Also, both Uncle Bill and Uncle Emery of security got married. We wish them all the best.
Managers Message - August 2010
Aloha!
Well, it has been a very busy month here at Hanalei Bay and there are a lot of people at the resort who have helped accomplish our goals. Teamwork is the resort’s strength that has helped us through a very busy month. I’d like to send out a big Mahalo to the entire staff for chipping in and helping out in different departments. The bell staff helped shuttle pool towels to be washed and dried in a timely manner when we were running short, due the number of large number of families at the resort; the front desk handed unexpected shifts in schedules to cover co-workers’ vacations and sick time; and housekeeping put in extra effort for our special-needs guests. We have a wonderful staff and just wanted them to be recognized.
A few things you should know
If these awards don’t tell you this place is special, I don’t know what will.
Resort Updates
Grounds & Maintenance
- We are adjusting all units to have hot water heaters set at 125 degrees to help lower electricity costs.
- We are currently looking for a reliable carpet installer to replace old brown carpet with the new green-style carpeting currently in storage.
- We have started to replace two of the spotted mirrors in the units with new glass and frames.
- We have a new fitness center that will be operated by Kauai Bodywork. It is located in the Aikane room, and includes a new floor, paint, and exercise equipment. We are very proud to announce that we are now offering yoga classes in the fitness center and around the property as well.
- Staff put railings under the walkways in Bali Hai Restaurant to prevent any safety issues, and they painted the new façade and the lower terrace area located by the new fitness center and Simply Sundry store.
- We completed a roof walk on the 9000 & 5000 buildings, which included cleaning the gutters and removing growth from downed trees.
- We are working on gathering a bid to bundle the Internet, phone and cable services into one submersible system that can withstand Kauai’s weather. Also, we are looking for a way to get a WiFi area for the resort.
- We have begun to repair our ventilation units in the attics, and to install noise-deadening devices on those that are a bit loud. We have been cleaning out all the dryer vents as well.
- The night maintenance person is doing energy check audits on unoccupied units to save energy costs.
- The dents in copper caps at the front entrance have been fixed.
- We have installed a fence around the 3000 building to prevent any trespassers from coming onto the property to see the day’s surf conditions. Sorry dudes.
- We have finished the herb garden area located behind the tennis court office, so guests may pick their own fresh herbs for cooking.
- We completed a letter of authorization to have local artists’ music played in our lobby. Two CDs from an employee’s father, who is a popular slack-key guitarist in Hilo, have been secured (thanks Ben in Maintenance!), and we have made calls to the McMaster’s as well (also popular slack-key musicians on Kauai).
- The rooster round-up netted 17 birds; we have talked to the grounds crew about relocating more roosters.
- We completed landscaping of the islands in the pool area, and have completely redone the kiddie pool area.
- Paper bark trees are still being removed in approved locations. We are concentrating on the 1000 & 2000 areas.
- We have added 15 new orchids for our “Adopt-an-Orchid” program.
- We have a new wedding coordinator for the resort, Diana Gardner. Her info is now on our website, and you can reach her at 808-823-0077.
- To accommodate a large number of guests, we have ordered additional pool towels as a backup. The old green ones are discontinued, so we ordered some new ones similar to the Cliffs’ towels, only with green stripes. They are a little bigger and a lot softer. We hope you enjoy them.
- The 2nd quarter picnic for the staff was held at the BBQ area by the tennis shop.
Front Desk & Housekeeping
- We have received the order for a large shipment of linen to start rebuilding stock pars.
- We are in the process of ordering 300-thread-count sheets for the units.
- We have begun to look at better quality amenities for our guests and are doing cost comparisons to keep our vendors honest.
- We continue to ask owners at VOA meetings about turning down the mid-week cleaning.
- Emergency maps have been posted in the units, as well as a reminder to “Please turn the power off when leaving.”
- We have purchased more pillows to make sure we have at least one extra pillow in all the VOA units. We will be taking that number up to two soon.
