Twittering Tourism Boards and Visitors Bureaus

I will be keeping this list updated, so if I’ve missed anyone, please feel free to leave a comment or contact me on Twitter. I’ll be sure to add them to the list.

Updated June 29, 2012, (319 listed)
Note: Hawaii visitors bureaus on Twitter (@GoHawaii, @KauaiDiscovery, @OahuVB, @VisitLanai, @SeeMolokai, @MauiVisit, @HawaiiBig Island, @HawaiiHTA) highlighted in red below.

8GreatTowns (Hamilton County Convention & Visitors Bureau)
AC_CVA (Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Association)
AlabamaBeaches (Alabama Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau)
AlpharettaCVB (Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau)
AmNorthCoast (Lutsen, Tofte and Schroeder, Minnesota )
Anaheim_OC (Anaheim/OC Visitors & Convention Bureau)
annarborareacvb (Ann Arbor Area Convention & Visitors Bureau)
ArizonaTourism (Arizona Office of Tourism)
artourism (Arkansas Deptartment of Parks and Tourism)
AshevilleCVB (Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau)
ashevilletravel (Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau)
AZTourismPR (Arizona Office of Tourism)
BaltimoreMD (Baltimore Area Convention & Visitors Association)
BarbinIL (Tuscola, IL)
BattleCreekCVB (Battle Creek/Calhoun County Convention & Visitors Bureau)
BeaumontCVB (Beaumont Convention & Visitors Bureau)
BenzieCounty (Benzie County Visitors Bureau)
boomtowndays (City of Joplin Convention & Visitors Bureau)
BuffaloNiagara (Buffalo Niagra Convention & Visitors Bureau)
butlercountypa (Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau)
CalistogaVisit (Calistoga Visitor’s Center)
CATourism (California Travel & Tourism Commission)
CantonStarkCVB (Canton Stark County Convention & Visitors Bureau)
CarsonCity_NV (Carson City Convention & Visitors Bureau)
CedarFalls (Cedar Falls (Iowa) Tourism & Visitors Bureau )
CedarRapidsCVB (Cedar Rapids Area Convention & Visitors Bureau)
CharlestonArea (Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau)
chattanoogafun (Chattanooga Convention & Visitors Bureau)
cheyennewy (Cheyenne Area Convention & Visitors Bureau)
CHGIFlorida (Charlotte Harbor Convention & Visitors Bureau)
chicagonorthsub (Chicago North Convention & Visitors Bureau)
ChicagoNShore (Chicago’s North Shore Convention & Visitors Bureau)
chicagonw (Woodfield Chicago Northwest Convention Bureau)
choosechicago (Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau)
CityofSantaFe (Santa Fe Convention & Visitors Bureau)
clarecountycvb (Clare Counte Convention & Visitors Bureau)
ClarksvilleCVB (Clarksville Convention & Visitors Bureau)
ctccct (Canadian Tourism Commission)
ColumbiaMOCVB (Columbia Convention & Visitors Bureau)
columbiacntyga (Columbia County Convention & Visitors Bureau)
columbiasc (Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau)
columbuscvb (Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau)
CorvallisScene (Visit Corvallis & Benton County)
CSCVB (Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau)
cvbhiltonhead (Hilton Head Island Visitor & Convention Bureau)
cvbqueen (Statesville Convention & Visitors Bureau)
DavidHTA (Hawaii Tourism Authority)
Derita (Derita Visitors Information Bureau)
destinationdc (Destination DC)
DestWorcester (Destination Worcester, MA)
DiscoverDuPage (DuPage County Convention & Visitors Bureau)
discover_la (Los Angeles Tourism Bureau)
DiscoverMonroe (Monre County Tennessee Chamber of Commerce)
DownersGrove1st (Downers Grove Visitors Bureau)
dreamofitaly (Dream of Italy, Inc.)
dutchesstourism (Dutchess County Tourism)
eacvb (Elgin Area Convention & Visitors Bureau)
ecacvb (Elizabeth City Area Convention & Visitors Bureau)
enjoyknoxville (Knoxville Tourism)
ERCVB (El Reno Convention & Visitors Bureau)
ExpCols (Greater Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau)
ExperienceWA (Washington State Tourism)
explorechicago (Chicago Office of Tourism)
FargoMoorhead (Fargo-Moorhead Convention & Visitors Bureau)
fife_washington (City of Fife)
fjordnorway (Official Tourism Board of Western Norway)
flaspacecoast (Florida’s Space Coast)
Foodtopia (Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau)
FortSmithCVB (Fort Smith Convention & Visitors Bureau)
GalvestonIsland (Galveston Island)
GenevaIL (City of Geneva)
GeorgiaTourism (Official State of Georgia Tourism)
GettysburgNews (Gettysburg Convention & Visitors Bureau)
GoHawaii (Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau)
GoLakeHavasu (Lake Havasu City Convention & Visitors Bureau)
gorockford (Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau)
GoToBakersfield (Bakersfield Convention & Visitors Bureau)
