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January 29, 2011

�7th Outrigger Hotels Invitational!

By Kathy Hansberry

The University of Hawai‘i Men’s Volleyball team opened their regular season with the 17th annual Outrigger Hotels Invitational at the UH Stan Sheriff Center, January 13 through 15, 2011. There was much anticipation for the Warriors to walk away with a tournament trophy this year; unfortunately, things didn’t turn out as hoped. The nationally ranked men’s volleyball teams from Ball State, Penn State, and UCLA proved to be too much for the UH Warriors, who struggled for a win during the three-day tourney, only to walk away empty-handed. Congratulations to the UCLA “Bruins,” who took home the championship trophy presented by Outrigger’s President and CEO, David Carey, and University of Hawai‘i Athletic Director, Jim Donovan. The loyal fans who turned out to support the Warriors were treated nightly to Outrigger’s popular on-court promo game – “Outrigger Hukilau.”

Continued on page 3

UH Warriors block a hit from nationally ranked UCLADr. Richard Kelley and Bitsy Kelley

at Weatherby Foundation Event

Continued on page 8

An Evening with Sarah Palin

The Outdoors Enthusiast, Not the Politician

By Dr. Richard Kelley

This week I had a unique opportunity to explore another facet of the global Travel & Tourism industry and, at the same time, get a glimpse of one of today’s most talked-about personalities, Sarah Palin. The occasion was a fundraising banquet of the Weatherby Foundation International, which immediately preceded the annual meeting of Safari Club International (SCI).

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Saturday Briefing is publishedby and for employees of

Outrigger Enterprises Group (OEG)

Editor-In-Chief: Richard Kelley Supervising Editor: Pila Hanson Senior Editor: Kathy Foley Proofing Assistant: Char Luning Contributing Writers: Employees of OEG

Visit us online at:

www.saturdaybriefing.outrigger.com

Submissions to Kathy Foley

at kathysb@outrigger.com,

via interoffice mail to OEH/HR,

or by phone at (808) 921-6957.

© 2010 Outrigger Hotels Hawaii An Equal Opportunity Employer

Happy Birthday!Feb 9: Damian J. Clowes, Reymunda B. Domingo, Myna P. Elcano, Villamor Tolentino, Kyle K. Makanui, Leeann P. Frias, Fanghua He, and Randall K. Morisako.

Feb 10: Michael C. Zampaga, Heather R. Meisterheim, Ronald N. Galiza, Saturnina S. Agonoy, Sione T. Pasikala, Shin-Ling Y. Vat, Marcelina Martin, Adelina Balmilero, and Saturnina N. Andres.

Feb 11: Randall I. Hill and Lori Z.F. Lai.

Feb 12: Shane K. Vares, Lei Qiu Naito, Jennifer D. Lay, Neal N. Nakashima, Li Hu Kuan-Tu, Koon Lin Chan Cheng, and Ana E. Sandoval Perez.

Feb 13: Mary-Ann F. Andrade, Ivan N. Paik, Ofelia M. Abadilla, Elizabeth P. Cambra, Florencio J. Salvador, Ernesto V. Rosete, and Sonia R. Lorenzo.

Feb 14: Leighton K. Yasuhara, Valentino Castillo, Jessica P. Su, Myrna Rita, Lehua D. Helm, Valentina B. Salinas, and Valentino A. Talosa.

Feb 15: Renee A. Kiyono, Denise L. Torres, Han Bin Lin, and Amy D. Lee.

Employment OpportunitiesIf you are interested in the positions listed below and meet the qualifications, you may apply online. Please go to WWW.OUTRIGGER.COM, click on ABOUT OUTRIGGER, then EMPLOYMENT. We only accept online applications for the open-listed positions from internal candidates. If you have any questions, please call Chad Teramae at (808) 921-6989. Application deadline for the following positions is February 4, 2011.

Vice President – Hawai‘i Development (Full Time)Ideal candidate will be able to develop relationships with owners, lenders, land owners/ground lessors, consultants, brokers, and potential equity and debt sources. Must be able to analyze and use operational, financial, and marketing data to assess possible management and /or investment opportunities. Excellent verbal and written communication skills required. Must be able to travel as needed, be able to motivate employees toward superior performance, and establish benchmarks and measure performance. Master’s degree in real estate, business, marketing or related field or equivalent work experience is required. A minimum of ten years experience in the real estate field with an emphasis on hospitality in the Hawai‘i market required. In addition, a minimum of three years of experience in hotel development work in Hawai‘i with a global hotel brand is preferred. Previous experience in negotiating management agreements and franchise agreements of global hotel management companies in Hawai‘i is also preferred.

