Everlyn Kidani - March 2017 Kahiau Award Recipient

Everlyn Kidani
Aqua Oasis Hotel
Housekeeper
March 2017 Kahiau Award Recipient

​Everlyn Kidani is a housekeeper at the Aqua Oasis Hotel who has never missed a working day of service, despite many unfortunate circumstances she has had to face. Born in a small Philippines province, Everlyn grew up helping her parents raise her three younger siblings. She is described as a woman who was raised to have a deep sense of responsibility, care, and love to her family, friends, co-workers and hotel guests.
 
Everlyn has suffered through several dark episodes in the past, including the terrible loss of her both her brother, who was murdered, and later her husband, who was taken by throat cancer. Despite this, her faith never abandoned her and she has always been loyal to her work. When her brother passed, she supported her parents by giving them the savings she earned as a housekeeper to help bring them to Hawaii. During the five years her husband was in and out of the hospital, she never called in sick. After work, she would take the bus directly to the hospital and spent the entire evening by her husband’s side. In the morning, she took the bus again and came into work as scheduled; on-time, and never late. She transcended the same deep sense of responsibility and loyalty she learned from her parents to her husband, her co-workers, and hotel guests. Her experiences of grief and responsibility are what drive her to provide the best possible service to every guest she meets.
 
Everlyn’s small but meaningful gestures do not go unnoticed. Her loyal guests call it “The Everlyn Touch”. When she services and cleans rooms, she arranges shoes neatly in pairs all facing one direction. She carefully hangs suits left on beds by busy business travelers so their suits will remain smooth and clean.  She seals snack bags left opened by children eager to go to the beach. She tidily stacks toys so moms and dads returning to the room can have more time to relax and play with their kids. She lines up shopping bags to help guests pack their suitcases. She spends time sharing stories with guests who are traveling by themselves. The meaningful actions of selfless generosity she makes both in her personal and professional life are what makes her an exceptional Kahiau awardee.