- We continue to push for owners to take advantage of bonus time, both at the front desk and at VOA meetings.
- We rolled out the new “Adopt-a-Timeshare” program – this program will allow owners to adopt (or give up for adoption) a timeshare interval, and join a group of other interested adopters/adoptees. Please email sarahp@tradingplaces.com for more information.
- New owner testimonials are being recorded at VOA meetings.
Staff
Birthdays: Terri Lynn Makanani
| Anniversaries: |
| Ben Kaili III | 3 years |
| Fernando Tagalicud | 5 years |
| Lopito Parong | 16 years |
| Thelma Parong | 16 years |
| Annabel Ragasa | 25 years |
Happenings:
- Lopito Parong (Housekeeping) & Mavi Conant (Front Desk) were named our Employees of the Quarter. A big Mahalo goes out to them both. Lopito and Mavi were given their awards at our 2nd quarter employee picnic.
- Toby Bento, Hanalei Bay Grounds Supervisor, caught a 237-lb tuna and supplied the entire resort staff and guests with some grade-A Ahi at a discounted rate. Thanks Toby!
- The St. Regis recently held a Jazz Fest – It was fantastic entertainment for all of our guests.
- The latest chicken round-up netted 13 birds and 11 chicks, all of which were relocated to a farm in the mountains.
Recipe of the Month: Lava Flow
In a tall glass, add 1-part rum and 2 oz. of strawberry daiquiri mix. Blend your favorite frozen pina colada mix, and pour in the glass to make the “flow effect.” Garnish with pineapple. Enjoy!
Quote of the Month: “You add value to people when you value them” - John C. Maxwell
Mahalo for all your support.
Scott Pacer
Resort General Manager
Managers Message - July 2010
Aloha & Welcome to Hanalei Bay Resort!
In order to improve communication with our valued guests and owners, I would like to start by providing you with a resort update every month. Just as we Hanalei Bay owners have our own independence, it is fitting for our first general manager’s letter to come out in July, just in time for Independence Day. There have been so many exciting things happening at the resort since you, the owners, assumed control of our operation. We would like to send out a big Mahalo to you for giving our staff back all their seniority. The “Aloha Spirit” in my staff is back like it has never been before.
As of October 2009, both boards hired Trading Places International to manage Hanalei Bay Resort. Trading Places currently oversees more than 55,000 timeshare owners at over 30 resort locations in Hawaii, Mexico, South America, and the mainland United States. They provide full-service resort management, timeshare exchange, association administration, and travel agency services.
MANAGEMENT & RESORT UPDATES
Board Members (AOAO & VOA)
This is the first time in our history that the owners and your board are in control of the operation of the resort. There are two associations: The Apartment of Association Owners (AOAO) and the Vacation Owner Association (VOA).
Website
For meeting minutes and other resort updates, please visit this websites Owner's Corner.
*Important!* This is where we will be communicating everything that is going on with our resort. Visit frequently for the most up-to-date information about Hanalei Bay.
VOA Rooms
A committee has been created for the renovation of the VOA rooms. We have already shown the units to a few architects and design teams, who will come up with prospective bids for the room remodeling. They will continue to work with us until we have a better idea of where we want to go with the remodel.
Testimonials
A section for guest comments has been added to the Hanalei Bay website. Owners staying at the resort can write testimonials of what is actually happening at Hanalei Bay during their vacation, and leave them at the front desk to be posted on the website. Contact the front desk for more information.
> Go to Testimonials
Additional Charges at Check-In*
- All VOA owners and guests are paying a check-in fee of $25 per reservation or per stay if occupying the same unit.
- All VOA owners and guests are paying Hawaii TAT tax.
- All timeshare exchangers are paying a $5/night energy surcharge, TAT tax, and the $25 check-in fee.
- Celebrity rental guests are paying a $25 cleaning fee, $25 check-in fee and $5-per-night energy surcharge.
*These charges occurring are to ensure that the people that are actually using the resort are the ones paying the check-in fees, and that owners are not having it budgeted into maintenance fees, as in the past. This will help provide a true number to work with come budget time.
