Hawaii Spa Association

Category: Uncategorized

  • Our COVID-19 Response

    Address from Hi-Spa President Cecilia Hercik:

    On behalf of the Hawaii Spa Association, as President I’d like to kindly address concerns related to COVID-19, aka the coronavirus outbreak.

    Within our interconnected network of facilities, companies, management and members across the Hawaiian Islands, we strive to be in contact with each other to control any further spread of the virus, along with making sure to stay connected and informed within our industry. I’d like to bring up that first and foremost, sanitation has always been a number one daily priority for those within the spa industry, not something that is only taken seriously during times of apprehension and distress. The Wellness Industry has always had strict sanitation standards, not just for the guests we provide for but for our employees as well, and each employee that treats with guests is a highly trained professional with the utmost regard for cleanliness and health.

    At Hi-Spa we’re all making sure to do our part to provide the most we can to our members and to everyone affected. If you read further you’ll find incredible sanitation protocols, tips and useful websites from our Information Specialist Shawn Hallum, comforting words of wisdom from Treasurer Darryll Leiman, and helpful connections provided by Vice President Jennifer Holzworth.

    It’s important that we take the time to educate ourselves as much as possible without being swept into the mass unease stirred by other forms of media exposure.

    In these times of distress, remember that your health is ultimately within your control, and stress and anxiety also play an enormous part on the state of your immune system. So from your local team of wellness professionals, remember to breathe, relax, and find calm in the moments you can while taking those extra steps to maintain your health and wellbeing.

    Mahalo, Cecilia Hercik & Hi-Spa Board

    Address from Hi-Spa Vice President Jennifer Holzworth:

    Aloha Members & Team,

    I am proud to say that we of the Hi-Spa Board not only prioritize the health and protection within our own facilities, but we also feel strongly that we need to be setting an example for all spas and wellness centers out there. In addition to this letter the Board has created to address the concerns of COVID-19 to our members, we have also included helpful resources and best practices to observe and use in your own facilities or homes.

    The changes we can be making don’t have to be earth shattering, they can be small directional shifts that help everybody take small steps in the right direction towards maintaining our health; for example we have been working to adjust the verbiage of our local cancellation policy to state something along the lines of: “Please be prepared that if you are experiencing any flu like symptoms, your services may need to be rescheduled for a later time.” Simple words like this added to the health waiver at sign in can make all the difference in the world.

    While stress is high and the days are rough, we will continue to work hard to be as genuine and kind as possible during these troubling times. Rosa Say, one of our strongest resources, gives us some valuable words of advice to those of us who are in a place of management on truly Managing with Aloha during this state of unrest.

    Mahalo for your support, and we hope this letter provides insight and perspective to all who need it.

    Jennifer Holzworth & Hi-Spa Board

    Address from Hi-Spa Treasurer Darryll Leiman:

    Aloha Hi-Spa members:

    We are certainly living in unprecedented times…. Who would ever think that cruise ships around the world could be quarantined at sea, the sudden drop in air travel, hotel occupancies down internationally, double-digit drops in the stock market and whole countries in a precautionary lockdown all because of a tiny virus causing so much angst worldwide.

    It is especially now that we in the spa industry need to be a beacon of calm and grounded-ness, an island of tranquility in this sea of uncertainty that surrounds us. As we watch and monitor the situation, we need to keep focused on our mission, revisit our protocols and procedures, and continue doing what we always do. Safety, health and wellbeing is the goal we strive for every day. We always sanitize, wash our hands, keep our areas immaculately clean, and offer the simple oshibori or cleansing treatment. That is what we are trained to do, and that is what we always do. We need to set the example, keep focused and remain the professionals we are all trained to be, taking care of the wellbeing of our guests and team members.

    As Rudyard Kipling might have said….If you can keep your head when all others around you are losing theirs…..you are a “spa” leader, my colleagues.

    Please note too, our scheduled “Practice What You Preach” event for Spa Directors has been put on hold until such time as we feel it is safe and appropriate to hold such an event. We will reinstate as soon as possible.

    Thank you, Darryll Leiman & Hi-Spa Board

    Address from Hi-Spa Information Specialist Shawn Hallum:

    Please review the updated in-house protocols to be used within your facilities to help protect against the COVID-19 outbreak.

