Each year, the Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association hosts the Na Po'e Pa'ahana Awards to honor individuals who have contributed to the visitor industry through their professionalism, their engagement with the community, and the way in which they have consistently embodied the Aloha Spirit. These are the employees who continue to make Hawaii a premier destination. Our industry relies on their dedication and commitment to providing stellar service to all those that visit our islands.
Out of the 8 Na Po'e Pa'ahana Awards categories we will recognize finalists for small, medium, and large-size lodging properties in the following:
Out of the 8 Na Po'e Pa'ahana Awards categories we will recognize finalists for small, medium, and large-size lodging properties in the following:
- Bell/Valet Person of the Year
- Housekeeper of the Year
- Security Officer of the Year
- Front Desk Person of the Year
- Food & Beverage Person of the Year
- Engineer & Maintenance Person of the Year
- Small Property: Under 200 Rooms
- Medium Property: 200 - 450 Rooms
- Large Property: Over 450 Rooms
- Manager of the Year
- Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year
2020 Na Po'e Pa'ahana Awards Finalists
2020 Na Po'e Pa'ahana Awards - Results
Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year
1st Place – Kirk Togashi, Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
2nd Place – Lester Tanabe, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani
3rd Place – Kanika ‘Nikki’ Utley, Alohilani
Manager of the Year
1st Place – Claire Butler, Hilton Hawaiian Village
2nd Place – Crystal Sellona, Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
3rd Place – Kainoa Horcajo, The Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
Bell/Valet Person of the Year
Large Property (over 450 rooms)
1st Place – Dayle Ho'opai, Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort
2nd Place – Petter Lino, Sheraton Waikiki
3rd Place – Robbie Fronda, The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort
Medium Property (200-450 rooms)
1st Place – Peter Nonales, OHANA Waikiki Malia by Outrigger
2nd Place –Benjamin Stegmann, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach
3rd Place – Samuel Aquino, Ilikai Hotel & Luxury Suites
Small Property (under 200 rooms)
1st Place – Ted Tuttle, Wyndham Vacation Resorts Royal Garden at Waikiki
Engineering/Maintenance Person of the Year
Large Property (over 450 rooms)
1st Place – Mundy Gillcoat, The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas
2nd Place – Marc Butin, The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort
3rd Place – Mark Nagata, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel
Medium Property (200-450 rooms)
1st Place – Lee Ridley, Marriott's Waiohai Beach Club
2nd Place – Joshua Higgins, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach
3rd Place – Lee Aaron Yap, The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas Resort
Small Property (under 200 rooms)
1st Place – Kyle "Kalani" Tihada, Napili Kai Beach Resort
2nd Place – Rodolfo Dela Cruz, Pono Kai Resort
3rd Place – Jason Kamai-Santos, Lawai Beach Resort
Food & Beverage Person of the Year
Large Property (over 450 rooms)
1st Place – Imelda "Amie" Tungpalan, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel
2nd Place – Emmanuel Valencia, Halekulani
3rd Place – Eduardo "Eddie" Domingo, Fairmont Kea Lani Maui
Medium Property (200-450 rooms)
1st Place – Gemsley Balagso, The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas Resort
2nd Place – Justyn Wee, Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk
3rd Place – Jacob Brown, The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort
Front Office Person of the Year
Large Property (over 450 rooms)
1st Place – Giadee Kaiwi, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa
2nd Place – Michelle Takahama, The Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
3rd Place – Nerony "Noni" Slade, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
Medium Property (200-450 rooms)
1st Place – Manuel Nicolas, OHANA Waikiki Malia by Outrigger
2nd Place – Scott Nakama, Waikiki Resort Hotel
3rd Place – Lorena Rosete, Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk
Small Property (under 200 rooms)
1st Place – Charles Ursua, Wyndham at Waikiki Beach Walk
2nd Place – Janine Pagador, Lawai Beach Resort
3rd Place – Lori Sanehisa-Lee, Pagoda Hotel
Housekeeping Person of the Year
Large Property (over 450 rooms)
1st Place – Flordeliza Leo, Hilton Hawaiian Village
2nd Place – Dennis Austria, The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua
3rd Place – Lady Salazar, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani
Medium Property (200-450 rooms)
1st Place – Erlinda Aranca, The Kahala Hotel & Resort
2nd Place – Mary Ann Quintal, Four Seasons Resort O'ahu at Ko Olina
3rd Place – Felix Tabudlo, Waikoloa Beach Marriott
Small Property (under 200 rooms)
1st Place – Laurie Manatay, Aston Islander on the Beach
2nd Place – Amador Manzano, Hokulani Waikiki by Hilton Grand Vacations
3rd Place – Geraldine Baniaga, Marriott's Kauai Lagoons - Kalanipu'u
Security Officer of the Year
Large Property (over 450 rooms)
1st Place – Eric Capllonch, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani
2nd Place – Frank Johnson, The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort
3rd Place – Darrell Moniz, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
Medium Property (200-450 rooms)
1st Place – Andrew Materne, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach
2nd Place – Albert Tempel, Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort
3rd Place – Alex Napa'a, The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas
Small Property (under 200 rooms)
1st Place – Joseph Pascua, Lawai Beach Resort
Allied Member of the Year
Kaiser Permanente
Allied Individual Member of the Year
Lester Kodama - Print Retail Marketing Manager, Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Leader in Sustainability Award
Prince Resorts Hawaii
Hospitality Educator of the Year
Kaimuki High School Vice Principal Kenneth Acgaoili
Na Po‘e Pa‘ahana Legacy Award
Polynesian Cultural Center
Excellence in Community Service Award
Sheraton Kaua'i
Woman of the Year Award
Hao Dang Tanacsos – President & CEO, HAOskeeping
Pūlamahia Award
Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
Chef/Restaurateur of the Year
Tylun Pang – Executive Chef & Director of Food & Beverage, The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui
Ho‘okamaha‘o Award
Debbie Nakanelua-Richards – Hawaiian Airlines, Senior Manager – Government & Community Relations.