GoToLouisville (Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau)
GoWichita (Wichita Convention & Visitors Bureau)
GrandRapidsCVB (Grand Rapids Convention & Visitors Bureau)
GrapevineGurl (Grapevine Convention & Visitors Burea)
GreaterLansing (Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau)
Greenville_SC (Greenville Convention & Visitors Bureau)
HarborCountry (Harbor Country Convention & Visitors Bureau)
HardinCountyTN (Hardin County, TN)
HawaiiBigIsland (Big Island Visitors Bureau)
HawaiiHTA (Hawaii Tourism Authority)
HeritageCVB (Heritage Corridor Convention & Visitors Bureau)
Hillsborough (The Alliance for Historial Hillsborough)
hiltonheadsc (Hilton Head Island Visitors & Convention Bureau)
HotSpringsCVB (Hot Springs Visitors & Convention Bureau)
enjoyillinois (Illinois Bureau of Tourism)
ILMICanal (Heritage Corridor Convention & Visitors Bureau)
ILoveSGFMo (Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau)
imtourism (Tourism Association of Dickinson County Area)
indianadunes (Porter County Convention & Visitors Bureau)
insidealaska (Fairbanks Convention & Visitors Bureau)
insidesonoma (Sonoma County Tourism Bureau)
Janesvillecvb (Janesville Area Convetion & Visitors Bureau)
JustAddBourbon (Bourbon Country, Kentucky)
KauaiDiscovery (Kauai Visitors Bureau)
KentuckyTourism (Kentucky Department of Travel)
koreatourism (Korea Tourism Organization)
KSinTucson (Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau)
LakeDistrictPR (Cumbria Tourism)
Lammertal (Destination Lammertal)
Lauderdale411 (Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau)
LauderdaleChic (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
lehighvalleypa (Lehigh Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau)
Lenawee_Fun (Lenawee County Convention & Visitors Bureau)
LESIWC (Ohio’s Lake Erie Shores & Islands)
Lislecvb (Lisle Convention & Visitors Bureau)
louisianatravel (Louisiana Office of Tourism)
Ludington_Area (Ludington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau)
Madeira (Madeira Islands)
mainetourism (Maine Tourism Association)
MarshallMN (Maryland Office of Tourism)
MarylandTrip (Maryland Office of Tourism)
MauiVisit (Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau)
McPhersonCVB (McPherson Convention & Visitors Bureau)
MecostaCounty (Mecosta County Convention & Visitors Bureau)
MeetInSaltLake (Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau)
MeetMinneapolis (Meet Minneapolis Convention & Visitors Association)
MemphisCVB (Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau)
MerriamCVB (Merriam Convention & Visitors Bureau)
MiamiandBeaches (Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau)
MinNEcations (Explore Minnesota)
MitchellCVB (Corn Palace Convention & Visitors Bureau)
ModestoCVB (Modesto Convention & Visitors Bureau)
MoTravelLynn (Missouri Division of Tourism)
MoTravelMama (Missouri Division of Tourism)
MuskegonCVB (Muskegon County Convention & Visitors Bureau)
MyMyrtleBeach (Myrtle Beach Area Conventions & Visitors Bureau)
MyVancouver (Tourism Vancouver)
NebraskaTourism (Nebraska Division of Travel & Tourism)
NewOrleansCVB (New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau)
NewportBeach (Newport Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau)
NewportRICVB (Newport County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau)
Norris_Lake (Norris Lake Marina Association)
nycgo (NYC & Company)
OahuVB (Oahu Visitors Bureau)
OCVB (Oakland Convention & Visitors Bureau)
onlyinsf (San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau)
oshkoshcvb (Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau)
OttawaJantine (Ottawa Tourism)
Ottawa_Tourism (Ottawa Tourism)
PadreDude (South Padre Island Convention & Visitors Bureau)
paducahcvb (Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau)
PalmSpringsCA (Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism)
ParadiseCoast (Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau)
patourismpr (Pennsylvania Tourism Office)
PCBeach (Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau)
PhiladelphiaCVB (Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau)
Pierrebellerose (Tourisme Montreal)
PittsboroCVB (Pittsboro-Siler City Convention & Visitors Bureau)
PlanoCVB (Plano Convention & Visitors Bureau)
PlumasCounty (Plumas County Visitors Bureau)
PositivelyCleve (Convention & Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland)
PossibilityCity (The Greater Louisville Community Branding Project)
ProvidenceRI (The Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau)
PulaskiCountyVC (Pulaski County Visitor Center)