    Hi-Spa COVID-19 Protocols

    Employee:

    • Any employee experiencing the symptoms of COVID-19 (including fever, sore throat, persistent cough) should not come to work. Employees are reminded to follow the protocols for calling out sick.
    • Employees should avoid contact with sick people, maintaining a six-foot distance whenever possible.
    • Cover your coughs and sneezes with tissue.
    • All employees to wash hands with soap and hot water for 20 seconds (or use a hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol) after any interaction with a guest or employee. Therapists must include washing forearms (to elbow).
    • All employees should minimize touching their eyes, nose and mouth.
    • Therapists refrain from handshake during welcome/departure with guest. Utilize a welcome gesture or bow instead.
    • Therapists must verbalize to guests that they have washed their hands prior to the commencement of service and that the treatment room has been sanitized in accordance with industry standards and CDC
    • recommendations.
    • All employees must wear disposable gloves when handling towels, linens and other items that go in the laundry. Dispose of gloves after each use. If using reusable gloves, those gloves should be dedicated for cleaning and disinfection of surfaces for COVID-19 and should not be used for other purposes. Clean hands immediately after gloves are removed. If possible, do not shake dirty laundry (this will minimize the possibility of dispersing virus through the air).

    Guest:

    • Offer every guest the opportunity to wash their hands prior to the commencement of treatment
    • Confidently respond to any questions or concerns you receive from guests about the actions we’re taking to keep everyone healthy, including our protocols for sanitization.
    • Guests who have health conditions for which spa services are contraindicated will be rescheduled when they have fully recovered. This includes guests who disclose that they are feeling ill or if a potentially contagious illness is apparent to employees. Obvious symptoms include coughs, fever, and shortness of breath.

    Facility

    • Massage therapists and estheticians should continue to follow our standards for sanitization, which include disinfection of tables and equipment after each use.
    • Fitness Centers should schedule a full time person to non-stop sanitize all the equipment, yoga mats, foam rollers, blocks, weight bars, dumbbells, kettlebells, sandballs, etc.
    • Beauty Salon should allocate extra time between services to sanitize the entire station ( instruments, scissors, combs, flat irons, brushes, chair, capes, counters, etc).

    COVID-19 Facility/Equipment Sanitation Procedures

    • All surfaces susceptible to human contact must be cleaned after each guest use or every three hours, whichever comes first. These surfaces include, but are not limited to:
    • All door handles to all interior and exterior doors o Lounge chairs
    • Water dispensers
    • Sinks and countertops
    • Locker doors
    • Shower controls
    • Sink controls
    • Pens
    • iPad surface
    • Telephone ear piece, mouth piece and buttons on Computer keyboard(s)
    • Receptionist countertops
    • Workstations
    • Employee Microwave and Refrigerator handles
    • If surfaces are dirty, they should be cleaned using a detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
    • Household cleaners and EPA-registered disinfectants should be used, following all label precautions.
    • For disinfection, diluted household bleach solutions, alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and most common EPA-registered household disinfectants should be effective.
    • Diluted household bleach solutions can be used if appropriate for the surface. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date.
    • Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser.
    • Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted as follows:
    • 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water or
    • 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water
    • Products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims are expected to be effective against COVID-19 based on data for harder to kill viruses. Make sure to wear disposable gloves when cleaning.
    • Launder items as appropriate in accordance with our laundry vendor’s protocols. Note that dirty linens from an ill person can be washed with other people’s items, so there is no increased risk of transmission when the laundry is washed properly.
    • Clean and disinfect clothes hampers according to guidance above for surfaces. If possible, line the hampers with a bag that is either disposable or can be laundered.

    Information

    In addition, we encourage you to proactively educate yourself on any new developments. We also found the following links that you may find informative and helpful:

    Mahalo and safe and healthy regards,

    Shawn Hallum & Hi-Spa Board

  • Silver Linings and Our New Normal

    **The following content is from Rosa Say’s weekly newsletter**

    Aloha mai kākou, Let’s talk story. This week… there are choices to be made, and new habits to be forged in our lessons with social distancing and sheltering at home. There is also much good to be found!

    “This will be the end of Twitter if outbreaks of courtesy like this don’t stop.” —Tom Nichols, when a disagreement broke through to more clarity and understanding.

    The phrase “life comes at you fast” has settled into the forefront of my awareness this week; you too? I’ve also counted the blessing of our value of the month practice once again, in how serendipitous it can be; if there was ever a time to dwell on ‘Imi ola choices with “Seeking your best possible life,” surely, this is it!

