A Night At The Museum

January’s Pau Hana had the Concierge Association members joining the 300,000+ visitors a year that step foot in the Honolulu Museum of Art. HoMA, as locals call it, encompasses two museums each with their own restaurants and gift shops, a movie theater, rotating exhibits, an art Institute, and weekly tours of the Shangri La Estate.

On average, visitors to the Honolulu Museum spend about 1.5-2 hours exploring exhibits such as the largest Japanese print collection outside of Japan, Arts of Hawaii and period pieces that together add up to a 50,000 piece collection. And that is just the art! Independent, documentary and international films are shown daily in their Doris Duke theater and you should not miss the opportunity to enjoy the coffee bar, visit the gift shop which is constantly rotating its very unique a local inventory, or have a farm to table lunch in the Museum’s cafe.

Fresh Papaya & Seared Ahi salad

Salmon with Herb Chimichurri & Farro Salad

But if Contemporary Art is where your heart is, the Spalding House Museum in the Tantulus neighborhood is calling your name. This gem of a Museum allows visitors to explore not only the gallery but also their grounds and lovely gardens. One of the most hidden secrets is that their cafe offers $40 picnic lunch for two including a basket and a blanket so you can spread out under their ancient Banyan tree. Their gift shop even offers local-made, garden-inspired gifts to highlight the unique property!

Great news is that HoMA now offers a COMPLIMENTARY shuttle between Waikiki and both of their museums Tuesday through Sunday so visitors and locals alike can experience all they have to offer. Also new this year is the option to reserve the Honolulu Museum’s Cafe online and the focus on researching the history of the numerous pieces of Islamic art housed within the galleries of the Doris Duke Shangri La home near Diamond Head.

All said and done, the Honolulu Museum of Art and it’s sister properties have never been easier to visit! It is a must see and The Association could not been more thankful to have been invited.

Our November Tradition: Luxury Row

As many of you know this year marks the 10th Anniversary of The Concierge Association of Hawaii but what you may not know, is that Luxury Row Waikiki has been an avid supporter of The Association and the Concierge profession from the start. From offering meeting space for some of our very first board meetings to organizing an annual event, our partnership with Luxury Row has marked the beginning of the holiday season for our members for years.

Every November The Concierge Association of Hawaii is graciously hosted by Luxury Row Waikiki allowing us to view the upcoming winter lines and the unique items only found in Waikiki that many of our guests flock to Oahu for. Due to the proximity of our islands to Asia and their attraction to world travelers, Waikiki is quickly becoming a high-end shopping destination, with Luxury Row housing many of the most iconic luxury brands.

This year Gucci, Moncler, Bottega Veneta, Saint Laurent, Coach, Chanel and Miu Miu highlighted an event to remember. Members enjoyed in-store tours, insider brand knowledge and a chance to network with the store’s management and personal shoppers. Thank you to Miles Kinoshita, Laurie Akua, and Anthony Gambino for putting together such a great evening; we could not have asked for a better way to kick off another great holiday shopping season for our guests!

The amazing Luxury Row team!

Members enjoying the evening.

October Pau Hana Meeting- Honolulu Coffee Company's Experience Center

This October the Concierge Association of Hawaii was hosted by Honolulu Coffee Company to tour their Experience Center in Waikiki. During our visit we enjoyed a delectable sampling of their savory offerings along with a delicious Cold Brew Moscow Mule. 

Honolulu Coffee Company’s Experience Center is their flagship store within the islands. This location is home to their bakeshop where items are freshly baked and distributed daily to each of the Hawaii stores. This is also where all of Honolulu Coffee Company’s beans are tested for quality, roasted, and packaged for distribution. 

Prior to distribution, the fresh beans are tested for quality within their climate controlled Cupping Room. Their Cupping Room is also the location where company-wide barista training sessions are held. Once the beans have been given the seal of good quality they are given to their Head Roaster.

Thomas Keisling, Honolulu Coffee Company’s Award Winning Head Roaster, will begin the roasting process by utilizing their cast-iron, 1944 Probat Coffee Roaster, which is a one of kind in the islands. 

Thomas (left) discussing the art and science of coffee roasting.

The artwork within the Experience Center reflects the history of coffee’s evolution globally and here in the Islands. To go alongside the artwork, you will find historic equipment that was used throughout time to create the perfect bean. 

Tours are hosted daily at 1PM.

The Honolulu Coffee Company’s Experience Center offers complimentary 20-minute tours of their facility daily at 1:00 PM. Their tours are a fantastic alternative for guests looking to learn more about the coffee process here in Hawaii without having to rent a car. They even have coffee trees on site and if you’re lucky they will give you a sample cherry to try! Their knowledgeable staff are always willing to assist with any questions you or your guests may have!

Education = growth

April's meeting addressed current trends in the hospitality industry that affect the concierge profession. Frank Hernandez, Chef Concierge at Halekulani (www.halekulani.com) and Director of Membership at Les Clefs D'Or USA (www.lcdusa.org), presented highlights at the recent International Congress in Seoul, Korea. The Concierge Association of Hawaii is a great resource for hospitality service important to the visitor industry, and, more significantly, invaluable to hotel guests. Learn from a concierge! Email: info@conciergehawaii.org

Mahalo to Halekulani Hotel for hosting the April meeting!

New member: Queenie Tong

We welcome Queenie Tong to the Concierge Association of Hawaii as one of our newest members. She currently serves as a concierge at the beautifully renovated Prince Waikiki. You can see more of Queenie at CAH member meetings and events!

Q: What are your favorite things?
A: I LOVE MUSIC! And snuggling with my cat in a warm blanket on a cold night with a glass of wine. And to give a helping hand to people I encounter every day.

Fun Fact: Queenie plays piano.