PureNewZealand (New Zealand Tourism Board)
Queensland (Tourism Queensland)
RandolphCoCVB (Randolph County Convention & Visitors Bureau)
readingberkspa (The Greater Reading Convention & Visitors Bureau)
renotahoe (The Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority)
RoomForDreams (Fort Wayne/Allen County Convention & Visitors Bureau)
RoswellCVB (Roswell Convention & Visitors Bureau)
SantaClaraCA (Santa Clara Convention & Visitors Bureau)
santaclarita (City of Santa Clarita)
santarosacvb (Santa Rosa Convention & Visitors Bureau)
SacramentoCVB (Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau)
scottsdaleaz (Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau)
SedonaAZ (Sedona Chamber of Commerce)
See_Albuquerque (Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau)
SeeMolokai (Molokai Visitors Association)
SeeMonterey (Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau)
SeeRockCity (Rock City, GA)
SevierFun (Sevierville Convention & Visitors Bureau)
ShastaCascade (Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association)
southhaven_CVB (South Haven Convention & Visitors Bureau)
southeasttouris (Southeast Tourism Society)
SouthernOregon (Southern Oregon Visitors Association)
southwestourism (Tourist Board for South West of England)
SpaChic (Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau)
SportsCapital (Round Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau)
SpringfieldCVB (Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau)
Staunton (Staunton Convention & Visitors Bureau)
stjomo (St. Joseph Visitors Bureau)
Stockton_CVB (Stockton Conference & Visitors Bureau)
SunValleyNordic (Sun Valley/Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau)
SwissTourism (Swiss Tourism)
sydney_holidays (Tourism New South Wales)
SyracuseNY (Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau)
TahoeNorth (North Lake Tahoe)
ThunderITValley (Johnstown Chamber & Visitors Bureau)
TNVacation (Tennessee Department of Tourist Development)
tourhendersonky (The Henderson County Tourist Commission )
tourfrederickmd (Tourism Council of Frederick County)
TourismBCmedia (Tourism British Columbia)
Tourism_Newquay (Tourism Newquay)
TravelAlberta (Travel Alberta)
TravelLaneCo (Eugene, Lane County, & Oregon Coast Visitor Information)
TravelCoosBay (Oregon’s Adventure Coast)
TravelinSGFMO (Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau)
TravelKS (Kansas Travel & Tourism Division)
travelnevada (Nevada Commission on Tourism)
TravelOregon (Travel Oregon)
TravelPortland (Travel Portland)
TravelRedding (Redding Convention & Visitors Bureau)
TravelSalem (Salem Convention & Visitors Association)
TravelWisconsin (Wonders of Wisconsin)
TuscarawasCoCVB (Tuscarawas City Convention & Visitors Bureau)
Travel_Iowa (Iowa Tourism Office)
UPTravel (Michigan’s Upper Peninsula)
UtahStateParks (Utah State Parks)
uwishunu (Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation)
VaBeachCVB (Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VermontTourism (Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing)
victoriavisitor (Tourism Victoria)
VisitAberdeenSD (Aberdeen Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitAlton (Alton Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitAnnapolis (Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Conference & Visitors Bureau)
VisitAustinTX (Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau)
visitbaker (Baker County Chamber of Commerce)
VisitBatesville (Batesville, Arkansas Area Chamber of Commerce)
visitbatonrouge (Baton Rouge Convention & Visitors Bureau)
visitbemidji (Bemidji Visitors & Convention Bureau)
VisitBGKy (Bowling Green Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitBritain (official website for travel and tourism in the UK)
VisitBtown (Bloomington/Monroe County Convention & Visitors Bureau)
visitbville (Bartlesville Convention & Visitors Bureau)
visitcapefearnc (Wilmington/Cape Fear Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitChicago (Chicagoland Regional Tourism Office)
VisitCOS (Colorado Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitDetroit (Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau)
visiteldoradoks (El Dorado Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitFairfax (Fairfax County Virginia Tourism)
VisitFingerLake (Finger Lakes Visitors Connection)
VisitFlagler (Flagler County Chamber of Commerce)
VisitFlagstaff (Flagstaff Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitFlorida (Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation)
visitgrayling (Grayling Visitors Bureau)
visitholland (The Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions)