Staff
- After the management change, the boards approved restoring seniority for all employees.
- Plans are being developed in each department to improve organized tasks, guest services, and safety, and we have been researching ideas to bring our resort back to a higher standard.
- New tools have been purchased for our ground crew to improve their efficiency (they were bringing in tools from home!).
- New uniforms were purchased for all the employees.
- Dan Hurd has been hired as the new maintenance manager.
- We began an “Employee Recognition Program,” where comments from guests and owners provide 50% of the vote for the Employees of the Quarter. Employees of the 1st Quarter are Kaipo Kaleikini (Bellman) and Loring Rowe (Maintenance). Congratulations!
> Go to Employees of the Quarter
ROOMS, COMMON AREAS, ETC.
Main Goals
- “No More Band-Aids” and “Moving Forward.”
Renovation
- We have brand new pool furniture for both the upper and lower pools.
- At the lower pool, two new grills have been installed, and the entire outdoor kitchen in the BBQ area has been rebuilt.
- There is a new BBQ area at the Tennis Pro Shop.
Conservation
We are paying the highest energy rate in the states. We encourage all guests to conserve energy. We have changed all the bulbs on the property to a lower wattage to save some costs.
Maintenance
- We have a brand new spa heater, and all plumbing issues in the pool room have been fixed.
- The stairwells in the Banana and Ginger buildings have been repaired.
Housekeeping
- The housekeeping washers and dryers have been repaired.
- Light mid-week cleaning service is back! We re-hired four maids in order to resume our mid-week cleaning.
Landscape
- Coconut and tree trimming on property has been completed (as per our tree trimming schedule).
On-Site Services
- We have purchased four electric golf carts from the Makai golf course.
- There is a new vacation services desk located in the lobby to help you set up all of your exchange needs; call 800-365-7605, ext. 5701.
- New exercise equipment has been purchased for the fitness center! A treadmill, bicycle and an elliptical machine have been installed for your enjoyment. Also, Kauai Bodywork runs yoga and qigong classes daily for $15/person.
- A new wedding events manager was hired to bring more weddings back to HBR.
- Adopt-an-Orchid Program: You buy the orchid – we hang it where you want on the property! So far, we have hung over 50 orchids, making our resort even more beautiful, so imagine what it will look like with 500!!
Around the Resort
- The Makai golf course has re-opened, complete with a new style of grass created in Hawaii.
- The Prince Golf course is working in partnership with HBR to give our owners a special rate of $155, including Taylor Made club rentals. On Thursdays, they offer a 9-hole scramble that our guests can play as well.
- The restaurant at the Prince Club House will be shut down for remodeling. A new Roy’s restaurant will be going into that area.
- There are three movies being filmed in the area. Stars George Clooney and Adam Sandler are among those starring in the films, and the next installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is being shot here on our North shore. Some of our staff auditioned to be extras, so we will keep you posted if they were chosen.
Future Projects
- A new BBQ area between the Bougainvillea and Hibiscus buildings (so all you 1-BR owners don’t have to worry about your food getting cold by the time you walk back!)
- Installing a thatched roof over the pool bar, and moving Capt. Jon’s grill area underneath.
- A solution for all cable, telephone, and Internet service to rooms.
- Obtaining bids for repair of the maintenance departments roof and carport area.
- Playing local artists’ music at the front desk area for all our guests to enjoy and to be made available for purchase.
- And, of course, aiding in the sale of the restaurants.
Quote of the Month
“People hear what we say, but they see what we do, and seeing is believing.” – Al Lucia
On behalf of the managers and staff, I would like to give all of the owners our sincere Mahalo for your tremendous support throughout the past year. It has been a rough ride for all of us, but we want you to know that you are part of the Ohana here at Hanalei Bay resort. Slowly but surely, we’re moving forward in making Hanalei Bay resort one of the best resorts in Hawaii. We are all in this canoe together.
Mahalo,
Scott Pacer
Resort General Manager