Two prominent figures in the island’s hospitality industry will be saluted as Salespersons of the Year on April 28.
The honorees:
- Mufi Hannemann, president and CEO of the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Assn.
- Cha Thompson, co-founder of Tihati Productions.
The Sales and Marketing Executives, which annually hosts a luncheon event to tap one of the community’s top salesperson, this year is staging a double bill twosome because of the pandemic over the past two and a half years that put a pause on the award.
Hannemann is the
2019 year recipient, and Thompson is the 2021 winner.
This year’s event will be a dinner, and save-the-date postcards have been mailed to prospective attendees. However, an updated reminder will be issued, since the initial announcement of the SME winners contains outdated information; instead of the planned ‘Alohilani Resort, the event has been moved to the Sheraton Waikiki ballroom because of a larger audience.
The SME award is bestowed to a community member who has enhanced the image of Hawaii and is committed to uphold the quality of life in Hawaii.
Both honorees have extensive background and accomplishments in community endeavors, past and present, involving public service, volunteerism, and leadership.
Hannemann is a former mayor of Honolulu, serving two terms from 2005 to 2009, and is known as an executive and professional consultant with a penchant for improving the visitor experience in Hawaii. Honolulu-born and Harvard-educated, he has been an all-star athlete in football and basketball. A towering figure because of his height, Hannemann is a leader in the Samoan community with a keen understanding of both the political and business aspects due to his service in these fields.
Thompson, the self-proclaimed Queen of Kalihi, married her Farrington High School sweetheart, Jack Thompson, and they co-founded Tihati Productions more than 50 years ago. The Thompsons via Tihati Productions produces Polynesian productions statewide, providing authentic Polynesian shows that have become a cultural resource and amenity that have entertained visitors from all over the world. A full-time mother, wife, grandmother and great-grandmother, Thompson also is a hula dancer, businesswoman, sometimes actress, a former police commissioner and a steadfast supporter of the visitor industry. Afatia Thompson and Misty Thompson Tufono , son and daughter of Jack and Cha, now oversee Tihati. Information: info@smehonolulu.org …
Mom’s the word
Frank DeLima will star in a Mother’s Day comedy brunch show at 1 p.m. May 8 at Blue Note
Hawaii at the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel. Doors open at 11 a.m. for brunch and drinks; menu items range from quiche to a luau plate, from biscuits and gravy to a musubi sampler with three dippings. Call (808) 777-4898 visit www.bluenotehawaii.com
Arashi anniversary film
Arashi, one of Japan’s boy band faves and now dissolved, will be seen on the big screen of the Hawaii Theatre.
The group’s “5×20 Film: Record of Memories” will be screened in a one-night-only concert attraction at 7 p.m. March 23 in Consolidated’s theaters at Ward Center, Kapolei, Kahala, Mililani and Pearlridge.
Arashi disbanded following the completion of the group’s s 5×20 anniversary tour. Its members include Masaki Aiba, Jun Matsumotoa, Kazunari Ninomiya, Satoshi Ohno and Sho Sakurai; the film was directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi.
Tickets will be available at each participating theater. …
And that’s Show Biz. …