Hotel Strikes Impacting Conferences in Hawaii

The University of Hawai’i spent tens of thousands of dollars moving its annual Health Workforce Summit four days before its scheduled start due to the hotel workers' strikes.

The event, held on Sept. 7, had been held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village for the last 10 years. Because of the strike, school officials moved the conference to its campus, the John A. Burns School of Medicine.

The sessions and schedule were unchanged. The University also asked attendees not to stay in any hotels involved in the ongoing strike.

The cost associated with the last-minute change adds up quickly: The deposit at the Hilton is in question. Tents had to be erected, and food and beverages for the relocated conference had to be arranged, according to local Hawaiian news station KHON. 

Hilton Hawaiian Village didn’t respond to a request for comment. 

Contract Agreement Has Not Been Reached

Although over 5,000 hotel workers on Oahu have wrapped up a three-day strike, a contract agreement has yet to be reached. Workers are calling for better pay, more staffing, and the reversal of Covid-era cuts in guest services.

“Strike issues in Honolulu have not been resolved. Negotiations are ongoing. More strikes are possible at any time should issues remain unresolved,” said Ted Waechter, a spokesperson for Unite Here. 

Hawaiian hotels impacted are the Sheraton Kauai Resort and seven Waikiki hotels: the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort; Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa; Moana Surfrider — a Westin Resort Spa; The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort; Sheraton Princess Kaiulani; Sheraton Waikiki; and the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.

The hotel strike wasn’t isolated to just Hawaii. Workers in Boston, Greenwich, San Diego, San Francisco, Baltimore, Seattle, and San Jose have also been on strike.