On the Hiyu — Local services in Seattle

I was asked by a customer to come support their new clothing launch by bringing competition quality Cannabis for people to see and smell. We were happy to help and rolled out 8 employees on a Saturday from Longview to come support our customer in Seattle. When we arrived we were quickly shown where to set up and given a table. Once set up we started showing off our cannabis as we were asked to do. We did so for maybe 45 minutes when we were told we couldn't do this here. We were really only there to do this and now we were stuck on the boat for a four hour voyage. I had my employees put it all away and cut them loose to have drinks and enjoy the show. These things happen in the cannabis industry and you just learn to make the best of it. What followed however was ridiculous. I was constantly harassed by security for the entire boat ride. One of them got very aggressive with it and was literally shoulder checking me from behind. The third time he did it I called him on it and he went into denial and refused to apologize. The head of the event came and apologized on his behalf which was good enough for me. Then another security member followed me into a single stall bathroom and accused me of smoking. I didn't.. I assume they meant weed but I dont know...I said I didn't and they told me to get out. I didn't smoke nor did I intend to. I complied. I do have a vicious nicotine habit but I manage to appease it with vapor but I wasn't trying to do that either because I was under the impression I could do that outside which I had been doing. So outside I go to the edge of the boat and take a vape hit. This tall blonde nightmare of a woman approaches me and says I can't do that here but not nicely... She says it like she's told me 10 times already. Then she says there's signs all over the boat stating "no smoking"... I couldn't help it and I informed her that I'm not smoking... This is vapor. Normally I would have simply complied but at this point I was getting irritated by this harassment. All of my employees were followed the whole time as well and have different stories to tell. Several other incidents happened as well and it was all very unprofessional. The last one was close to the end of the trip and everyone around me was saying that they announced that you could vape and I told them about the blonde demon lady and they said she was wrong. So I literally ask right in from of these people one of the security guys if I couldn't vape and he said...I don't care.. so I pull out my vape and go to hit it and guess what happens. This 6ft blonde banshee shrieks at me that I'm not allowed to do that. I said I just asked if I could and was told yes... She said I did not. I then pointed at the crowd of people that just witnessed the whole thing and they said yeah he did. This horrible excuse for a human literally reaches for my vape as if she's going to confiscate it. Uh. No. I didn't vape then either btw. I complied with every rule the first time I was told as did my employees. The whole thing was surreal. I have never been so disrespected by a professional group in my life. People I didn't know were approaching me and apologizing for the behavior of the staff. The bar staff at the tiki side were exceptional however. It was a rough 4 hours. I pulled my whole team off at the public stop vs the vendor spot and we all took Ubers the rest of the way just to get out of that energy. I wouldn't hire these people to wash...

Update: The event organizer confirmed it was the complete incompetence and lack of dignity and professionalism of the HIYU management that led to the cancellation of the show! Do not waste your time with the HIYU. Here is the message the event organizer sent ticket holders.

“First and foremost, we sincerely apologize to all the Eli & Fur fans who came out to the HIYU yesterday. We’d like to take a moment to explain what transpired:

Two days before the event, we were informed by the HIYU that they had double-booked the venue with a wedding. After countless hours spent exploring every option to make both events possible, we were reassured by the HIYU that a plan was in place—confirmed by both us and the wedding party—that would allow the couple to celebrate their special day while also allowing us time for our event. Unfortunately, that was not the case.

We ultimately discovered that there was a lack of transparency and that we had been misled by the HIYU. From the moment we were notified of the conflict until the boat docked, the information we received was nothing more than false promises.

All tickets will be automatically refunded. In addition, we are already working closely with Eli & Fur’s team to make this up to you. We take full responsibility for this matter and want to again sincerely apologize to all the fans and to Eli & Fur for what should have been a proper kickoff to the Dreams at Dusk Tour.

This was not the experience you deserved, and we’re committed to making it right. Thank you for your understanding and for continuing to support the artists and the community we love.”

My original post comment “Unable to give zero stars. Worst experience! Do not waste your time with “On the Hiyu.” We waited for hours only to find out management double booked. Once they docked, the wedding party refused to get off the boat. The booked artist got on the boat and were berated and assaulted. They came off the boat, and said the event we paid for was cancelled! Do not patronize! What we experienced was completely...

Extremely unprofessional management (especially Jody Ramasammy). I booked Hiyu for a Bollywood boat party I was hosting on August 2nd. First of all, getting the date was near impossible. We agreed on dates but they went ahead and gave the date to other people twice before we finally agreed on August 2nz They call me 2 hours before the sail time, and tell me that the captain is suddenly not available and they have no backup plan, which is completely unprofessional. I had to issue refunds and notify 200+ people that we wouldn’t be sailing, which affected my organization’s credibility.

As the boat canceled on us, we are entitled to get a complete refund. I have been following up with Jody and the team every 3-4 days, and either they don’t respond or say they’ll pay back tomorrow. I got the first half after much nagging (2 months after the planned sailing date) but i’m still owed thousands of dollars.

Meanwhile, the Hiyu has been facing many organizational changes. People are frequently leaving/getting fired and coming back, and every time that happens, it becomes impossible to get through to the team for weeks.

The team offered us to sail for free next year as compensation, which is welcome and may cause me to gives a better review. I need to see more action...