1st Place – Kirk Togashi, Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
2nd Place – Lester Tanabe, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani
3rd Place – Kanika ‘Nikki’ Utley, Alohilani
Manager of the Year
1st Place – Claire Butler, Hilton Hawaiian Village
2nd Place – Crystal Sellona, Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
3rd Place – Kainoa Horcajo, The Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
Bell/Valet Person of the Year
Large Property (over 450 rooms)
1st Place – Dayle Ho'opai, Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort
2nd Place – Petter Lino, Sheraton Waikiki
3rd Place – Robbie Fronda, The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort
Medium Property (200-450 rooms)
1st Place – Peter Nonales, OHANA Waikiki Malia by Outrigger
2nd Place –Benjamin Stegmann, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach
3rd Place – Samuel Aquino, Ilikai Hotel & Luxury Suites
Small Property (under 200 rooms)
1st Place – Ted Tuttle, Wyndham Vacation Resorts Royal Garden at Waikiki
Engineering/Maintenance Person of the Year
Large Property (over 450 rooms)
1st Place – Mundy Gillcoat, The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas
2nd Place – Marc Butin, The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort
3rd Place – Mark Nagata, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel
Medium Property (200-450 rooms)
1st Place – Lee Ridley, Marriott's Waiohai Beach Club
2nd Place – Joshua Higgins, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach
3rd Place – Lee Aaron Yap, The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas Resort
Small Property (under 200 rooms)
1st Place – Kyle "Kalani" Tihada, Napili Kai Beach Resort
2nd Place – Rodolfo Dela Cruz, Pono Kai Resort
3rd Place – Jason Kamai-Santos, Lawai Beach Resort
Food & Beverage Person of the Year
Large Property (over 450 rooms)
1st Place – Imelda "Amie" Tungpalan, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel
2nd Place – Emmanuel Valencia, Halekulani
3rd Place – Eduardo "Eddie" Domingo, Fairmont Kea Lani Maui
Medium Property (200-450 rooms)
1st Place – Gemsley Balagso, The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas Resort
2nd Place – Justyn Wee, Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk
3rd Place – Jacob Brown, The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort
Front Office Person of the Year
Large Property (over 450 rooms)
1st Place – Giadee Kaiwi, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa
2nd Place – Michelle Takahama, The Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
3rd Place – Nerony "Noni" Slade, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
Medium Property (200-450 rooms)
1st Place – Manuel Nicolas, OHANA Waikiki Malia by Outrigger
2nd Place – Scott Nakama, Waikiki Resort Hotel
3rd Place – Lorena Rosete, Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk
Small Property (under 200 rooms)
1st Place – Charles Ursua, Wyndham at Waikiki Beach Walk
2nd Place – Janine Pagador, Lawai Beach Resort
3rd Place – Lori Sanehisa-Lee, Pagoda Hotel
Housekeeping Person of the Year
Large Property (over 450 rooms)
1st Place – Flordeliza Leo, Hilton Hawaiian Village
2nd Place – Dennis Austria, The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua
3rd Place – Lady Salazar, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani
Medium Property (200-450 rooms)
1st Place – Erlinda Aranca, The Kahala Hotel & Resort
2nd Place – Mary Ann Quintal, Four Seasons Resort O'ahu at Ko Olina
3rd Place – Felix Tabudlo, Waikoloa Beach Marriott
Small Property (under 200 rooms)
1st Place – Laurie Manatay, Aston Islander on the Beach
2nd Place – Amador Manzano, Hokulani Waikiki by Hilton Grand Vacations
3rd Place – Geraldine Baniaga, Marriott's Kauai Lagoons - Kalanipu'u
Security Officer of the Year
Large Property (over 450 rooms)
1st Place – Eric Capllonch, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani
2nd Place – Frank Johnson, The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort
3rd Place – Darrell Moniz, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
Medium Property (200-450 rooms)
1st Place – Andrew Materne, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach
2nd Place – Albert Tempel, Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort
3rd Place – Alex Napa'a, The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas
Small Property (under 200 rooms)
1st Place – Joseph Pascua, Lawai Beach Resort
Allied Member of the Year
Kaiser Permanente
Allied Individual Member of the Year
Lester Kodama - Print Retail Marketing Manager, Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Leader in Sustainability Award
Prince Resorts Hawaii
Hospitality Educator of the Year
Kaimuki High School Vice Principal Kenneth Acgaoili
Na Po‘e Pa‘ahana Legacy Award
Polynesian Cultural Center
Excellence in Community Service Award
Sheraton Kaua'i
Woman of the Year Award
Hao Dang Tanacsos – President & CEO, HAOskeeping
Pūlamahia Award
Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
Chef/Restaurateur of the Year
Tylun Pang – Executive Chef & Director of Food & Beverage, The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui
Ho‘okamaha‘o Award
Debbie Nakanelua-Richards – Hawaiian Airlines, Senior Manager – Government & Community Relations.
