Hawaii caterers & special event professionals gathered last Tuesday, May 11, at the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel for the monthly meeting of NACE Hawaii, the Hawaii chapter of the National Association of Catering Executives. The evening began with a delicious buffet and tasty sorbet dessert.
A lively and informative discussion followed, as NACE member and Creations in Catering President Mike Rabe moderated a great dialogue on event costing. While event professionals are aware of the costs of doing business in their particular industry, it was interesting to learn about the costs from other special event related industries and what goes into the end user’s overall investment. NACE members formed teams and collaborated to put together a proposal for a mock bride & groom to decide to hire, and it was interesting to hear the proposals and the motivations behind the costs.
NACE Hawaii would like to thank New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel for hosting the meeting, and Dianna Shitanishi with Hawaii Weddings and Events for the beautiful decor, help in organizing the meeting logistics, and serving as a liaison between NACE Hawaii and the venue. Finally, a big mahalo (thank you) to all of the guests who came, learned, and networked. Your attendance and participation are greatly appreciated.
Images courtesy MARINO M. REGALADO / Ninja Entertainment
For a perspective on what it was like as a NACE Hawaii member, click here read about the meeting on the blog of Marino M. Regalado, Hawaii wedding emcee and owner of Ninja Entertainment.
written by NACE Hawaii Webmaster
\\ tags: costing, may, meeting, new otani kaimana beach
Your NACE Hawaii Board of Directors will have their monthly board meeting on Tuesday, April 6, at 6pm at the Dole Ballrooms. The meeting is open to all members; you are invited to attend and to voice your opinions and ideas! The board will discuss the upcoming Tasty Travels fundraiser, NACE Experience 2010, and much more, so drop by and share your thoughts. The board appreciates your input and participation.
written by NACE Hawaii Webmaster
\\ tags: board, conference, convention, dole ballrooms, experience, fundraiser, meeting, Tasty Travels
Aloha NACE Hawaii Chapter Members!
 As your chapter president, I need to remind you not to pass up the discounted rate of $995.00 (which ends today 03/31/10) of the NACE Experience 2010 in Austin, TX on July 25-28, 2010. Click here for more info on the conference.
After today the fee for the NACE Experience 2010 jumps to $1095.00.
From past experience, the NACE Experience has given me the education, the networking with NACE members around the USA, and the “New” concepts of event designing, food presentation, and internet knowledge that is worth its weight in gold.
You say you don’t have the cash for it now? There is a 3 month installment payment plan that you can charge to your credit card. Click on the link below and choose on the “installment payment form”; print it out and fill it out; then fax to the phone number listed on the form.
 Click here to register for the NACE Experience 2010.
I do hope to see all of you at the NACE Experience 2010 in Austin, July 25-28, 2010!
Warmest Aloha!
Herb Yamamoto
NACE Hawaii Chapter President 2009-2010
written by NACE Hawaii Webmaster
\\ tags: association, austin, catering, conference, convention, experience, july
 The NACE Hawaii Newsletter is back! Thanks to NACE Hawaii Vice President Josette Murai for putting this issue together. This month’s issue is filled with news about the Hawaii catering & special events industry; updates from NACE Hawaii and NACE National; and much more. And it’s FREE!! Check it out!
Click here to open and download the March 2010 issue of the NACE Hawaii Newsletter.
Did I mention that it was free?
written by NACE Hawaii Webmaster
\\ tags: advice, news
Aloha Everyone!
 Our NACE Hawaii chapter will be doing another fundraiser in 2010: Tasty Travels, the same program as 2009. Purchase a $10 dining pass and get a 20% discount off food at participating restaurants around the island.
This year, the dining pass will be available for use the entire month of May. Note that some restrictions will apply.
We anticipate having the tickets ready in April to start distributing and selling.
Our goal is to have about 40 restaurants participating in Tasty Travels.
We need ALL members to participate in and help us make this a successful fundraiser.
We need your help to:
- Secure restaurants around Oahu to participate
- Sell! Sell! Sell! TICKETS.
Here is a tentative timeline:
- March 26 – have all restaurants (names, addresses, contact & contact information) reported in. Please send all information to this email: nacehawaii@gmail.com.
- April 9 – tickets and posters ready for distribution to all members to start selling.
- May 1-31 – Tasty Travels in effect.
Click here to download the letter that you can provide the restaurants with when asking for their participation.
Thank you for your assistance in making this a success!