VisitHoustonTX (Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau)
visitidaho (Idaho Division of Tourism Development)
VisitIndiana (Indiana Office of Tourism Development)
VisitJacksonMI (Jackson County Convention & Visitors Bureau)
Visit_Jax (Jacksonville & the Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitJordan (Jordan Tourism Board)
VisitKC (Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association)
VisitKissimmee (Kissimmee Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitLanai (Lanai Visitors Bureau)
visitlaguna (Laguna Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitLauderdale (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
visitlodi (Lodi Conference & Visitors Bureau)
VisitLongBeach (Long Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitLongviewTX (Longview Convention & Visitors Bureau)
Visit_Madison (Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitMaine (Maine Office of Tourism)
VisitMesa (Mesa Arizona Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitMilwaukee (Greater Milwaukee Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitMissouri (Missouri Division of Tourism)
visitmusiccity (Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitNantucket (Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism)
VisitNatchez (Natchez Convention & Visitors Bureau)
visitnewhaven (Greater New Haven Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitNewOrleans (New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation)
VisitNH (New Hampshire Travel &  Tourism)
VisitNorthernIL (Northern Illinois Tourism Development Office)
VisitOakPark (Oak Park Area Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitOmaha (Omaha Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitOrlando (Orlando Convention & Visitors Bureau)
visitPA (Official Tourism Website of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania)
VisitParksville (Oceanside Tourism Association)
VisitPensacola (Pensacola Bay Area Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitPeoria (Peoria Area Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitPeru (Peru Tourism Board)
visitphilly (Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation)
visitphoenix (Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau)
VisitPontiacIL (City of Pontiac)
VisitRichmond (Richmond Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitSanAntonio (San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau)
visitsandiego (San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau)
visit_sanjose (San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitSarasota (Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitSavannah (Savannah Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitSiouxFalls (Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau)
visit_SMC_SV (San Mateo County Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitSouthDel (Southern Delaware Tourism)
VisitSpokane (Spokane Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitStuartFL (Martin County Convention & Visitors Bureau)
visitsunvalley (Sun Valley Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau)
visitsurrync (Surry County Economic Development & Tourism Department)
VisitTampaBay (Tampa Bay & Company)
VisitTuscaloosa (Tuscaloosa Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitVallejo (Vallejo Convention & Visitors Bureau)
visitvf (Valley Forge Convention & Visitors Bureau)
VisitVirginia (Virginia Tourism Corporation)
Visit_Vermont (Mount Snow Valley Chamber of Commerce)
Visit_Wausau (Wausau/Central Wisconsin Convention & Visitors Bureau)
visitwv (Southern West Virginia Convention & Visitors Bureau)
Vlbusiness (London’s Convention Bureau & Event Solutions)
VSPC (St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau)
vstpgh (Greater Pittsburgh Convention & Visitors Bureau)
WarrenCountyOH (Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau)
WCVA (Washington County Visitors Association)
WestAustralia (Tourism Western Australia)
westhollywood (West Hollywood Marketing & Visitors Bureau)
WeVisitMexico (Mexico Tourism Board)
whatcomcounty (Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism)
WilkesNCtourism (Wilkesboro Tourism Development Authority)
WilliamsportPA (City of Williamsport)
WillmarLakes (WillmarLakesArea Convention & Visitors Bureau)
wisdells (Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau)
WoodwardTCB (Woodward Tourism & Convention Bureau)
wyomingtourism (Wyoming Travel & Tourism)
yakimavalley (Yakima Valley Convention & Vistors Bureau)
Ypsilanti (Ypsilanti Area Convention & Visitors Bureau)