General Maintenance (Full Time)Must have two years experience with interior and exterior maintenance, including demonstrated ability to install, repair, service, inspect, and maintain FF&E facilities. Must also have experience with heating, cooling, plumbing, ventilation, water, electrical, and mechanical systems and be flexible to work any day and shift. Valid driver’s license required.

Bell Clerk (Part Time)A minimum of one year previous customer service experience required. Excellent verbal/written communication and computer skills required. Must be able to lift/move baggage weighing 75 lbs or more and/or move baggage carts weighing 1000 lbs. Must also be able to work any day and shift.

Housekeeper I (Full Time)Must be able to work well with others, follow instructions, and communicate in English. Must be able to work flexible days and shifts. Experience in cleaning and servicing guest rooms and/or public areas preferred.

Keauhou Beach ResortCocktail Waithelp (Part Time)

Responsible for the service of beverages and/or food in a timely manner, resulting in guest satisfaction. Must have a friendly, positive, and service-oriented attitude and be able to work flexible days and shifts.

Housekeeper I (On Call)Must be able to work well with others, follow instructions, and communicate in English. The ability to work flexible days and shifts is required. Experience in cleaning and servicing guest rooms and/or public areas preferred.

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Back: Scott Sato holding son Nathan, Dan Daniels, Lance Ballao, Danny Wang, Burton Kong, and David Carey. Front: Lorry Ijima-Sato, Ellen Isidro, Gay Shinbara, Ellie Agustin,

Heather Doeringer, Kathy Hansberry, Allyson and Ashelly Ijima, Kaycee Hansberry, Kevin Wong, Gavin Ijima, and Nancy Daniels.

Coordinated by the Outrigger Marketing and Promotions Staff, the object of the game is for two contestants to work as a team to serve and catch up to ten volleyballs within one minute, with each ball successfully caught worth $100. The contestants then switch sides and are given one chance to double their money. The big winners were Joni Fisher of Mānoa and Travis Yamashita of Honolulu, who successfully served and caught all ten balls, plus the bonus ball, which means each walked away with $1,000! The 17th annual Outrigger Invitational was a huge success due to the dedication of our hard working ‘ohana. Mahalo to: Aileen Geronimo, Aitogi Totemese, Allyson Ijima, Ashelly Ijima, Burton Kong, Dan Daniels, Daniel Calpo, Danny Wang, Davin Kawakami, Ellen Isidro, Ellie Agustin, Gavin Ijima, Gay Shinbara, Heather Doeringer, Jennifer Cabasag, Jo-Ann Yonamine, Kathy Toyama, Kevin Wong, Lance Ballao, Lianne Bryant, Lisa Asakura, Loan Montgomery-Freitas, Lois Shore, Lorry Ijima-Sato, Nancy Daniels, Raymond Scott, Ricol Akana, Robert Uchida, Scott Sato, Sean and Corey Ajimine, Sharon Okada, So’o Tana, Suzanne Lee, Taryn Wong, and Wilkin and Carolyn Choy. Hope to see you next year for the 18th Outrigger Hotels Volleyball Invitational!

�7th Outrigger Hotels Invitational!Continued from page 1

Travis Yamashita and Joni Fisher walk away with $1,000 each for participating in Outrigger’s Hukilau half-time game

Kaycee Hansberry and Nathan SatoOutrigger’s keiki volunteers

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Dau ni Veiqaravi (Service Providers) at Work in FijiBy Una Murray

The Outrigger on the Lagoon - Fiji (FOR) Human Resources Team has been involved in clean-up projects within the Sigatoka community, an initiative to educate the community on how they can benefit from such projects and how to better care for their environment at the same time. On a Saturday morning, the village at Korotogo swarmed with the “Dau ni Veiqaravi” (Service Providers) Team from the resort, armed with trash bags and picking up litter found along the beaches and highway. To protect, care for, and live in harmony with the land and our workplace, its people, and culture is a message the FOR intends to address with their neighboring villages and guests at the resort. The aim is to keep neighboring villages, shorelines, and surroundings cleaner and greener for all. General Manager Peter Hopgood said 60 of the resort staff took part in the cleanup. It was great seeing the villages take part, especially the children, who took this opportunity to learn the importance of keeping their environment clean at a very young age. “We want to bring back the beauty to Fiji, something that it has always been renowned for, especially here on the Coral Coast,” said Peter. Resort Manager Jason Zvatora said last year they committed to be more driven and excited to work with communities and to make a difference. To that end, the purpose of the day was to cleanup the area and keep Fiji rubbish-free. At the same time, Jason said they want to be a good example to the children and show them how they can keep their surroundings clean.

