UH Shidler College of Business Raises $420,000 to Support Travel Industry Management Students | kauai now

The University of Hawaii at Manoa Shidler College of Business’ School of Travel Industry Management held its 21st annual Celebrate a Legacy in Tourism gala on April 13 at the ʻAlohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach in Oʻahu.

The event is the largest fundraiser in support of the School of Travel Industry Management, with proceeds going towards student scholarships.

This year’s event raised more than $420,000.

“Celebrate a Legacy in Tourism” honors individuals who have made significant, long-term contributions to the Hawaiian tourism industry.

This year, the Legacy in Tourism Award was presented to Keith Vieira; Clinton Inouye was inducted into the Travel Industry Management Alumni Hall of Honor; and Alaska Airlines received the Distinguished Service Award.

Vieira received the Legacy in Tourism Award for his many contributions to elevating the university, blazing trails for diversity, and serving as a trailblazer within his industry.

Vieira is a 1979 alumnus and serves as a director of KV & Associates Hospitality Consulting, LLC. Born and raised in Hilo on the Big Island, Vieira’s long-standing career in hospitality began in 1981, holding various sales and communications leadership positions within Sheraton, eventually managing all advertising and public relations for the company’s portfolio. Asia Pacific division of ITT Sheraton, and in 1999 serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Worldwide, Inc. following the acquisition of ITT Corporation.

Vieira currently serves as chair of the advisory board for the School of Travel Industry Management and continues to be involved with a variety of non-profit organizations primarily focused on the visitor industry and education, including Blood Bank of Hawaiʻi, Catholic Charities Hawai’i, Friends of Hawaii Charities, Good Beginnings Alliance, Hawaii’i Children’s Action Network, and Ho’okāko’o Corporation.

Inouye received the Travel Industry Management Alumni Hall of Honor award, which recognizes his professional achievements and commitment to the Travel Industry Management school. Now retired, Inouye spent more than 29 years working in the information technology and hospitality fields, with major organizations such as Starwood Hotels and Sheraton.

In 2011, his lifelong love of photography grew into his own business, It’s Photo Time! by Clinton K. Inouye, who currently operates. Inouye joined the Travel Industry Management Alumni Association Board in 2005 as a director and served as treasurer from 2008 to 2018.

It continues to pay it to the School of Travel Industry Management, establishing the Clinton K. Inouye Scholarship to support undergraduate students.

Alaska Airlines was recognized with the Distinguished Service Award for numerous contributions to the Hawaiian tourism industry and the community at large.

Alaska’s Andy Schneider, senior vice president, and alumnus Daniel Chun, who serves as the company’s director of sales, community and public relations for Hawaii, accepted the award.

Alaska Airlines has proudly served the Hawaiian Islands for more than 15 years and has been a strong supporter of local education, the environment, and social causes, donating more than $4.7 million in cash and in-kind support to hundreds of organizations across the state.

The airline is strongly committed to reducing its environmental impact, being the first airline to have a comprehensive recycling program on board and to eliminate many single-use plastics from its inflight service.

This year’s presentation sponsors were Marriott International and “The Sheraton Old Timers” group; contributing sponsors were Alaska Airlines; Bank of Hawaii; first Hawaiian bank; KV & Associates and Stanford Carr Development; Terri Fujii and Lawrence Rodriguez; and The Westin Maui, Trinity Investments and Oaktree Capital.

‘Hawaiʻi Business’ magazine served as media partner in 2023.

To support Travel Industry Management School or Shidler College, please contact Bianca Mordasini, Senior Director of Alumni and External Relations at (email protected).

Learn more about the event and this year’s honorees.