-NGK

Ain’t no party like a Willie K. party!

Willie K. in his element on stage at HVCB's "Hawaii: A Thousand Reasons to Smile" reception at The Fairmont San Francisco.

I’ve been a Willie K. fan for a long time. Ever since my Uncle Dickie made a dub of his album with that “Kachi Kachi Music Makawao” song on it a long time ago. Hanabata days kine long time ago. You know which one I’m talking about.

If you’ve seen him perform live, it’s sometimes difficult to explain Uncle Willie’s style of music. Yes, it’s Hawaiian. But it’s also a little bit rock ‘n roll, blues, opera (yes, I said opera), and sometimes Asian in sound. The man is a true entertainer and musician in every sense of both words. I’m not sure there isn’t anything he can’t do with a guitar in his hand. Some call him a guitar virtuoso and I agree. He’s also got a vocal range like no other. Willie K. is just an awesome performer. PERIOD!

So you can probably imagine how excited I was when he accepted our invitation to perform at the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau’s “Hawaii: A Thousand Reasons to Smile” reception at The Fairmont San Francisco last week. He put on a show only Willie K. could. He kept the crowd engaged, dancing, and chanting “hana hou” for more. Simply put, he rocked the house (or Venetian Room if you want to be specific).

I couldn’t resist busting out my Flip Mino early in the night and capturing some of his performance. In the video below, Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann gives Willie a rousing introduction before he takes the stage.

During the night, Willie also showed that he can hold his own when it comes to opera!

And finally, this is an oldie, but goodie. HVCB produced this video last year featuring Willie talking about his love of Hawaii and his beloved Lahaina Town.

So, now you know who one of my all-time favorite Hawaii entertainers is. Willie K. is amazing! But enough about me and my favorites. Who is your favorite Hawaii/Hawaiian entertainer?

-NGK

All smiles after visiting San Francisco Bay Area

The view from my room at The Fairmont San Francisco.

It’s been about 10 years since I last visited the San Francisco Bay Area as a college youngster attending the PRSSA National Assembly with fellow classmates from the University of Hawaii. Looking back on that trip, the only things I recall were the conference itself, Fisherman’s Wharf, and drinking Guinness for the first time. Couldn’t tell you what hotel we stayed at, where we ate, who we met, and what else we did. Sad but true!

So I was excited to get back to the Bay Area this past week on business to launch the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau’s (HVCB) new “Hawaii: A Thousand Reasons to Smile” campaign. What’s this all about and what else did I do there? Read on.

Catching up with San Francisco Chronicle Travel Editor Susan Fornoff and SFGate.com's Hawaii Insider Jeanne Cooper at the HVCB Smiles reception.

Hawaii: A Thousand Reasons to Smile

Hawaii’s second-largest market for visitors – the San Francisco Bay Area – is going to see, hear, and experience the Islands of Aloha in March like never before in a new campaign led by HVCB. This initiative is a month-long promotion throughout March that will showcase the appeal of Hawaii’s culture, natural beauty, and music to residents throughout the Bay Area through print, broadcast and online advertising, digital freeway bulletin boards, in train stations and BART cars, on ad walls in popular settings, and TV shows, including ABC’s The View From the Bay. The campaign will direct consumers to visit GoHawaii.com/LotsofSmiles, a new HVCB microsite that will engage them with interactive promotions, offer information about Hawaii events in the Bay Area, and let them plan their vacation.

To kick it all off, HVCB hosted a reception for more than 50 Bay Area media at the Fairmont San Francisco on Feb. 26 featuring the incredible music of Willie K. and the Polynesian Cultural Center, along with the delicious cuisine of Chef Jake Belmonte of The Faimont Kea Lani, Maui. Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann was also there, along with HVCB and its Island Chapters. This event has been my pet project for the past couple months and it went off well. I also owe a huge mahalo to my colleague Michael Ni who traveled with me and also my team back at the office who made it happen. It was an amazing night and you can see who was there by checking out the photos on my Flickr page.

Aloha Friday Pau Hana Concerts at Gordon Biersch

In the island-style tradition of “work over, hang loose”, Hawaii’s music, cuisine, and Aloha Spirit will also be showcased in Aloha Friday Pau Hana Concerts being held at Gordon Biersch restaurants in San Francisco, Palo Alto, and San Jose. Each Friday in March, from 5-11 p.m., some of Hawaii’s top entertainers will perform their musical magic and Aloha Spirit, including Willie K., Raiatea Helm, Brother Noland, Mailani Makainai, Kealii Kanealii, John Cruz, Cyril Pahinui, and Taimane Gardner. Patrons will also enjoy a special menu of Hawaii-inspired cuisine and can win trips to the islands. My colleague Michael has done an amazing job putting this all together with the GB team and we look forward to seeing many smiling faces at the events.

