The new Hospitality Academy of Maui at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College is a state-of-the-art training lab for the next generation of visitor industry leaders. Courtesy photo

Since the “Boat Days” of the 1920s when luxury liners began to bring visitors to these Islands from the U.S. Mainland and beyond, “tourism” has been a central part of Hawai’i’s conversation. From those early days right up to today, there are plenty of salient points to be made on all sides of the question of how to best serve our visitors and our local communities, keeping their respective needs and wants front of mind. One fact, though, is undeniable — about 70 cents of every dollar of Maui’s economy is directly and/or indirectly tied to tourism. And it’s been that way for decades.

As part of our college’s commitment to training a workforce that can meet our community’s future needs in all fields and because we believe the demand for skilled hospitality professionals has never been greater, we are proud to now have on our campus the new Hospitality Academy (HA) of Maui. It is a state-of-the-art training lab for our next generation of visitor industry leaders. It’s located on the southern end of our campus and if you regularly travel along Ka’ahumanu Avenue, you may have noticed the frenzy of construction over the last few months.

The seed of the idea was planted when our Hospitality & Tourism Program (HOST) formed a partnership with its advisory committee to help develop Maui’s visitor industry workforce of the future. The intent of this unique partnership was to work together to create a fully functioning “lab hotel.” The building has a meeting room, lobby, front desk and five guest rooms. And those rooms are at the heart of the project.

Each room will be “adopted” by resorts and hotels on Maui. Each will sponsor the outfitting of its room. Individual properties will be able to encompass all the special elements of its brand such as proprietary colors, amenities and furniture design. Each room will acknowledge the particular hotel’s or resort’s contribution to the project with a plaque or other form of physical recognition.

“We, at Westin Nanea Ocean Villas and as a part of the Hotel Industry, are pleased to have such an opportunity to collaborate with the Hospitality & Tourism Program at UH Maui College,” says Chris Rabang, General Manager at the Westin Nanea Ocean Villas and Co-Chair of the Hospitality & Tourism Advisory Committee.

The Hospitality Academy of Maui will have a meeting room, lobby, front desk and five guest rooms that will be “adopted” by resorts and hotels on Maui. Courtesy photo

“Through the Hoʻokākoʻo Ka ʻIke (to support learning) program, the partnership will help develop the future hospitality and tourism leaders and workforce. This program provides operational insights to our industry which the students can gain valuable exposure to. It is critically important to train our homegrown talent on Maui to sustain our vibrant hospitality industry,” he adds.

This sentiment is echoed by the other industry partners, including the Sheraton Maui, Hilton Grand Vacations and Four Seasons Maui, all of whom have committed to adopting a room of their own. These partnerships provide invaluable opportunities for students to gain real-world experience, network with industry professionals, and potentially secure internships and future employment.

“Starting this spring 2025 semester, students will have the opportunity to learn in this simulated hotel environment,” says Business & Hospitality Department Chair, Professor Lorelle Peros. “What truly sets this program apart is its focus on cutting-edge technology. Students will master the art of guest check-in using the same OPERA Cloud system employed by luxury hotels worldwide. Interactive simulations will challenge them to resolve guest complaints, manage bookings, and optimize revenue strategies.”

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Department of English selected “future” as its 2024 Word of the Year for Hawaiʻi. The department’s choice acknowledges the complex nature of what lies ahead. One thing about the future – at least the foreseeable future – is certain. Tourism is here to stay. Here at UHMC, we aim to make it work for everyone, residents and visitors alike.

For the latest information about the Hospitality Academy of Maui at UHMC, please visit maui.hawaii.edu/hospitality-lab-of-maui. For complete information about UH Maui College, please visit maui.hawaii.edu/.

Dr. Lui K. Hokoana is Chancellor of the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College. Ka’ana Mana’o, which means “sharing thoughts,” appears regularly in The Maui News. It is prepared with assistance from UH-Maui College staff and is intended to provide the community of Maui County information about opportunities available through the college at its Kahului campus and its education centers.