The Waikiki Business Improvement District on Monday launched a revamped website that offers more information, along with the ability to request assistance from the organization.
WBID was formed in 2000 to help supplement city services, its website notes, adding that the nonprofit organization is supported by grants and commercial property tax assessments on nearly 3,800 commercial properties within the Waikiki Special District.
"We are sort of this public-private partnership to provide services within Waikiki, and we're mainly known for our Aloha Ambassador program," President and Executive Director Trevor Abarzua told Pacific Business News.
In addition to that program, Abarzua said the organization also offers homeless outreach services in the district, does landscaping, and has "a lot of different partnerships within government, within business, to just really make Waikiki shine, make it that destination for visitors, but also for the residents."
"A lot of our work is kind of the nuts and bolts of Waikiki, just making sure the wheels are turning."
But when he started in his role a little more than a year ago, Abarzua said he noticed communication was lacking, whether with the workers of or visitors to Waikiki. The organization's website hadn't been updated since 2000, he said, noting that the old website did "all of the basic things," but wasn't utilized much.
"We used it for board correspondence, maybe putting some reports up, but it was not very forward-facing and we didn't have any viewership," Abarzua said. "We wanted to have a website that was able to kind of draw people in and be more dynamic and [make it] easier to find and learn about what we do as an organization, but also, too, to figure out how to tap into us and be able to use it for a request for service."
Among the new changes, the revamped website now has a "Request Services" portal, where businesses or individuals can request assistance with graffiti, trash removal, safety concerns, environmental issues such as animal or human waste, houseless outreach assistance or other matters. The request is directed to the organization's dispatch center, then relayed to Aloha Ambassadors, the site noted.
"That's one of the biggest things that we think businesses could tap into and utilize," Abarzua said.
Abarzua said the aim is to have most issues addressed within an hour of dispatch, although some matters, like graffiti, could take up to 24 hours.
"But I would say we're going to get on it as quick as possible once it comes in," he said.
Starting this summer, Abarzua said, too, that WBID will expand to around-the-clock coverage of its Safety Ambassadors and mental health and homeless outreach services.
"I just feel like it's something that hasn't been happening in Waikiki, and anywhere, actually, on the island," he said of the Request Services portal. "... I've been in this situation where you come across something and it's not an emergency, it's maybe a little sketchy, but you don't want to call 911. We're the perfect segue to call and reach out to."
The updated website also will feature a blog, news and updates, and an events page. Additionally, it highlights the Aloha Ambassador program, as well as the organization's Safe & Sound Waikiki initiative, houseless and mental health outreach, and disaster and preparedness trainings. There's also a 13-minute documentary about the organization.
Abarzua said the site can also be translated to "almost every language."
WBID has been working on the site improvements for about six to eight months and has worked with Honolulu-based Library Creative, according to Abarzua. When asked, Abarzua didn't provide a specific figure but said the site update cost "under $50,000 but more than $10,000."
"So it was a decent investment, but I think the investment was key for that correspondence with the community," he said. "It's not just having a fancy website. It's the request services page. It's getting the news out there."
The site can be found at waikikibid.org.