Top Photo: Peter Hopgood serves juice to the youth after their hard work in keeping their community clean

Middle Photo: Asinate Tabua (left) and Nanise Ralangi (right) with Korotogo Villagers

Bottom Photo: The HR Team - Joyti, Tokasa, Noelyn, Nomica, Titilia, and Margie

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Jerin-Lei Performs at the Outrigger on the Lagoon – Fiji

By Una Murray

Guests of the Outrigger on the Lagoon – Fiji were literally “In the Dark” about London jazz performer Jerin-Lei who recently vacationed at the property for some R&R. Jerin-Lei hails from Australia and has the voice of an angel, just ask anyone at the Sundowner Restaurant, where she performed. Currently living in Clapham, London, Jerin-Lei has been singing since she was a little girl. She received a scholarship to the University of Wollongong, where she completed her studies, and with $2,000 in the bank, she jumped with both feet into

the “real world,” where she found she had to work in bars to get by. It just so happened that fate followed, and she met fellow musicians and within months signed her first contract. Fast forward four years and Jerin-Lei just debuted her first CD, “In the Dark.” After working hard on the CD, Jerin-Lei celebrated with some R&R, at – you guessed it - The Outrigger on the Lagoon – Fiji! Jerin-Lin was amazed at how fast she was able to relax and lay back. She said she was blown away by the people and how willing they are to help. She added that the vuvale (family) make you feel like part of the family. Even better, she is already planning a return trip with her mum who has visited Fiji four times in the past.

Resort Manager Jason Zvatora with Jerin-Lei

“waiwai”rich, wealthy.

Wai is the Hawaiian word for water. In old Hawai‘i, the more water someone had for agriculture, the wealthier they were considered. Waiwai literally means water-water, or having an abundance of water. Water is a life- giving element or resource, and the wealth one speaks of when using the term waiwai isn’t always of material

things. It can also represent wealth of knowledge, spiritual wealth, or many other intangible possessions or personal gifts. Take a moment to reflect. What is your mea waiwai, your gift of wealth?

Local TriviaJanuary 31 is the birthday of King William Lunalilo. King Lunalilo served as king of the Hawaiian Kingdom from January 1873 untl his death in February 1874. He was the first elected king and, though the monarch, was known as the People’s King due his popularity.

Chinese New Year Celebration

It’s the Year of the Rabbit! Celebrate with us ~ Waikīkī-Style!

Saturday, February 5, 2011

10:30 a.m.Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach

Performance by Kong’s Siu Lum Pai Kung Fu

1 p.m.Outrigger Reef on the Beach

Performance by Kong’s Sui Lum Pai Kung Fu

5 - 7 p.m.Waikiki Beach Walk®

Performance by Long Kong Physical Culture Club

(Lion Dance, Hotel, and Store Visits)

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Australia Day with a Fijian TouchBy Una Murray

Only in Fiji would you raise the Australian Flag on a coconut tree. It’s what the guests of Outrigger on the Lagoon - Fiji experienced in the opening of the Australia Day celebrations at the resort. The day was filled with fun and excitement and of course, a splash of Australian spirit. Starting with the raising of the Australian Flag, up one of the tallest coconut trees, the guests sang a rendition of the Australian National Anthem. It was clear as day that our guests were getting warmed up to kick off the festivities. The day’s activities continued with a Great Australian Thong toss [yes, thong, meaning slipper], egg throwing, coconut bowling, and a game of beach cricket. The main event for the day was, without a doubt, the inaugural Outrigger on the Lagoon - Fiji Mini Ironman Fun race, which included five laps of the resort’s pool, a 500m kayak race, and a 500m beach run. The pressure was on, with the winners of the men’s and women’s events receiving a five-night return holiday to Outrigger on the Lagoon - Fiji. With over 50 contestants over a number of heats, Jurgen Rammesmager from Sydney took out the men’s final, whilst Laura Begbie from Port Macquarie won the hotly contested women’s event. After the hard work in the Ironman Fun Race, guests joined in a Australian-style beach BBQ, with local band Crozier entertaining guests with great Australian Ballads, such as Down Under by Men at Work and Khe Sanh by Cold Chisel. Resort Manager Jason Zvatora commented that with a majority of Australian guests, we were compelled to make Australia Day one for them to remember. “As a proud Australian myself, I am excited to call Fiji home; however, I was equally excited to get involved with the days festivities,” Jason said. The team did a fantastic job and thought of everything down to a “g’day mate” welcome for resort guests. Shane Hogan from Adelaide said he was “blown away by the fun, activities, and the spirit in which the Fijian staff embraced the day!” Jason Zvatora further commented that this day will now be a key date in the resort’s events calendar and will undoubtedly grow each year. The next event to mark the resort’s jam-packed events calendar is Valentine’s Day. The resort will host two events for couples, the first being a six-course romantic dinner in our famous IVI restaurant and then a new option this year, an exclusive dinner at KaloKalo. The KaloKalo – “to share with your loved one” event features a delicious shared platter menu and a bottle of Moet & Chandon per couple. At $299 per person, it is limited to five very lucky couples!