Aloha,
Susan O’Donnell
Fundraising Chairperson
Herb Yamamoto
President
NACE Hawaii Chapter
NACE Hawaii President Herb Yamamoto with representatives from Hawaii Meals on Wheels, beneficiaries of last year’s Tasty Travels program
written by NACE Hawaii Webmaster
\\ tags: fundraiser, KCC, Meals On Wheels, restaurant, Tasty Travels
NACE Hawaii is kicking off its spring Membership campaign, where you get $100.00 off the regular price of membership if you join between March 22 to May 21. If you’re interested, email us at nacehawaii@gmail.com, and an on-line discount code will be sent to you along with instructions to register.
NACE Hawaii members: if you know anyone who wants to join, let them know! If we have the most new members among all of the NACE chapters at the end of the campaign, one lucky NACE Hawaii member will win the opportunity to go to the NACE Experience! Conference in July! So let you colleagues and friends know about this great opportunity!
written by NACE Hawaii Webmaster
\\ tags: campaign, conference, experience, membership, spring
 At the recent February NACE Hawaii general meeting, Michael Rabe, NACE Hawaii member and President of Hawaii off-premise catering company Creations in Catering, delivered “Your NACE Investment: Are You Networking Or STILL Not Working?”, a profound presentation on the importance of networking, being involved in the associations you belong to, and why it’s so vital to your marketing in this economy. Building on the success of his original presentation six years ago, he had members examine their memberships in the organizations that members belong to, how it has (or hasn’t) impacted their marketing, and WHY.
For the benefit of those who couldn’t make it to last Tuesday’s meeting, Michael has graciously allowed his notes to be posted here on this blog for you to read and download. There are also plans for him to deliver this presentation again at another NACE Hawaii meeting sometime within the year (in town, where we hopefully will get more in attendance), and perhaps to other associations you may belong to.
Click here to view Michael’s notes for “Are You Networking or STILL Not Working?”
If you wish to have Michael Rabe speak at your next function, contact him at 521-7101.
written by NACE Hawaii Webmaster
\\ tags: advice, meeting, mike rabe, networking
Marino M. Regalado with Ninja Entertainment recently blogged about two NACE Hawaii events that happened not too long ago.
Click here to read about and see pictures of the recent Jerry Edwards NACE Hawaii Special Event in January at Dole Ballrooms.
Click here to read about this month’s general meeting at Formaggio Grill in Kailua, where Michael Rabe with Creations in Catering delivered a powerful keynote presentation on the importance of networking and being involved in the associations you belong to.
written by NACE Hawaii Webmaster
\\ tags: dinner, dole ballrooms, Formaggio Grill, networking
Are you planning to participate in the TABLETOP DESIGN CONTEST at the upcoming OWA/NACE Hawaii joint meeting? In addition to the cash prizes to be awarded at the end of the night, this is your opportunity to showcase your design skills and talents.
 Here are the rules to participate:
- Teams will consist of a minimum of two people, and a maximum of four people.
- There is a $40 entry fee per team.
- Your design will be a scaled-down design for a table of four. Sheraton Waikiki will supply a 30″ round table and four standard banquet chairs. You are free to bring your own. If you want to use Sheraton’s equipment (e.g., silverware, china, linens, etc.), please submit a list of your needs to NACE Hawaii President Herb Yamamoto so he can request the items on your behalf from the hotel. Your list is due no later than Monday, October 4. In addition, if you are bringing in your own specialty items (e.g., linens, furniture, etc.) and need access to the loading zone area, please advise Herb so that the hotel can be notified.
- Decor setup time will consist of two hours on the day of, between 3:30-5:30pm. All decor must be brought on location that day and will be taken down at the end of the event.
- Setup location is the Ni’ihau Room Foyer.
- Your team will need to provide the price and information for your design, based on a table of ten (10).
- Your final design and layout will be kept anonymous for judging and will not be revealed until winners are announced at the end of the night. This gives you a fair, unbiased opportunity to be judged on your creativity and talents rather than your popularity among your friends and colleagues.
Members of both organizations will vote to pick the winning entries.
To register your team for this event, please contact your organization’s president:
NACE Hawaii: Herb Yamamoto, herb.yamamoto@pacificbeachhotel.com or 921-6194 (office) or 782-0132 (cell)
OWA: Dave Miyamoto, owapres@gmail.com or 396-5599
Thanks to OWA Past President Susan O’Donnell for putting together the rules for this contest. Good luck with your design!
written by NACE Hawaii Webmaster
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In case you missed the fun last January, 