Great meeting Nancy Brown (@nancydbrown), David Lytle (@davitydave), Amy (@cookingwithamy), and Vanessa (@amidoingokay).

Uptake.com and HVCB SF Blogger Meetup

Through the magic of Twitter, I’ve gotten to know Uptake’s Elliott Ng and appreciate his passion for travel. At his suggestion, he recommended co-hosting at meetup of local SF bloggers at the Hukilau restaurant on Feb. 27. It would be the last order of business before the Hawaii team headed back home. So Michael, Rebecca Pang of Stryker Weiner and Yokota Public Relations (representing Oahu Visitors Bureau), and I had the opportunity to meetup with about 20 bloggers/tweeters to talk about Hawaii and the new campaign. It was a great event pulled together by Uptake’s Pat Jenkins and Alison Osborne and I couldn’t help but take as many photos as I could which you can also find on my Flickr page.

Also found some time to “play”

While this was strictly a work visit to the Bay Area, I did manage to find some time to have just a little bit of fun. I’ve recapped most of that on my Flickr page, but also want to highlight a couple other nuggets of fun:

• I finally had the chance to meet fellow tweep Ken Yeung in real life (IRL). He’s actually very familiar with Anthology Marketing Group having worked at Starr Seigle Communications after college before moving to the Bay Area. We stumbled upon a great little sushi restaurant – Sudachi – with great food and cheap beer for a mini-Tweetup. He’s a fellow social media explorer like me and maintaines a great blog that’s a fun and interesting read. Looking forward to tweeting up with Ken again.

• I first had the opportunity to meet Social Media Club co-founder Kristie Wells in Honolulu last October at one of her workshops she was doing with hubby Chris Heuer. Since then we’ve managed to stay in touch via Twitter. So when the opportunity came up to have breakfast with Kristie in SF, I couldn’t pass it up. Breakfast itself at Brenda’s French Soul Food was unreal (I had the oyster scrambled eggs, potatoes, and biscuit which was phenomenal), but the conversation about social media, marketing, and life in general was incredible. Mahalo Kristie for a fun impromptu Tweetup. Only wish Chris could have been there too!

I could go on and on and on, but I’ll close here. San Francisco is an incredibly beautiful city for so many reasons. I can’t wait to get back and hope I can find a way to return soon with the family on vacation. Until then, I look forward to keeping in touch with all the great people I met. As we say in Hawaii, a hui hou (until we meet again)!

-NGK

Pressure Cook Hawaii Episode Airs October 6

Filming the opening sequence at Kualoa Ranch. Stunning!

What happens when you take one of MOJO’s most popular shows Pressure Cook with Ralph Pagano and shoot an episode in Hawaii? “Everyone here thinks its the best episode (of season two),” according to the show’s Executive Producer Sandy Green in a recent comment on my Facebook wall.

The Hawaii episode airs October 6 at 3 p.m., 6 p.m., and 9:30 p.m. HST (according to TVGuide.com) and I can hardly wait. Sandy’s comments only make me more anxious to see the show.

It feels like it’s been so long since the completion of production on Oahu and Hawaii’s Big Island back in May. For those following my blog back then, you may have read about my experiences working with the production team here, here, and here.

It sounds like Hawaii will be well represented to a national audience of foodies and travelers. As you watch the show, be on the look out for the following industry partners who supported HVCB in this endeavor. Without these folks, none of this would have been possible: Outrigger Reef on the Beach, Hilton Waikoloa Village, The Shack Waikiki, Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar, Dave Miyamoto Photography, Pualani Hawaii, Makani Kai Helicopters, Kualoa Ranch, and Wailea Ag Group.

MAHALO TO YOU ALL!

I’m interested in hearing from those who watched the episode, so if you want to weigh in with a comment, please do so here. Hope you enjoy the show.

-NGK

Pressure Cook with Ralph Pagano in Hawaii!