The Australian fllag flew in honor of “the day”

Activities Officers appropriately appareled in Australia’s National Surf Lifesaving Costume

Ironmen Winners: Jurgen Rammesmager of Sydney (1st), Ben Chapman of Brisbane (2nd), and Lucas Foders of Melbourne (3rd)

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Moments of Aloha

Leon Pink Announced as General Managerof the Outrigger Koh Samui Resort and Spa

By Darren Edmonstone

I join Human Resources in welcoming Leon Pink as General Manager of the Outrigger Koh Samui Resort and Spa, effective immediately. Outrigger’s new property on Koh Samui, the company’s second in Thailand, opens February 1, 2011, and Leon will be onsite with his team and ready for business! An Australian national with 15 years hotel operations experience, Leon’s name may sound familiar, as he was Resort Manager at our Outrigger on the Lagoon - Fiji property for two years. Under his watch, the Outrigger on the Lagoon - Fiji won an AON Fijian Tourism Excellence Award in 2009 for being the best deluxe property in Fiji. Before joining Outrigger in 2008, Leon gained extensive experience as Area Manager of the Mantra Group on Australia’s Sunshine Coast and with resort and city hotels in Australia, Amsterdam, and London, where he won the Employee of the Year Award at the Sanderson Hotel, London.

During his seven years in Europe, Leon gained valuable experience in managing boutique-style properties, holding key positions in the opening teams of two renowned hotels. Leon’s excellent frontline tropical holiday resort experience with Outrigger in Fiji gives him the right credentials to establish the new Outrigger Koh Samui Resort and Spa as a holidaymaker’s favorite. Originally from Perth, Western Australia, Leon is an avid cricket and rugby supporter and likes to stay active by running and playing sport. He enjoys a great day of fishing and golf, although confesses that he plays golf very badly. He has been married to Kim, who is originally from North Queensland, for three years. Kim likes reading, writing, and photography, and he claims, she tries to keep up with him when they run. They both love learning about new cultures and feel it a privilege to be welcomed into different communities around the world. Please join me in congratulating Leon on his new assignment and wishing him and his family all the best in their new home in Thailand!

Leon Pink

Kapalua Villas“My name is Jim Campbell, and I am the owner of a Gold Golf Villa there at Kapalua. I have owned my unit for more than 10 years and have utilized several management companies during this period. First and foremost, I would like to compliment one of your employees, Emily [Emilie Vincent]. I had many occasions to interact with and observe Emily [Emilie] during my stay. She is the most professional, pleasant, and helpful employee

I have come across at any of the facilities at Kapalua, including the Ritz Carlton. On many occasions she was extremely busy and yet she stayed calm, professional, and gave each guest her undivided attention. She is an asset to your company. Secondly, I want to commend you on the cleanliness and readiness of our villa when we arrived. We did not find any area lacking. I wish you had been managing our program during the past 10 years as well! Thank you for an outstanding experience!”Jim Campbell, via e-mail

Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber Resort“The OHANA Beachcomber Waikiki was such a wonderful experience. I personally cannot thank you [Charlene Goo, GM and OGM] enough for the wonderful accommodations and hospitality the OHANA staff and management extended to my family and for our generosity in making it all happen. Our family was able to create so many lasting memories during our brief stay in Hawai‘i and look forward to one day returning. I will be sure to recommend the OHANA Beachcomber to all my friends and family who travel that way. . . .”Robert HoffmanVice Mayor and Vice President, Sinajana, Guam

