Featured Article: Hotels Take on the Oldest Profession

Hoʻōla Nā Pua has been featured in a great article in Hawaiʻi Hospitality concerning the Hotel Industry’s role in combating human sex-trafficking in Hawaiʻi.

The article, written by Priscilla Perez Billig, holds the tagline “Lodging establishments champion the rights of children as awareness grows about a dark business.” As awareness grows about the role hotels and similar companies play in sex-trafficking, the lodging industry in Hawaiʻi is taking a stand.

“Trafficking networks rely on legitimate business, including lodging properties, to conduct their operations,” says Karen Wataru-Nakaoka, executive director of the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association (HLTA). “The lodging properties have an opportunity to bring awareness Karen Wataru-Nakaoka and educate their employees on the importance of being alert to illegal activity happening on property and create training programs that empower appropriate action.”

The piece features steps the HLTA is taking to combat human sex trafficking, including creating an online training program in partnership with ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes). The article goes on to highlight the importance of partnerships between organizations like Hoʻōla Nā Pua and the HLTA.

Click here to read the entire PDF article