The production crew from MOJO network’s Pressure Cook with Ralph Pagano arrived yesterday on Oahu and I have the privilege of working with them this week on the filming of the Hawaii episode. It’s been a long time coming and it was good to finally meet show producers Sandy Green, Brian Reichelt, and Sunny Antrim of Helicon Media in person after many telephone conversations and e-mail exchanges over the past few months.

This is another quality show we (McNeil Wilson Communications) secured on behalf of our client the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) as part of our public relations initiatives for the year to bring more national television shows to the islands.

I’ll be blogging about the production along the way, so fans of the show, stay tuned for a little “behind the scenes” coverage. In case you’re wondering, Ralph (also of Hell’s Kitchen season one fame) is one of the nicest guys (celebrities) I’ve ever met.

And if you want to watch the show online, visit Hulu.com where you’ll find all the episodes of season one.

Back in touch soon with an update.

-NGK

The Ides of March claims another one…

Beware the Ides of March! This month has not been kind to Hawaii businesses and the superstition that bad things happen in threes was confirmed once more.

First it was Weyerhaeuser announcing it was closing its doors after 50 years in Hawaii. Then Molokai Ranch shocked the islands with the same news last week. And today, the news we were all hoping we weren’t going to get came down.

Aloha Airlines today announced it is ceasing passenger operations at close of business tomorrow. What does that mean? No more Aloha Airlines interisland or transpacific service come Tuesday. But sadder, it means roughly 1,900 Aloha Airlines employees will lose their jobs in less than 48 hours. I wish all of the Aloha Airlines employees the best and a heartfelt mahalo for everything they’ve done over the past 61 years.

On a brighter note, Hawaiian Airlines and go! Airlines are stepping up its service to accommodate the void left by Aloha Airlines in the interisland marketplace. Hawaiian said today it is increasing its interisland capacity by 6,000 seats starting on Tuesday, so it good to know we won’t be hung out to dry.

If you’re following the story as a local or visitor heading to or currently here in Hawaii, the best source for updated information is the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau’s website. It’s a one-stop-shop for the latest updates from the Governor’s office, Hawaii Tourism Authority, airlines, hotels, and visitor industry.

-NGK

[Photo courtesy of Boeing]

Bourdain’s “No Reservations” Hawaii airs March 3!

“HAWAII EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS IN EVERY WAY.”
- Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain at Side Street Inn with our client Darlene Morikawa (HVCB) and my colleague Michael Ni. (Photo courtesy of Michael Ni)

Head’s up to all “Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations” fans out there. The Hawaii episode airs one week from tonight (on Monday, March 3 at 8 p.m. HST) on the Travel Channel. As a self-proclaimed foodie and Bourdain fanatic, I can barely wait to see what the “bad boy of cuisine” has to say about his visit to Hawaii as he explores our local foods and culture. As long as it doesn’t turn out like his Cleveland episode (boy he was brutal!), the 50th state should be in good shape. Here’s what’s in store:

Tag along with chef and author Anthony Bourdain as he travels around Oahu and Hawaii’s Big Island to dispel the common myths of Hawaii…some of them his own. It’s no longer just about the luau, tiki drinks, and aloha shirts. In Hawaii, he finds a mixture of cultures that create delicious eats found nowhere else.

The thing I love about Bourdain is his style of calling it like he sees it (or tastes it). It makes for compelling, honest television that pulls viewers in with no hold barred commentary…for things good and bad. So it was with some nervousness that my team at McNeil Wilson went after this show on behalf of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) and secured it as part of our PR efforts to promote travel to the state. Everyone on the team loves No Reservations, it’s the most popular show on the Travel Channel, and millions of viewers who love to travel tune in religiously. Nervousness aside, this was the right thing to do for Hawaii.

Bourdain feasting on SPAM dishes at New Uptown Fountain with local writer David Choo. (Photo courtesy of Michael Ni)

Hats off to my colleague Michael Ni who was relentless in hunting down the producers and getting the show to Hawaii. He put together a great itinerary for Bourdain and had a chance to hang out with him and the entire crew. I’ll let Michael tell you more about the experience in his new blog.

And for the hardcore No Reservations fans, word is Side Street Inn (one of the places Bourdain visited) is having a screening party next Monday. Be there or be square. However, reservations are recommended!

-NGK

Dinner: Impossible does Hawaii good!

