that line the roads in Kahuku.

If these don’t work for you, then play photographer and take a leisurely drive along the coastline. The scenery is stunning!!!

~RG

Play These Nine Oahu Golf Courses

George Szigeti, me, and Ron Cloutier at the Hale Aina Ohana Golf Tournament. Photo courtesy of MidWeek.

When I’m not working or surfing, one of my favorite hobbies and stress-relievers is playing golf! You could could say I’m a fanatic, but with so many courses to choose from on Oahu and great year-round weather in Hawaii, it’s hard not to be one. The islands have always been a popular destination for golfers, and to help some of you decide on which to play the next time you have a chance, I’m sharing nine of my favorite golf courses on Oahu with you.

1. Makaha West - Challenging course with a great layout, but forgiving. Tucked back into Makaha Valley with beautiful views of the Waianae Mountain Range.
2. Palmer Course at Turtle Bay Resort - Designed by Arnold Palmer and home to Champions Tour event.  Beautiful golf course along the ocean on the North Shore.  When the wind is blowing off the ocean you’ll need to go down a couple of clubs to get it there!
3. Ewa Beach Golf Club - Great layout with lot’s of trees. The course is always in immaculate condition.
4. Coral Creek Golf Course - Nice layout and very forgiving.
5. Kapolei Golf Club - Forgiving course but watch out when the trades kick up. Makes it very challenging.
6. Koolau Golf Club - Rated one of the toughest golf courses in North America. Bring lots of balls and a camera. The views of the Koolau Mountains are spectacular.
7. Luana Hills Country Club - Short and tight, leave your driver in the bag.  And look out for T-Rex, makes you feel like you are in a Jurassic Park movie.
8. Ala Wai Golf Course - This muni is just steps from Waikiki and literally THE busiest golf course in America. You can go up to the starter as a single and usually get on pretty quickly. Flat and open, you can shoot low scores here and the price is right.
9. Hawaii Kai Golf Club - Nice layout and some nice views of Koko Head Crater and the ocean.  Plus it’s five minutes from my house!

Did I miss any of your favorite courses on Hawaii? Feel free to post them in the comments and I’ll be sure to add them to my list!

~RG

2×2 Art on the Avenue THE party to be at this Friday

Wyland Waikiki General Manager Robin Graf, Kristie Fujiyama Kosmides, Wyland, and Carl Lindstrom. Kristie and Carl are the featured artists at Art on the Avenue.

The Wyland Waikiki is THE place to be this Friday, August 8, as we celebrate 2×2 Art on the Avenue from 6-9 p.m. with special artist guests Carl Lindstrom and Kristie Fujiyama Kosmides. For those who came to our first AOA event back in January, you know we throw a pretty damn good party!

The event is a one-off promotion featuring the photographic art of Carl and abstract paintings by Kristie, both emerging artists in the Los Angeles art scene. Lindstrom is known for his award-winning photography and photographic installations, while Kosmides is regarded for her ethereal abstract works.  Both artists have Hawaii ties with Lindstrom being a stand-out product of the art program at the University of Hawaii, and Kosmides working/producing pieces from both her studio in Hilo and Los Angeles.

The Wyland Waikiki has teamed up with Justin Yoshino of Partymasters Hawaii to put on Art on the Avenue, a signature event series at the hotel gathering the “who’s who” in Honolulu and mixing in great art, delicious food, and extraordinary wine and spirits. We invite you to celebrate with us. Here’s the details:

2×2 Art on the Avenue
Friday, August 8 / 6-9 p.m.
The Wyland Waikiki
400 Royal Hawaiian Avenue (corner of Royal Hawaiian and Kuhio)
Cost: $30 per person (includes appetizer buffet by Spada Restaurant and Bar, wine tasting (10 wines) and complimentary bar hosted by Stoli Blackberry, Kahlua Mocha, and American Honey).
Get on the Guest List: Contact Justin Yoshino (Partymasters Hawaii) at justin@marketadvantageinc.net or call 808-478-2985.
Attire: Dress to impress.
Parking: Valet parking available for $3.
Directions: Click here for directions to the hotel.

Last but certainly not least, a big mahalo to Tracy Larrua of Poi Planet for securing the artist and the hard work in making this event possible.

~RG

Wyland’s Next Big Project: 100 Sculptures

What could Wyland possibly do to top his completion of 100 whaling walls around the world?  Well, 100 marine sculptures of course.

The marine-life artist dropped by The Wyland Waikiki today and held a press conference to talk about his next big public art project. With his 100 whaling wall recently completed in Beijing, China as part of the 2008 Olympics, today Wyland announced he is going to be creating 100 marine sculptures in 100 cities around the world over the next 25 years. Don’t believe me? Watch the video below.

As he said today, his first sculpture titled “Higher, Faster, Stronger” in China means he’s only got 99 left to go. If anyone can successfully complete a huge endeavor like this, Wyland certainly can. But before he gets on to the next project, Wyland (also the official Olympic Artist) is heading back to Beijing to participate in the opening ceremonies on 8/8/08. What a life!

But even though I won’t be at the Olympics, one additional comment made by Wyland today made me think my life in Hawaii isn’t too shabby either. A journalist asked him what China’s air quality was like during his time there. Response in the video below:

Like the saying goes, “LUCKY WE LIVE HAWAII!”

~RG