Page 5 - Hawaii Island MidWeek - April 21, 2021

De Fries: The Man With A Tourism Plan
FROM PAGE 4
the ropes in real estate and resort development, as well as construction. The latter, De Fries adds, came more natural- ly to him because he worked for a construction company in the early 1970s building swim- ming pools.
in our Hawaiian culture, in our kama‘āina ways.”
whose primary residence is in Kona. “When he said that, the magnitude of it really hit me.”
His comprehensive un- derstanding of the industry is unparalleled, and makes him the perfect person to lead HTA into the post-coronavirus era with a focus on regenerative tourism. To accomplish this, he claims one must have a mālama mindset.
The way De Fries sees it, the fundamentals of the tour- ism industry haven’t changed. It remains a relationship-based way of life in which trust still is the major currency.
De Fries doesn’t have any children of his own — “I didn’t go through that paternal expe- rience,” he says — but rather is a self-proclaimed “world’s greatest uncle.” Instead of offspring, though, he sees his legacy live on in Hawai‘i’s generations to come and how they positively impact their communities.
“We mālama the visitor, but in turn educate them on how to mālama us as a people, place, as an island society,” De Fries says. “At the same time, we need to run a vibrant economy. This reciprocity is embedded
Added to that influence is the knowledge that he’s the first Native Hawaiian to hold the organization’s top lead- ership role, though De Fries assures he won’t be the last. It carries for him an increased sense of accountability.
“We will care for and pro- tect — mālama — those things that we aloha most,” he con- cludes. “We have the capacity to love our homes, our places of birth, our families, and what regenerative tourism is based on is this visceral connection that we love Hawai‘i, and we must nurture and protect (it).”
“I clearly understand that in tourism, we are the hosts,” he adds. “And the host carries a certain set of responsibilities.”
“A very close Hawaiian friend of mine said to me, ‘Our children need to see you succeed,’ ” recalls De Fries,
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Do Acupuncture Needles Hurt?
It’s not unusual for people to be a bit apprehensive of needles. Some are even downright fearful of these slender pieces
of metal. But local acupuncturist Rabakka Fulkerson knows how to quickly calm the nerves of concerned new patients.
“The first thing I’ll do is have them touch the needle,” explains Fulkerson, owner of Cherry Healing Center in Hilo. “They’re always so surprised when they feel the needle because it’s so whisper-thin and pliable ... like a cat’s whisker.”
Next, she’ll insist on performing her first treatment on their backs. Doing so “helps them to relax a bit because they’re not seeing anything,” she shares. “They don’t have to watch the first insertion of a needle.”
Finally, she’ll ask them to simply breathe. And just like that, she notes, “Their anxieties go away.”
one of Fulkerson’s strengths as a seasoned acupuncturist.
“A lot of people are afraid of needles because our medical system has created this fear in them — that needles don’t always go in right,” she notes. “But acupuncture doesn’t hurt. It’s not like getting a vaccination shot, and it’s definitely not even close to what it feels like when you get a tattoo.”
At Cherry Healing Center, clients are offered the full range of acupuncture services, which strengthen the body’s defense mechanisms without the use
of harsh chemicals. Many (including military veterans covered through the Veterans Administration’s Veterans Choice Program) seek Fulkerson’s help because they’re hoping to lose weight, learn pain-management or be free of insomnia, anxiety or addiction issues.
Cherry Healing Center is located at
190 Keawe St., No. 33. To schedule an appointment or to learn more about the center’s services, including its packages and membership program, call or text 489-4272, or visit cherryhealingcenter.com.
Putting patients’ minds at ease is just