Congratulations to Chef Robert Irvine and his crew for pulling off an amazing Hawaiian luau in just eight hours. The Dinner: Impossible – Late for the Luau – Hawaii episode was fantastic and I’m about ready to leave the house to go find some Hawaiian food.

Chef Irvine did an amazing job cooking the kalua pig in the imu, making 150 laulau, poke, squid luau, and a bunch of other dishes. Even the contemporary dishes like the Sweet Potato Risotto and Hearts of Palm Salad looked so ono! Everything looked great and the guests at Kona Village Resort obviously loved it! Big mahalo to local Chef Sam Choy for helping Chef Irvine along the way. Sam is an amazing chef and truly one of the pioneers of Hawaii cooking.

It was clear to me from the start that Chef Irvine was genuinely happy to be in Hawaii and on the Big Island. Even though he didn’t care for poi, he did have some great things to say about his time in Hawaii last November. My Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) PR team at McNeil Wilson asked Chef Irvine a few questions about his time in the islands. Here’s a bit of a “behind the scenes” look into tonight’s episode:

Describe your thoughts when you found out that you were doing a Hawaii challenge?

Chef Irvine: I actually had a day to unwind in Hawaii bewfore I received the challenge, which is rare for me on Dinner: Impossible. I played some golf, had a nice dinner and awoke to meet my fate. When I heard the challenge, with the beautiful Hawaiian seacape behind me, I had my usual moment of mental panic, wondering if I would have food available, equipment, a kitchen or any of the things I would need to put dinner on the table. Then it was off to the races.

When you were told you would have to put on an authentic Hawaiian luau in only eight hours, what were you feeling?

Chef Irvine: I felt immediately that there was a three hundred pound gorilla… or swine… in the room, because I knew instinctively that I was going to have to face off against Kalua Pig. I have dealt with Kalua Pig once or twice before in my career and I knew right away that in order to do it properly, I should have started at least three hours earlier. And you don’t get a second chance; once you dig it out of the ground, if it’s not properly cooked, you’ve nowhere to go… excpet maybe to just swim off into the ocean. I immediately felt better, though, once I saw Sam Choy’s smiling face.

What was the most challenging aspect of this mission?

Chef Irvine: Physically, it was very demanding dealing with the digging and the manipulation of the Kalua Pig. I’m still in pretty good shape, but I’d hate to have to go through that regimen every day. Also, I’m very intense in cooking situations, especially on these challenges, and I had to work to overcome my natural tendencies a bit to happily coexist with my native kitchen helpers, who were working on Hawaiian time.

What was the most valuable lesson/ tip that guest chef Sam Choy gave you?

Chef Irvine: First, let me say that Sam is a national treasure, not just a treasure of the Hawaiian Islands. I love him to death. The number one lesson he taught me that day was to respect the fantastic, fresh native ingredients, some of which had just been pulled out of the ocean hours before we started, and to respect the traditions of how the foods are usually prepared. I was going to be serving my food later that day to folks who grew up going to luaus, so if I tried to get fancy or mess about with their expectations, I was going to get caught out.

Describe some of the produce/ items you used in creating your menu. What were the most unique or unusual products that you had to use?

Chef Irvine: Luau leaves and Ti leaves, I had never encountered before. Learning how to tie up a lau-lau was an adventure, especially when I found out I’d be responsible for getting hundreds of them in the ground before we could cover the pig. I’d seen and tasted poi that had been comercially made before, but I’d never seen it made fresh- I credit my sous chef David for doing a great job on the poi. Even some of the foods I was familar with, like Ahi tuna, we used in new and creative ways… new to me anyway. I had never made poke before and I was able to learn from the master, Sam Choy. Now I’m hooked on Hawaiian cuisine.

What was the most memorable part of filming this episode for you?

Chef Irvine: I love the beauty and atmosphere of the islands. I learned things about the traditions that have grown up here for hundreds of years. For instance, at the end of the challenge, we served up the cheeks of the pig and the poi we had made to Sam, the King of the Feast. Very simple, but filled with meaning. I played golf with the Hawaiian sea spray coming in from the ocean, I went out on an outrigger canoe with a great local family who virtually adopted us for the afternoon.. and we beat the challenge. I think it was one of the best episodes we’ve ever done on the show!

Big mahalo to my MWC colleagues Merrissa and Rhegan for ensuring this production went as smoothly as possible. To all that tuned in, I hope you enjoyed the show!!

-NGK