    Suggested MWA Review: ‘Imi ola, the Value of Mission and Vision. #achoicewasmade

    Ho‘ohana Conversations

    Our New Normal

    I’ve never before thought of myself as an “elder at risk” or as ‘non-essential’ yet here we are! Here in the Say household, I’m on day 22 sheltering in place voluntarily; my last ‘business as usual’ outing was on February 26th, a Wednesday. By the time the week ended every one of my future business engagements had been canceled, and understandably so—I initiated the calls to any clients I’d not yet heard from. Yesterday was day 1 for my husband, as the day his employer trimmed his normally full-time schedule to an on-call (and unlikely) one. His personal ramifications aside, he is one who feels his employer, a hotelier, should be closing their doors completely for the best welfare of all… we’ve been amazed by the number of wealthier travelers who selfishly, callously – and erroneously – feel they can somehow escape the pandemic here in Hawai‘i given our location as the remotest inhabited place on earth, expecting others to serve them without disruption or any inconvenience.

    According the New York Times, a new study suggests that the coronavirus is “hiding in plain sight,” and that for every known case of Covid19, another 7 to 10 cases are “out there” undetected. Please, please follow the hygienic requirements and social distancing recommendations now shared to keep yourself healthy as we ride out the evolution of this novel virus. It’s the most generous, giving thing each individual can do, for in a ‘novel virus’ we have not gone through a cycle of responding biologically with our own human immunity. For now, and perhaps forevermore, everyone must think of themselves as an easily crossed bridge to someone who is more vulnerable.

    Coronavirus timeline at NBC News: Tracking the critical moments of COVID-19.

    Good Read at The Guardian: The family lockdown guide: how to emotionally and structurally prepare for coronavirus quarantine. An oldie but goodie: You are Your Habits, so Make ‘em Good!

    Habits are powerful – think of them as human magic. Lifestyle adjustments and habit changes can be challenging, yet this is also a time to ask yourself, “Should this be a change I keep forevermore?” each time you encounter a silver lining, such as new standards of cleanliness, polite social distancing, and other Kākou behaviors. Learn from history, and let past accomplishments inspire you: From the Washington Post: During a pandemic, Isaac Newton had to work from home, too. He used the time wisely.

    Silver Linings

    Adversity does 2 things for us: It proves how much we are capable of as human beings, and it exposes shortfalls we have not worked on and solved. Our radar intensifies during hard times, and we will see, and freshly analyze and reconsider issues that were previously relegated to our someday/maybe wish lists before.

    “When we talk about ‘getting back to normal,’ we need to rethink the effect of human encroachment on the natural habitats of other living creatures.” – @HawaiiDelilah commenting on the dolphins returning to Sardinian waters without the toxic polluting of ships and ferries. “Wow… Earth is recovering – Air pollution is slowing down – Water pollution is clearing up – Natural wildlife returning home… Coronavirus is Earth’s vaccine… We’re the virus.” – Thomas Schultz

    In Work

    When you don’t “have” to, you “get” to. The silver lining in my own 22 days at home and counting, has been the opportunity to work on my passion issues via more research, data collection and study. The mainstay of my work is value alignment, the role of the manager, and workplace culture-building as reflected in the 9 Key Concepts, whereas my passion issues include financial literacy, a living wage for all labor done, and the reconstruction of business models – I consider them the most pressing concepts within the ‘Ohana in Business® model;

    As Steven Pinker has said, “If you’re committed to progress, you can’t very well claim to have it all figured out.” Like many of you right now, I do think about our loss of revenue as my husband and I learn to better appreciate our time at home together away from the work which normally pays our bills. Yet I must say I am loving the time I now have to work on my passion issues, and on other hot buttons!

    (e.g. I fully agree with the caveats and conditions Senator Elizabeth Warren outlines here, when she says, “We’re not writing blank checks to giant corporations. Any taxpayer dollars that go to help big businesses during the coronavirus crisis should come with the following minimum requirements…”) What are your passion projects, and how might you be able to work on them right now? Suggested MWA Review on those shortfalls adversity tends to illuminate for us: Ho‘omau, the Value of Perseverance, and Ho‘omau; Love the one you’re with: “Love the one you’re with” is better coaching than “practice continuous improvement.” It sounds more intriguing, and well worth one’s effort. Yet the two phrases are the same, both framing an essential business practice; necessary reiteration, the constant tweaking to get ever better at whatever it is we do.

