10.18.2007
Waikiki, Hawaii - To hear Hawaii's renowned designer Sig Zane describe it, the new employee uniform recently unveiled at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach is not about fashion; it is about family. It is also a reflection of how at least one hotelier continues to honor its past for the benefit of its guests.
The new uniform will be worn by employees at both of Outrigger's beachfront properties in Waikiki -- the Outrigger Reef and Outrigger Waikiki -- and at its sister hotel, the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort on the Big Island.
To the casual eye, the new look is a striking aloha print in rich earth tones. To Outrigger employees, it has a name: Kekaulai'o, the Significant Cord. It also has meaning, which fits in well with Outrigger's deeply ingrained commitment to preserving and sharing Hawaii's cultural roots.
Created by Zane in a traditional Hawaiian stamping style called 'ohe kâpala, the new design incorporates eight distinctive symbols, each with its own meaning. Together, they illustrate the origins, growth and future of the hotelier.
* The canoe sail represents the company's role as the parent of the family. Figuratively, the sail is what brought Outrigger to this point in time, and allows the family to move about and expand its horizons.
* The prow, an important part of the canoe, helps ensure harmony and smooth sailing. Just as each part contributes to the successful running of the canoe, every department within Outrigger is important to the whole.
* The paddle is a partner of the canoe and aids the family's journey. It directs the path that will be taken, a decision that requires training and experience.
* The kalo (taro) is the symbol of 'ohana (family).
* The moku is the island and illustrates each individual's inter-dependency upon each other, and how together, all persons' strengths are combined to form a powerful group.
* The waves reflect on generations past and the migration of the family's ancestors to Hawaii. It recognizes that employees who worked during Outrigger's earlier years have left behind a legacy that others carry on today.
* The shark tooth symbolizes those who came before, providing guidance and protection so that today's family knows the correct direction in which to move. The shark tooth is a reminder to carry on those ancestral traditions.
* The binding cord connects values and traditions, and ties the family's origins to its futures.
"Binding values and traditions, the kaula represents our origins," Zane said of the new design. "The umbilical cord, the binding cord, keeps us connected to our families. This cord also binds the company, all the employees and managers, and guests. This design shall unite all properties, unifying the goal to share the knowledge and traditions of our ancestors and to be most hospitable to our guests."
"Our guests may never fully realize how much thought and effort went into the creation of our new uniform," said Kimberly Agas, vice president of operations. "But we as employees know and value what our uniforms stand for, and that in turn is reflected in the aloha and hospitality we share with our guests."
The importance of local culture to Outrigger is evident in many of its decisions. The bath amenities at the Outrigger Reef and Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, for instance, were selected because they are custom-made in Hawaii. Hotel grounds are deliberately landscaped with native plants, particularly those that are significant to traditional Hawaiian activities such as lei-making or canoe-building. Multiple properties provide a wide variety of complimentary activities and educational workshops for guests who are interested in learning more about the islands' multi-cultural heritage.
The cultural commitment is not lost on employees and community members with whom Outrigger regularly partners to help ensure authenticity in their programs.
"It's nice to be partners with Outrigger, and having them appreciate the inherent value of what we do and the works of our family and of our ancestors," Zane said.
On the first day that Outrigger Reef employees wore their new uniform, a manager ran into a fellow employee. "My, don't we look handsome today?" she teased him. "Today," he replied, smiling, "we're all feeling handsome."
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The oceanfront anchor of the new Waikiki Beach Walk®, Outrigger Reef on the Beach is ideally situated between beautiful Waikiki Beach and exciting Waikiki. Currently undergoing a $100 million makeover, the hotel is being transformed into Oahu's newest haven of elegance, gracious hospitality and unparalleled commitment to Hawaiian culture. The project is being carefully completed in multiple phases to ensure the continued comfort of guests. On property are a wide array of restaurants, shops and services including a 5,000-square-foot day spa and complimentary Hawaiian Vow Renewal Ceremony. The adjacent Waikiki Beach Walk is Oahu's newest entertainment destination, home to shops, boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and accommodations spanning a nearly 8-acre area in Waikiki.
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High resolution digital images of the hotel are available for editorial use upon request. Contact Luly Unemori, Pono Communications, at 808-986-0404 or luly@ponocomm.net
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About Outrigger Enterprises Group
Outrigger Enterprises Group is one of the largest and fastest-growing hospitality services companies in the Asia-Pacific region. Outrigger is a family-owned company with 60 years of hospitality experience and runs a highly-successful, multi-branded line of hotels, condominiums and vacation resort properties, including Outrigger Hotels & Resorts, OHANA Hotels & Resorts, Outrigger Condominium Collection, and Embassy Suites®-Waikiki Beach Walk®.* Outrigger Enterprises Group also operates and develops hotel properties and hospitality-related retail and real estate opportunities for partners in Hawaii, the Pacific, the mainland USA and Asia. For on-line information, log on at www.outriggerenterprisesgroup.com or www.outrigger.com.
*Embassy Suites is a registered trade mark of Hilton Hotels Corporation.
