TheBuzz
TheBuzz
Who-nolulu is not the correct pronunciation. Guests to get the ABCs of W
It's W Honolulu Diamond Head and it will debut a new in-room publication in June, as will its sister properties around the United States and other international destinations.
The new baby is the result of a new partnership among long-time hospitality industry players.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. has announced a partnership with California-based Guest Informant LLC in which the latter will produce a new W signature magazine.
The "magazine" is more aptly described as a "coffee table book," that will be "all about the W experience," according to Starwood Chairman and CEO Barry Sternlicht.
Starwood operates 15 W hotels in major U.S. cities as well as Sydney, Australia, and it is developing six more. One is soon to open in Mexico City.
Locally Guest Informant is found in more than 200 hotels and 35,000 hotel rooms on Oahu, Maui, the Big Island and Kauai, according to Guest Informant Hawaii Group Publisher Anne Murata.
Wheelin' in style
Longtime radio personality turned Diabetes Association spokesman Wili Moku prepared for last weekend's Chevron Hawaii Walk for Diabetes by getting a haircut at HazeLee & Co. at Waterfront Plaza.His sister Karen browsed through the salon's gift selection and picked up a gift box hand-decorated by Lee, the salon proprietor and an original tenant of Waterfront Plaza.
A comment was made about the non-black hair being swept up from the floor and Lee admonished that the hair was not gray, but silver. "God's natural highlights," she said.
Work force prep
It used to be that high-school students were on one of two study tracks, college or vocational prep; then there were those on the wrong side of the tracks, but that's another column for another writer.La Pietra-Hawaii School for Girls has added a tech-track that will come complete with a diploma "with an emphasis in technology," according to spokeswoman Piia Aarma.
The program course for grades 9 to 12, with specific "degree requirements," will begin next school year.
The school's technology program was launched in 1992 and is integrated throughout the school's curriculum, including extracurricular activities such as the yearbook, literary magazine and foreign-language magazines which are published in hard copy and disc formats.
Virtuosity notwithstanding, a real live human being will be this year's La Pietra graduation speaker -- KHON morning news anchor Leslie Wilcox will address graduates May 29.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com