    At Home

    In one of the more recent governmental responses to the pandemic, comes the decision by the Trump administration to invoke the Defense Production Act to help make up for potential medical supply shortages and deploy two hospital ships as the US battles the coronavirus pandemic. As my at-home habits for the long haul evolve, my own thoughts have been on victory gardens:

    “For the average American in World War II, the Victory Garden was a practical way to contribute to the war effort. Some 20 million Victory Gardens were planted (US population in 1940 was 132 million), and by 1943, these little plots produced 40 percent of all vegetables consumed in the US. It’s estimated that 9-10 million tons of vegetables were grown.” – Victory Gardens in World War II, UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County

    Yesterday morning for example, I was ready to pull out one of 3 eggplant shrubs still thriving in my garden after planting them last Fall – they are prolific producers, and there is only so much eggplant our family can eat. I fertilized, watered, and let them be, challenging myself to think more broadly instead – surely I can share them with more friends and neighbors.

    My Auhili Garden is as far as I’m walking for exercise right now. We’ve planted tomatoes, turnips, radishes, snap peas and microgreens this week, all quick growers and high producers. Birds are nesting, gently (and noisily!) reminding us that life goes on and we must nurture it best we can.

    This useful, calming advice, which I recommend it highly, comes from historian Shane Landrum, PhD;

    “Start keeping a journal today, ideally a hand written one if that’s within your ability. Write about what you’re seeing in the news, how your family and friends are responding, what is closed in your neighborhood or city or state or country. Save it…Do it by hand, on paper. The hand-writing will adjust your brain. It will take you offline and out of the swirl of news and hopefully, for a moment, into a little bit of peace in the midst of crisis.” He explains; “I worked at a news organization on 9/11/2001, and I recognize the ways that my very online professional networks communicate in a time of global crisis. What’s going on this week is like that. The feeling in my gut about historical importance is nearly the same…Sometimes you know you’re living through an event that will be in the history books very large. I study the history of public health and information technology and law and politics. There’s so much going on that touches all of those things this week.”

    Be a historian and an analog curator for you and for your family.

    Bonus link on Managing With Aloha: Curate, and Be Curated.

    In my own curation, I am seeking out silver linings and acts of generosity and kindness during this pandemic, such as this one: Old Fourth Distillery usually produces premium vodka, gin and bourbon. Now, it’s hand sanitizer. Please send me a pointer on what you find businesses are doing to be better.

    Mālama pono – take care of yourself. I’ll end with some coaching from fitness expert Brad Stulberg on Wellness—the kind that actually works. (Last I checked, the link to Outside Online was broken, however I captured his tips on this MWA blog post). Have a great week, we Ho‘ohana Kākou, Rosa

  • The Role of the Manager, Redesigned and Reconstructed

    ** The following is from Rosa Say’s weekly newsletter, to get these directly to your inbox please go here **

    Aloha mai kākou, let’s talk story. One can easily view the world in two camps right now, those who want to return to how things were pre-pandemic as quickly as possible, our ‘old normal,’ and those chomping at the bit for the creation of a ‘new normal.’ I’ve made no secret of where I sit: I want a new normal which is better, in that it’s more sustainable and equitable, not just safer. Truth is, the pandemic didn’t create my views, it simply fortified them: I’ve been on a soapbox talking about management reconstruction (the profession) and business model reinvention for a long time, years which predate my publishing of Managing with Aloha. I’ve written about it as my latest essay for Ke Ola Magazine.

    Ho‘ohana Conversations

    In my Series 3 essays for Ke Ola Magazine, I committed to a focus on work’s detail via Managing with Aloha’s 9 Key Concepts. I’ll add the series introduction link below in case you missed it. The May Through August 2020 issue was distributed earlier this week, and it presents my 5th article for the series as its Business Feature. Here it is for you, in full so you need not click away:

    (A copy is also archived on RosaSay.com: The Role of the Manager, Redesigned and Reconstructed.)

    The Role of the Manager, Redesigned and Reconstructed

    People ask me, “What’s a good jump-start to help me deep dive into a Managing with Aloha practice?”

    First, read the book for an overall picture of what the philosophy is all about, and read it with purpose: What are your goals? Freshly articulate them.

    Second, identify your core values personally and professionally: Understand which beliefs and convictions propel you forward, for they drive your life and your work when pursuing Ho‘ohana, the value of worthwhile work. Identifying your values is the first step to harnessing their energy; get them to help you feel the work you do is for you and on you as your ethos.

