The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) announced today that Douglas Chang, General Manager of the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikīkī Beach, has been appointed as Chair of the Kilohana Collective’s (Kilohana) transition team. Kilohana is a collaborative of travel industry experts and community leaders committed to fulfilling the Hawai‘i Destination Brand Marketing & Management Services contract for the United States Major Market Area awarded by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) to CNHA on June 2, 2022.
“We are very pleased and grateful to have Doug lead the Transition Team,” said Kūhiō Lewis, CNHA Chief Executive Officer. “Doug brings a wealth of visitor industry knowledge and experience to this role. This, combined with his deep love and appreciation for Hawai‘i’s culture and community, makes Doug the perfect person to lead our team’s transition to support HTA’s vision of a new, regenerative model for tourism.”
“We understand and respect the integrity of the contract procurement process that HTA is still working through. We also felt it was important that we continue to move forward with our planning so that the Kilohana is ready, pending the outcome of that process,” said Lewis.
As a seasoned leader with nearly 40 years of hospitality experience, Chang has held numerous leadership positions in the visitor industry, including serving as Chair of the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Kapalua Bay, General Manager of Hotel Hāna-Maui, and Hotel Manager of the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort and Beach Club. He recently returned to serve on the Board of Directors for the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association (NaHHA), an organization where he was a founding board member and past President, and also the Hawaiʻi Tourism & Lodging Association (HTLA). Chang is an alumnus of Kamehameha Schools.
“As a native Hawaiian and industry leader, this is an exciting time to be a part of HTA’s effort to transform the model for tourism in Hawai‘i,” said Chang. “Embracing regenerative destination management will make both our communities and our visitor industry stronger. The Kilohana Collective is comprised of strong, passionate, and talented professionals, and the transition team seeks to support their smooth transition into fulfilling the North American marketing and destination management contract. I am honored to serve with this group of leaders who, likewise, are committed to HTA’s vision and we look forward to working collaboratively with HTA, HVCB, the visitor industry, and the community to create a healthy future for tourism here in Hawaiʻi.”
As Chair, Chang will lead the transition team’s efforts, including identifying and recruiting Kilohana’s executive director, solidifying scopes of work for Kilohana’s partners, and continuingto engage with community and industry stakeholders.
The full list of transition team members includes:
- Chair – Doug Chang, General Manager, Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikīkī and former HTA Chair
- Ann Botticelli, former Hawaiian Airlines Senior VP of Corporate Communications and Public Relations
- Frank Haas, former HTA Vice President and Director of Marketing and current visitor industry consultant
- Corbett Kalama, Executive Vice President, The Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation
- Amy Kalili, Interim Executive Director, Kilohana Collective, and Partner, Pilina First LLP
- Micah Kāne, CEO and President, Hawai‘i Community Foundation
- Ku‘uipo Kumukahi, Manager of Hawaiian Culture, Hyatt Regency Waikīkī
- Kūhiō Lewis, CEO, CNHA
- Aaron Salā, Director of Cultural Affairs, Royal Hawaiian Center and former HTA Chair
- Rebecca Soon, President, Ward Research
- Roy Tokujo, ʻUlalena founder and former HTA Chair
- Sun Wong, Principal, CM Marketing Group and former chair of O‘ahu Visitors Bureau
- Kūha‘o Zane, COO & Creative Director, Sig Zane Designs and President, Edith Kanakaʻole Foundation