Outrigger Palms at Wailea“I would like to sincerely thank you [Matt Swartz, Dawn Ribucan, and Cindy Eiting] for your great hospitality and generosity given to our guests [14-room UH group] as you provided them such a wonderful and memorable experience during their stay in Maui last week. The rooms were huge, with kitchen and nice lanai, and great food with local flavor, yet reasonably priced. Everyone was so happy to have stayed with Outrigger Palms. Everyone had a great time. You truly provided us/them a great package, and I appreciate all your efforts. . . . I will definitely contact you again for future needs and will tell others about your service on Maui.”Mieko MacLachlan, via e-mail

Emilie Vincent

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Both events were held in Reno, Nevada. Both organizations are dedicated to ethical hunting, preservation and wildlife conservation. My daughter Bitsy Kelley, an avid hunter and outdoors enthusiast, is a member of the Weatherby Foundation’s board of directors, and I was honored when she invited me to join her on this special occasion.

Former Governor of Alaska and Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin was the keynote speaker at the Weatherby

event and captivated the audience. Since her presentation occurred at almost exactly the same hour that President Barack Obama gave his State of the Union address to the U.S. Congress, I had expected Gov. Palin to give a table-thumping speech slamming massive federal deficits, the size of government, “ObamaCare” and loss of individual freedom. Not one of those political topics received anything more than the briefest of mentions. Her focus was on sharing tales of her own life experiences – growing up in small towns in Alaska and learning about nature, personal responsibility and family ties through outdoors experiences with her parents and siblings – something she has carried on with her own children. She also got some chuckles and understanding nods from her audience when she talked about some of the funny and unexpected things that happened while filming the television series Sarah Palin’s Alaska for The Learning Channel. Listening, I could personally relate to Gov. Palin’s proposition that outdoors activities are a great means of developing family relationships and instilling values in the next generation because I did something very similar with my own children. As they were growing up, we spent many, many days in the fields of all of Hawai‘i’s major islands and later, after I began to spend more time in Colorado, in the Rocky Mountains. Ethical hunting, the outdoors and wilderness conservation are big business. SCI has approximately 45,000 members in 190 chapters worldwide. During the past three decades SCI alone has raised and spent nearly $300 million promoting ethical hunting and wildlife conservation. Its annual convention, traditionally held in Reno, is usually the largest convention to hit the “Biggest Little City in the World” each year. Typically 20,000 attend, including many vendors who display their goods and services in a massive tradeshow covering 650,000 square feet – about three times the size of the exhibition hall in the Hawai‘i Convention Center in Waikīkī. I knew something really important was going on in town as soon as I stepped off my flight and into the Reno terminal. “Welcome Safari Club International” signs and displays were everywhere. The motif continued throughout the lobbies and casinos of the Silver Legacy, headquarters hotel for the meeting. During my 24 hours in Reno, I had an opportunity to talk with many members of both Weatherby Foundation International and Safari Club

An Evening with Sarah PalinContinued from page 1

International. These men and women are great travelers who go around the world in pursuit of their passion for hunting, the outdoors, and wildlife conservation. This includes Hawai‘i, where hunting is legal on the Big Island, Maui, Lāna‘i, Moloka‘i, O‘ahu, Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau. Yes, Ni‘ihau! Representatives from Ni‘ihau Safaris were at the SCI convention telling attendees of the unique opportunities available to hunt on the “Forbidden Island.” That activity not only produces an economic benefit but also helps control the population of Polynesian pigs introduced by early trans-Pacific voyagers centuries ago, as well as hybrid sheep brought there by ancestors of the Robinson family, which purchased the island in 1864. A number of other SCI attendees were from Hawai‘i, had lived there in the past or visit Hawai‘i often. For example, I chatted with retired Marine Corps Lieutenant General Emil R. “Buck” Bedard. He told me how much he and those who served with him at Camp H. M. Smith in Aiea, Hawai‘i, appreciated the warm hospitality they always receive from Outrigger and OHANA hotels and the members of our ‘ohana. He singled out our Military Liaison, Mildred Courtney, for special praise.

The only disappointing thing about my trip to Reno was the fact that, due to the recent shootings in Tucson, security was extremely tight. Gov. Palin’s scheduled exclusive meeting with the Weatherby Foundation board, which I might have had the opportunity to join, was canceled at the last minute. I had been curious to meet Sarah Palin in person. The way the media describes her, one might think she has the horns of a devil, a pointed tail, long, sharp claws, and a pitchfork. Is that really true? I guess that I’ll never know!

Dr. Richard Kelley with General & Mrs. Buck Bedard at Weatherby Foundation event

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