    Third, start doing the Daily 5 Minutes immediately, the conversational practice described in Chapter 11 of the book on ‘Ike loa, the value of learning. It will help you become a “good receiver” practicing no-agenda listening as it keeps you connected to the practical relevancy of your everyday work and essential relationships. If you do not have direct reports, do it with your peers. I cannot overstate how useful this is: your Daily 5 Minutes helps you prioritize and “keep it real” with right task/right time focus, illuminating the action steps you need to take each day thereafter as it simultaneously strengthens your partnerships.

    Finally, commit to Key Concept 4, The Role of the Manager Reconstructed, for that’s where the magic of true “with Aloha” management for the better happens. This is the key which opens the door to all 9 concepts. Let’s examine this part of the Managing with Aloha jumpstart more fully.

    Can you guess who has the worst, most useless Job Position Description (JPD) in every company universally, and no matter what the mission and vision of that company may be? Managers.

    They often have no JPD at all, for managers are largely expected to write it for themselves—to show up where needed, and then be there as stopgap or emergency valve. They babysit—everyone cringes when I use that word, yet if they’re honest, they’ll admit that’s what they mostly do. They aspire to leadership by neglecting its foundation in good management.

    Therefore, when we at Say Leadership Coaching take on a coaching project, we initiate the same jumpstart just recommended to you:

    We identify that company’s mission and vision; we identify the core values we need to align all our recommendations and actions with; we teach and coach the Daily 5 Minutes to involve people immediately with difference-making participation; and we take steps to reimagine, redesign, reconstruct and then implement a renewed role for all managers in the company as quickly and as comprehensively as possible.

    Are JPDs a traditional tool in your company? Keep using them IF you continually revise them to ensure they’re relevant and useful. JPDs should be personalized to the mission of your company and to a person’s Ho‘ohana when seen as their professional mission statement. Therefore, I can’t propose a draft for you. Yet I can give you the guideline we share. Use this in your Key 4 reconstruction as goal-setting: Is this result what your JPD would achieve?

    “Managers must own workplace engagement and be comfortable with facilitating change, creative innovation, and development of the human asset. The ‘reconstruction’ we require in Managing with Aloha is so this expectation of the Alaka‘i Manager is both reasonable and possible, and so they can channel human energies as a company’s most important resource, they themselves having the time, energy, and support needed in doing so. Convention may work against us, where historically, people have become managers for reasons other than the right one: Managing people is their calling. A new role for managers must be explicitly valued by the entire organization as critically important to their better success: Managers can then have personal bandwidth for assuming a newly reinvented role, one which delivers better results both personally and professionally, and in their stewardship of the workplace culture.”

    Managers should be creative initiators, coaches and culture stewards. Realistically, they may become babysitters, stopgaps and emergency valves at times, but those become very rare and short-term conditions in reconstruction—even ‘temporary’ and ‘acting’ is unreasonable and unhealthy in workplace cultures managed with Aloha—correct course and/or fill your vacancies quickly.

    The role of the manager has become crucial in our time, when Human Resources is no longer the manager’s stopgap, emergency valve or resource, primarily focused as they are on laws, regulations, benefit costs and negotiation.

    I say, bring it on. I have the utmost faith in Alaka‘i Managers as those who can do ‘human resources’ better than it has ever been done before.

    We ho‘omau kākou.

    Ke Ola Series 3 to date:

    Quote sticking with me lately:

    “In the David-versus-Goliath battle between big and small businesses in America, COVID-19 is, contrary to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s recent assessment, no “great equalizer.” It’s a toxin for underdogs and a steroid for many giants.” —Derek Thompson sums up my fears in his article for The Atlantic: The Pandemic Will Change American Retail Forever, one of the best post-pandemic-projection commentaries I’ve read in both content (it’s not just about retail) and due to Thompson’s exceptional writing.

    “Because the pandemic pauses the present, it forces us to live in the future.”

    Have a great week, we Ho‘ohana Kākou, Rosa Say Leadership Coaching | Managing with Aloha | RosaSay.com

  • Free Hi-Spa Membership anyone?

    The term “these unprecedented times” should be copyrighted by now, don’t you think? Joking aside, the Hawaii Spa Association (Hi-Spa) hopes our members, friends and business partners are all safe and well and extends positive thoughts to you all. In recognition of the challenging circumstances we are currently facing, the Hi-Spa team would like to extend an invitation to everyone for a complimentary Hi-Spa membership through May 2021 (Note: Special credit acknowledgement will be made to those members who have already paid their 2020 membership.) The only qualification? Prospective members MUST have an active desire to promote the spa & wellness industry in Hawaii. This gesture by Hi-Spa is made to support our spa network and to promote the need for connection and alignment with each other during this time of separation and duress.

