David Carey, President and CEO
Carey is a board member of the Honolulu Festival Foundation. The Foundation had the opportunity to interview him. We asked him about Outrigger's latest projects, his organization's commitment to the community and the partnership that Outrigger has developed with the Honolulu Festival.
Outrigger Enterprises Group has generously reached out to support Honolulu Festival each year. Our 13th Annual Festival was sub themed "Pacific Renaissance" and highlighted the newly reborn Waikiki. Our Festival perfectly coincided with the reopening of Lewers Street, a major revitalization project spearheaded by Outrigger Enterprises Group known as Waikiki Beach Walk. What was once a tired looking Lewers Street was given a new life. The visitor industry of Hawaii had not seen such a new development in Waikiki for many years before that. It has given visitors and kama'aina a new Waikiki experience. Since then, the Honolulu Festival has featured a stage area at Plaza Lawn so that the international performers can entertain our visitors during the two days of the festival.
Outrigger began more than 65 years ago as the dream of Roy and Estelle Kelley, who pioneered the development of the family-style hotel in Hawaii. Their first hotel, The Islander, opened in 1947 and was the first hotel built in Waikiki since the Royal Hawaiian two decades earlier. It was unique in that it focused on middle-income vacationers. The Kelley strategy was to keep costs low and guests satisfied. It was a formula that worked.
Roy and Estelle Kelley
Islander Hotel
This was the modest beginning of the Kelley family's storied involvement in Hawaii's visitor industry. After more than six decades of growth, the Kelley legacy of 'ohana (family) and of sharing the aloha spirit with guests has remained a fundamental part of Outrigger and its corporate culture.
With vision, perseverance and attention to detail, the Kelleys built a hands-on hospitality company that today is the largest locally-owned hospitality company in Hawaii and stretches from the Hawaiian Islands across the Pacific with nearly 50 properties and close to 12,000 rooms open or under development in Hawaii, Australia, Guam, Fiji, Bali, Phuket, Thailand, and Hainan, China.
Outrigger is a values-based company that emphasizes the importance of integrity, honesty, and sincerity in all of its employees. Outrigger incorporates the highest standards of responsibility, business ethics and accountability into all of its business operations.
Outrigger's corporate culture reflects its Hawaiian background and stresses the island concept of Ho'okipa, or hospitality. Outrigger launched Ke'Ano Wa'a, The Outrigger Way, in 1993 to promote ho'okipa. Ke'Ano Wa'a defines standards for interaction with hosts, guests, and the land. The company trains its employees on the nature of Hawaiian hospitality, the history and significance of place, and the skills needed to share this information with others. This gives employees pride in what they do, and allows guests to experience just how special Hawaii is.
Outrigger Reef Canoe House
Outrigger Reef Lobby
Outrigger has earned a strong reputation for the support it gives to its local communities. The company does this not only through targeted contributions, but also by sharing its expertise and encouraging its employees to become involved in the communities where they live and work.
According to Outrigger's president and CEO, David Carey, "Our commitment takes many forms, but we pay special attention to enhancing education and promoting causes championed by our people."
Here are just a few examples of Outrigger's commitment and support of programs that contribute to the quality of life for local residents:
Outrigger's support of Hawaii's Visitor Industry Charity Walk raises needed funds for many non-profit organizations across the State.
The company's donations to community food shelves and food banks help nourish children and support victims of typhoons and other natural disasters.
Blood drives by Outrigger employees collect thousands of precious pints each year.
Outrigger's sponsorship of University of Hawaii Athletics contributes to student education.
Outrigger's corporate donations also extend overseas to areas where Outrigger operates hotels and has included Outrigger on the Lagoon Fiji Community Scholarship Fund, Surf Life Saving Australia, First Annual Chamorro Conference in Guam, Visitor Industry Charity Walk and Easter Seals Taste of Honolulu.
Outrigger also helps to ensure a strong military presence in Hawaii. The company has had a long history of supporting both the senior flag officers and enlisted personnel that temporarily call Hawaii their home ensuring that military personnel and their families feel welcome – and appreciated – in Hawaii.
Outrigger encourages its executives to share their experience within the community by serving on community and industry boards, including the Nature Conservancy, East-West Center, Pacific Asian Affairs Council, Hawaii Business Roundtable, American Red Cross, Hawaii Public Radio and American Youth Soccer Organization, to name just a few.
Outrigger has received a multitude of awards over the years, including:
Hawaii Army Museum Society's Ihe Award
March of Dimes' Millennium Award
Waikiki Community Center's Makana Ola Loa (Lifelong Friend) Award
Crime Stoppers Honolulu's Diamond Award
American Marketing Association Marketer of the Year Award
Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii Aloha Spirit Award
Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii (VASH) Chairman's Award
Chaminade University School of Business Ethics in Business Award
Hawaii Business Magazine's 25 Best Places to Work in Hawaii
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