2026 Na Po‘e Pa‘ahana Awards
Nominations Now Open!
Nominations are due no later than Friday, November 7, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
Tickets now on sale for the 33rd Annual Na Po‘e Pa‘ahana Awards!
Categories:
Small Properties: 300 and less rooms
Large Properties: Over 300 rooms
(Please make sure to select the correct category when submitting)
Bell & Valet Person of the Year (non-management position)
The Bell & Valet Person of the Year award is extended to non-management employees or supervisory employees who provide support or work in the Bell and/or Valet Services to include but not limited to bell persons, porters, valets, and door persons.
Engineer & Maintenance Person of the Year (non-management position)
The Engineer & Maintenance Person of the Year award is extended to non-management employees or supervisory employees who provide support or work in the Engineering and/or Maintenance Department.
Food & Beverage Person of the Year (non-management position)
The Food & Beverage Person of the Year award is extended to non-management employees or supervisory employees who provide support or work in the Food and Beverage Department to include but not limited to restaurant employees, banquet employees, kitchen staff, and room service attendants.
Front Office Person of the Year (non-management position)
The Front Officer Person of the Year award is extended to non-management employees or supervisory employees who provide support or work in the Front Office Department to include but not limited to Front Desk, Concierge, PBX Operators and Reservations.
Housekeeper of the Year (non-management position)
The Housekeeper of the Year award is extended to non-management employees or supervisory employees who provide support or work in the housekeeping department.
Security Officer of the Year (non-management position)
The Security Officer of the Year award is extended to non-management employees or supervisory employees who provide support or works in the security and loss prevention departments.
Activities, Culture, and Experience Person of the Year (non-management position)
The Activities, Culture, and Experience Person of the Year award is extended to non-management employees or supervisory employees who provide support or works in enhancing the guest experience while on property. This includes, but is not limited to, cultural practitioners, activity coordinators, spa technicians, ambassadors of aloha, etc.
Manager of the Year
The Manager of the Year award is extended to all Management level employees. This is the only Na Po‘e Pa‘ahana category where a manager will be recognized.
Na Po‘e Pa‘ahana Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year (non-management position)
The Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year award is extended to all non-management employees and supervisory employees in all departments.
General Rules for All Categories
Small Properties: 300 and less rooms
Large Properties: Over 300 rooms
(Please make sure to select the correct category when submitting)
Bell & Valet Person of the Year (non-management position)
The Bell & Valet Person of the Year award is extended to non-management employees or supervisory employees who provide support or work in the Bell and/or Valet Services to include but not limited to bell persons, porters, valets, and door persons.
Engineer & Maintenance Person of the Year (non-management position)
The Engineer & Maintenance Person of the Year award is extended to non-management employees or supervisory employees who provide support or work in the Engineering and/or Maintenance Department.
Food & Beverage Person of the Year (non-management position)
The Food & Beverage Person of the Year award is extended to non-management employees or supervisory employees who provide support or work in the Food and Beverage Department to include but not limited to restaurant employees, banquet employees, kitchen staff, and room service attendants.
Front Office Person of the Year (non-management position)
The Front Officer Person of the Year award is extended to non-management employees or supervisory employees who provide support or work in the Front Office Department to include but not limited to Front Desk, Concierge, PBX Operators and Reservations.
Housekeeper of the Year (non-management position)
The Housekeeper of the Year award is extended to non-management employees or supervisory employees who provide support or work in the housekeeping department.
Security Officer of the Year (non-management position)
The Security Officer of the Year award is extended to non-management employees or supervisory employees who provide support or works in the security and loss prevention departments.
Activities, Culture, and Experience Person of the Year (non-management position)
The Activities, Culture, and Experience Person of the Year award is extended to non-management employees or supervisory employees who provide support or works in enhancing the guest experience while on property. This includes, but is not limited to, cultural practitioners, activity coordinators, spa technicians, ambassadors of aloha, etc.
Manager of the Year
The Manager of the Year award is extended to all Management level employees. This is the only Na Po‘e Pa‘ahana category where a manager will be recognized.
Na Po‘e Pa‘ahana Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year (non-management position)
The Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year award is extended to all non-management employees and supervisory employees in all departments.
General Rules for All Categories
- All employees & programs will be judged primarily for the work done since the last NPP Awards (2025) but may include accomplishments they have achieved throughout their career.
- Participants may submit one entry per category per property. Your property may enter all of the 9 categories as long as you enter one person per category.
- All entries must be submitted by a Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association lodging property in good standing, or a public-relation agency acting on behalf of a HLTA member property.
- All nominees must have served in the lodging industry for a minimum of three (3) years, but not necessarily at the current property.
- All nominees must be currently and directly employed by the property nominating them. (Employees of concessions at the lodging property are not eligible).
- In the spirit of fairness individual (1st, 2nd & 3rd place) winners from the past years are not eligible to be reentered into the same category.
- Explain in up to 1,000 words why your nominee should be honored for exemplary professionalism and exceptional service. Please make sure to include your nominee’s name on the top of the write up.
- The judges will be using the following criteria as a general guideline but may exercise discretion: exemplary professionalism (35%), contributions to the workplace (35%), acts of aloha (20%), and community engagement (10%).
- Be very specific and detailed oriented on your write-ups. Citing as many detailed examples and stories on why your nominee is highly recommended. Our judges do not personally know your nominee, so write it in a manner that will help our judges visualize their excellence.
- All materials should be submitted in an organized, easy to judge format with the name of your nominee and property of employment on all information submitted.
- This year all submissions will be done via Zealous our online platform. This is the only valid site to submit for the 2026 Na Po’e Pa’ahana Awards.
- Deadline for submitting all entries is Friday, November 7, 2025. All entries must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m.
2026 Na Po'e Pa'ahana Awards Ceremony
February 11, 2026
Sheraton Waikiki
10:30 - 1:30
Sheraton Waikiki
10:30 - 1:30
Sponsorship Opportunities
We are excited to once again offer a special sponsorship opportunity for the Na Po‘e Pa‘ahana Awards. This is a meaningful way to show your support for the individuals who serve as the heart and soul of our local hospitality industry.
We invite our allied (non-lodging) members to consider sponsoring one of the following award categories:
We also welcome sponsors for our prestigious individual awards:
Sponsorship Details
Each $5,000 sponsorship includes:
To secure your sponsorship or for more information, please contact Sharilyn Kazunaga at or call our office at 808-923-0407.
We invite our allied (non-lodging) members to consider sponsoring one of the following award categories:
- Activities, Culture & Experience Person of the Year
- Bell/Valet Person of the Year
- Engineer & Maintenance Person of the Year
- Food & Beverage Person of the Year
- Front Desk Person of the Year
- Housekeeper of the Year
- Manager of the Year
- Na Po‘e Pa‘ahana Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year
- Security Officer of the Year
We also welcome sponsors for our prestigious individual awards:
- HLTA Allied Member of the Year
- Pūlamahia Award (Perpetuating the Native Hawaiian Culture)
- Leader in Sustainability Award
- Young Professional of the Year
- Na Po‘e Pa‘ahana Legacy Award (Celebrating a lifetime of excellence in culture and arts in Hawai‘i)
Sponsorship Details
Each $5,000 sponsorship includes:
- A table of 10 at the awards luncheon
- Your company name on the award for your sponsored category
- The opportunity to present the award on stage alongside the HLTA President and Chair during the ceremony
To secure your sponsorship or for more information, please contact Sharilyn Kazunaga at or call our office at 808-923-0407.
2025 Na Po‘e Pa‘ahana Awards.