    To sign up for your complimentary membership, please send an email to info@hawaiispaassociation.com with:

    • Full Name
    • Work Email Address
    • Personal Email Address
    • Preferred Contact Number
    • Job Title
    • Company Name

    If you want to learn more about the memberships we offer and what they come with, navigate over to our Memberships page to see all the goodies that come with being a Hi-Spa Member.

  • Introducing our Vendor Series!

    If you were a part of our Hawaii Spa Association Ohana back when COVID-19 first started, you’ll remember that in May we did an online Zoom series of video chats with industry professionals to ask them their thoughts about getting through this pandemic together and plans about reopening safely.

    This became our HI-Five Navigating Together series that is now up on our Education & Resources page on our site that you can watch whenever you need a little inspiration.

    Now, we’re doing something very similar except with a deep focus on our vendors! Introducing Hi-Spa’s HI-Five Vendor Series: Five Reasons for Partnership!

    Description of Event

    Wellness Month continues with an exciting opportunity to explore partnership possibilities with fellow HI-Spa members! Engaging, informative, and concise weekly presentations are designed to help spa operators understand vendor philosophies on the following key areas:

    1. Sustainability
    2. Sense of Place
    3. Effectiveness
    4. Profitability
    5. Business support

    This six-week educational series will be held on Thursdays at 11:00am, beginning August 13th. The final session will include an open-forum discussion, allowing all association members to provide feedback about the series and share experiences about successful partnerships in spas throughout Hawaii.

    Schedule of Events

    August 13th – Chad May, President, Commercial Fitness Equipment

    August 20th – Valerie Plotnikova, West Coast Regional Development Manager, Yon-Ka Paris USA

    August 27th – Robin Williams, Founder, Hawaiian Body Products LLC

    September 3rd – Jay Muller, Vice President, Hospitality – North America, Technogym

    September 10th – Teresa Overholt, Business Development West Coast, Comfort Zone

    September 17th – Member Open Forum

    Use the Zoom invite below to attend these meetings, and we can’t wait to see you there!

    Meeting Invite

    Topic: HI-Spa’s HI-Five Vendor Series – Five Reasons for Partnership

    Time: Aug 13, 2020 11:00 AM Hawaii

    Every week on Thu, until Sep 17, 2020, 6 occurrence(s)

    Aug 20, 2020 11:00 AM

    Aug 27, 2020 11:00 AM

    Sep 3, 2020 11:00 AM

    Sep 10, 2020 11:00 AM

    Sep 17, 2020 11:00 AM

  • Hi-Spa Braintrust: Connect & Collaborate Series

    What do all successful leaders have in common?  They ask for help when they need it!  Whether you need guidance on putting your plans together or added expertise to implement them, Hi-Spa’s next educational series leverages our collective industry experience through personalized sessions to help you achieve your goals.  Participation is simple:

    • If you have a business goal you’d like to achieve, come and share it with the group,  We’ll connect, collaborate, and support each other.
    • If you want to learn how to solve common industry challenges, e komo mai!  Your Hi-Spa board and fellow association members are some of the most seasoned professionals in the industry.
    • If your purpose is to elevate Hawaii spa and wellness experiences, we need you.  You have experiences to share that will help our collective solve individual and shared challenges.
    • If you just want to “talk spa”, hear views of other spa colleagues, and contribute your opinion in a roundtable discussion, this is for you too.

    This limited series is available exclusively to Hi-Spa members.  Our first session begins on November 5th, with subsequent sessions running weekly through November 19th.  Additional sessions may be scheduled based on demand.  Your attendance is welcomed and strongly encouraged, and we invite those seeking solutions to send questions to our board in advance of each weekly session at info@hawaiispaassociation.com.  We hope to hear from you!

    To attend the sessions, use the following information:

    Topic: Hi-Spa Braintrust:  Connect & Collaborate

    Dates:  Nov. 5th, 12th, and 19th

    Time:  11:00am – 12:00pm  

  • Test Your Protocols: Town Hall

    Disclaimer: Hi-SPA is not endorsing this product specifically but shares support to our members to feature opportunities that may benefit others.

