Ilikai cuts jobs

Like the bumper sticker says, No Hawaiians, No Aloha. Nuff said.

I would think that it would be good business sense to offer good lowered room rate deals during the expected slow months at the Ilikai, unless as indicated there are ulterative motives on the part of Anekona.

It seems to me that the owners and union all complained about the upgrades and forced the Ilikai owner to cut back. Now they're upset that their plan worked and they have to pay the consequences.

"I'm just a poor local developer trying to make a living..." Brian Anderson makes me sick! Think about all the good people that you have let go and how that has affected their family's! Poor local developer..give me a break!!

My family owns a unit at Ilikai and I was excited about the improvements that Anekona had proposed. It would have made the old hotel something to be proud of in Waikiki and would have helped our investment. But a handful of crazy old people who live in the Ilikai full-time were afraid of any changes. The union used these people to thwart everything that Brian Anderson tried to do. They won and now the union is peeved because the hotel isn't thriving. It is a perfect example of biting the hand that feeds them. The union working with 4 or 5 crazies hurt all of the owners at Ilikai...how can we sell our unit in a time when sales are dropping nationally and the hotel is an aging eyesore? Go cry to someone who cares that you lost your jobs...you did it to yourselves. Unfortunately you did it to me too. I am no longer a union supporter.

Interesting that Mr Anderson classifies himself as a "poor" developer--not too many poor people can come up with 218 million dollars to buy some real estate! However, it is the poor people like the maids etc. who need their salary to exist every day! There needs to be a change made in hotel room rates! If you aren't filling the rooms that should tell you something! I grew up in Hawaii--Kalani '62--but live in Minnesota now. The only reason I still come back to Hawaii is to visit relatives and friends. Otherwise for tropical environment many of the people in this area go to Florida, Mexico etc--way cheaper! Hawaii is not what Hawaii thinks it is or was anymore! Lots of resentment against the tourists/haoles because of what has been forced upon the local people by "poor" developers like Mr. Anderson and other outside rich folks coming into Hawaii! So many from my area now get turned off to the hectic expensive atmosphere of Honolulu which has been creeping on to the outer islands! For us from this part of the mainland can mean a 8 to 15 hour flight depending on lay overs etc so why go if you really aren't welcomed. I find myself defending Hawaii all the time--but I have to say I feel their disgust too when I come back--then to hear someone like Mr. Anderson and other hotels etc complain about not filling their rooms--it's hello time here--drop your rates, quit pushing tourists into renting cars etc--that would really cut down on the traffic congestion that everyone complains about--including the tourists--I won't even rent a car anymore when I come home to my islands--I ride the bus! The hotels nickle and dime the tourists to death! I think it is wake up time for the Hawaii government to try and save what is left of the Hawaii ways that so many of us old locals remember before Hawaii lost it's aloha! Too many rich hands in politicians back pockets!

Sarah, dear absentee owner or should I say speculator? You have obviously not followed what has happened to the Ilikai and the developer's opportunistic plans. By his own admission, he has no money. Yet, he wants to invest 60 million in renovations. You might want to talk to some of those "crazy" folks who have helped protect you and your investment from the likes of ANEKONA. Stop believing the spin and do your research.

The powerful unions in Hawaii are a big problem for all businesses. It's the reason labor and overhead costs are so darn expensive here. Union employees also know they have union support so they can get away with lots of things private-sector employees would get canned for doing. It's almost impossible for a union employee to get fired unless he/she is doing something obviously illegal.

There was a time and place for unions in the past but this dated concept is doing nothing but putting a strain on companies, which have no choice but to pass the costs on to you, the customer. Unions are blood suckers who hurt to many companies.

Let Karma decide who is the bad individual. Wether it is the Union people or Brian Anderson, whoever is the one doing the wrong thing should get "BACHI". What goes around comes around.

The Union workers had about enough lies already. It should be clear by now what Mr. Anderson wants to do with the Union em,ployees at the Ilikai.

Does anyone know what resortquest is planning to bring to the Ilikai?

I have been traveling to Honolulu every second year for 30 years,I have never stayed anywhere else but the Ilikai, and have had no real desire until now, having just returned the once jewel at the beginning of waikiki is hurting bad, I do not have the background on Mr. Anderson like you locals may have, however I did notice that the private condo owners feel they have a monopoly on the grounds and common areas of the complex, waking up early and putting a towel on a chair at the only remaining pool, and then not showing up until the afternoon to utilize this reserved chair or lounger, the private owners make you feel like you are intruding,I am paying to stay in the complex, I am paying for usage of the pool and common areas, something needs to be done with these private owners who feel this complex is theirs and only theirs,buy them out, get rid of them all, and start from scratch, or give them the same rules as other paying guests, it is a little disheartening to be paying a premium hard earned buck, to have to put up with their attitudes with regard to this complex, they are single condo owners not Donald Trump, put them in their place already, and get the ball rolling on putting the Ilikai back on the map in Waikiki, the Yacht Harbour Building will be a jewel when finished.

Brian Anderson, not some old Ilikai fuddyduddies, closed the restaurants and eliminated or downgraded hotel services. Hotel occupants can't even get room service.
Brian Anderson, not the old fuddyduddies, sold the only other remaining area of the old place that was a draw to hotel occupants(i.e., THE POOL)and was one of the few remaining parts of the old girl that that was still nice to look at.
I wouldn't want to stay in a dump like the Ilikai and won't anymore.

If Mr. Anderson had not taken such an arrogant attitude from the first dsy he acquired the Ilikai and instead truly approached the homeowners with an Aloha Spiit, we would have been more than happy to work with him. He is the antidote to the Aloha Spirit that I have experienced in Hawaii for the last thirty years. From day one it was HIS way or the highway. What Mr Anderson wants is a blank check to do whastever he wants with the Ilikai, regardless of what the homeowners want. No, we will not give you total control of our bylaws. Tell us one single good thing that you have done for the Ilikai Hotel,the employees or owners since you came in the picture! You may be a local boy, but there is no Alohas Spirit left in you!

Anderson complains about low occupancy rates. Why is this a surprise? He has closed Canoes, the only restaurant and his guests have to go across the street to McDonalds to get a cup of coffee. And what about selling all those rooms to Shell Vacations Club Timeshare? They are the real competition because they can sell their empty rooms for under $70/night after collecting thousands up front from unsuspecting vacationers who are being promised massive renovations - all of them not approved. Timeshare buyers beware!

My image as an owner is not by this article, not like the article in the Advertiser

People, take a GOOD look at the Ilikai, since Anekona took it over. Canoes Restaurant closed, Bar Closed, Wedding Chapel closed, Main Pool closed, Many retail businesses closed, peeling paint, tattered carpets, no flowers anywhere, and I could go on. What was once one of the best, most Hawaiian of Waikiki properties (even though over 40 years old) is now a sad, rapidly deteriorating shell of it's former self. It was always one of my favorite Waikiki spots, I would not even consider staying there now.

They also have the yoga class that goes on there. When the class is done the elevators are swamped by very smelly yoga people and the smell lingers. i was there for 2 weeks. Elevators got stuck every day. The one bar was still open - but only from 5-9 pm. Worst of all the front desk people were not friendly or helpful. I tell everyone not to stay at the Ilikai. To bad because the reason I stayed there is because it was recommended by people who loved it 10 years ago!

As an owner who attended most of the meetings, I was amazed at the distortion of what transpired as reported in the "Concerned Owners" website. While Anekona's proposals might not be a cureall, it is obvious that something must be done to the Ilikai to update and keep it viable. To keep anything from being done is irresponsible. selfish and shortsighted.