    The Hawaii Spa Association Team would like to invite you to a Town Hall we are having on November 17th. Everyone is spending more time and money implementing sanitation plans throughout their facilities. How can you tell if your plan is working? ATP Tests are the benchmark that medical, food service and hospitality industries have used for years. This easy to use technology will let you know if your plan is working and possibly if you can spend less in time and on material.  

    Daniel Wing and Cheyenne Adams from Hygiena will be joining us to discuss this technology and best practices. Hygiena delivers rapid microbial detection, monitoring, and identification solutions to a wide range of industries, including food and beverage, health care, hospitality, pharmaceuticals, and personal care.

    Nov. 12, 2020

  • May Hindsight Always Be 2020

    Join your fellow HI-Spa members and Board of Directors to welcome the new year and celebrate the possibilities ahead! This brief but memorable event promises high-energy…and a prize valued at $200 for two lucky winners (you must be present to win). Bring your favorite beverage, zoom background, and a festive mindset to toast your HI-Spa ohana.

    This 2020 Gratitude event will be hosted on January 28th at 5:30pm for half an hour of casual festivities via Zoom. Those who attend the event will be entered into a raffle to win a single prize valued at $200. Two names will be drawn for the single prize, one spa operator and one spa vendor.

    The benefits will be shared between the winners – the winning spa operator receives a $200 cash prize from HI-Spa that can only be redeemed from the winning vendor.

    Find the Zoom invite details below, and we can’t wait to see you there!

    Invite Information:

    Topic: HI-Spa: May Hindsight Always Be 2020

    Time: Jan 7, 2021 05:30 PM Hawaii

  • Connect, Learn & Grow

    Attendees joined the Hi-Spa Ohana for interactive learning opportunities, lunch, and a chance to meet estheticians expertly trained by The Skin Institute Internationale. Members attending this event were be automatically entered to win a full scholarship for an upcoming 600-hour elite esthetician program!

    This past June 9, The Skin Institute Internationale (TSII) partnered with Hi-SPA in co-hosting a most exquisite spa experience seminar. The event was held at TSII school in Kaka’ako, Honolulu.

    TSII Co-Founders, Mary Ronnow & Lieren Pearson and their team did a magnificent job from start to finish. From laying out a red carpet (literally!) with a welcome flute of sparkling wine, guests were met at the ground floor entrance of the building and personally escorted up by TSII students to the school on 3rd floor. The school was set up as an Open House and after a tour of the facility including a special display by Hydrafacial, Mary welcomed the attendees and the day began.

    The first seminar was given by Pam Chambers who gave an engaging presentation entitled: “Raising the Bar: Shaping Stellar Employees”. This was followed by a most delicious full-on buffet lunch amid a backdrop of distinctive pink and white floral décor, crystal glasses, silver chafing dishes with appetizer, main course and variety of desserts from local culinary establishments. As if the lunch was not enough, a surprise feature was a featured percussionist, Becca Laurito, a member of the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra playing harmonic sounds from an array of singing bowls and a xylophone. The gentle energy healing and sound meditation made the lunch itself almost ethereal.

    This was a perfect interlude to the afternoon sessions, the first of which was a presentation by Mary Ronnow whose presentation was “The Paradigm Shift in the Spa Industry”, a summation of the key information presented at the recent ISPA Conference in Las Vegas, in which she also addressed the current employee crisis in the spa industry today and a poignant look of what may lie ahead. Mary’s punctuated her presentation with “peak moments” emanating from her wealth of knowledge in the industry.

    The final presentation was a delivery by Lieren Pearson in which she gave an amazing hands-on demonstration of quality control, posing the question, “Do we really know what’s going on in our treatment rooms”. Attendees were riveted by a Master Esthetician giving a demonstration equating to a work of art. The only regret was that the presentation should have been videoed and available for every spa director and esthetician to use as reference.

    TSII extended complimentary esthetic services to those attendees who were able to stay on an enjoy this extra courtesy. All attendees were presented with a huge bag of complimentary products and other spa gifts to take home, or have shipped over for those who came over form neighbor island to participate in the event.

    BIG MAHALO to Mary, Lieren and the whole TSII team for making a truly stimulating, enjoyable and rejuvenating event. To inquire about treatment availability at TSII, click here: TSII Spa Services.

    The Skin Institute Internationale

    1050 Queen St., #300

    Honolulu, HI 96823

  • SPArty 2021