2025 Na Po‘e Pa‘ahana Award Winners
Activities, Culture & Experience Person of the Year – Small Property
First Place: Edrian "Eddy" Sarian, Recreation Attendant, Napili Kai Beach Resort
Second Place: Alan Ka‘aekuahiwi, Starter Marshall, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
Third Place: Midori Heuler, Gift Shop Agent , The Laylow, Autograph Collection Hotel
Activities, Culture & Experience Person of the Year – Large Property
First Place: Tiana Morris, Activities Operations Supervisor, Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club
Second Place: France Mae Ballano, Guest Experience Coordinator, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kāʻanapali
Third Place: Megan Sedeno-Zoller, Youth Activities Counselor, Lead, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
Bell & Valet Person of the Year – Small Property
First Place: Jonathan-Trey Butac, Bellman, The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club
Second Place: Matthew Mori, Bellman, Maui Beach Hotel
Third Place: Charles Sanchez, Bell, Luggage & Valet Attendant, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
Bell & Valet Person of the Year – Large Property
First Place: Robert Oshiro, Service Express Captain, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kāʻanapali
Second Place: Randall Lavarias, Bellman, The Royal Hawaiian Resort Waikiki
Third Place: John Thompson, Door Attendant, OUTRIGGER Reef Waikiki Beach Resort
Engineer & Maintenance Person of the Year – Small Property
First Place: Mark Venzon, Maintenance Supervisor, The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club
Second Place: Ikaika Langley, Engineer, Marriott’s Kaua‘i Beach Club
Third Place: Antonio Rubi, Maintenance Tech II, Club Wyndham at Waikiki Beach Walk
Engineer & Maintenance Person of the Year – Large Property
First Place: Tyler Castro, Engineering Coordinator, Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk
Second Place: Samuel Wilson, Plumber Journeyman, Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort
Third Place: Fleance Ramos, Engineering Operations Supervisor, Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club
Food & Beverage Person of the Year – Small Property
First Place: Donna Matsumoto, Meridia Waithelp, Westin Hapuna Beach Resort
Second Place: Christian Taibi, Bar Supervisor, The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club
Third Place: Julius Nilo, Banquets Cook I, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
Food & Beverage Person of the Year – Large Property
First Place: Miyako Hongo-Rodriguez, Server, The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
Second Place: Colleen Sanchez, Waithelp, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani
Third Place: Leslie Lactaoen, Cook II, Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection
Front Office Person of the Year – Small Property
First Place: Fe Manuel, Guest Service Agent, Maui Seaside Hotel
Second Place: Jacques Beyerman, Front Desk Host, Regency on Beach Walk by OUTRIGGER
Third Place: Angel Medrano, Guest Services, Lawai Beach Resort
Front Office Person of the Year – Large Property
First Place: Grace Kuhau, Guest Service Agent, Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa
Second Place: Angelica Valdez, Front Office Guest Experience Expert, Wailea Beach Resort
Third Place: Junko Toshida, Guest Service Agent/Rooms Controller, Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
Housekeeper of the Year – Small Property
First Place: Josephine Cortez, Housekeeping Supervisor, Romer House Waikiki
Second Place: Arlene Estabillo, Housekeeping Dispatcher, Ka La‘i Waikiki Beach, LXR Hotels & Resorts
Third Place: Mely Rivera, Housekeeping Supervisor, Aston Waikiki Beach Tower
Housekeeper of the Year – Large Property
First Place: Remy Bagoyo, Housekeeping Inspectress, Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa
Second Place: Thelma Ramos, Housekeeper – Rooms/Premier Suites, Halekulani
Third Place: Jean Matillano, Housekeeping Supervisor, Wailea Beach Resort
Security Officer of the Year – Small Property
First Place: Nicanor Ocumen, Security Officer, Lawai Beach Resort
Second Place: Andrew Alce, Security Officer, Wayfinder Waikiki
Security Officer of the Year – Large Property
First Place: Lloyd Mendes Jr., Security Supervisor, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
Second Place: Mark Hong, Safety & Security Officer, Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas
Third Place: Mana Greig, Safety & Security Officer, Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club
Manager of the Year
First Place: Jennifer Koon, Director of Spa, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach
Second Place: Ed Hope, In-Room Dining Manager, Halekulani
Third Place: Ashley Kelsey-Carroll, Director of Sales, Travel Industry, Wailea Beach Resort
Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year
First Place: Ofa Savou, Sales Coordinator, The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
Second Place: Tyson Kubo, Banquet Houseman, Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
Third Place: Maria Calso, Revenue Analyst, Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk
HLTA Allied Member of the Year: Hawai‘i Gas
Sustainability Leader of the Year: Highgate Hotels
Pūlamahia Award (Perpetuating the Native Hawaiian Culture): The 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture. Awarded to Festival Director Aaron J. Salā & Festival Chair Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā.
Na Po‘e Pa‘ahana Legacy Award: Amy Hānaialiʻi Gilliom
First Place: Edrian "Eddy" Sarian, Recreation Attendant, Napili Kai Beach Resort
Second Place: Alan Ka‘aekuahiwi, Starter Marshall, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
Third Place: Midori Heuler, Gift Shop Agent , The Laylow, Autograph Collection Hotel
Activities, Culture & Experience Person of the Year – Large Property
First Place: Tiana Morris, Activities Operations Supervisor, Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club
Second Place: France Mae Ballano, Guest Experience Coordinator, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kāʻanapali
Third Place: Megan Sedeno-Zoller, Youth Activities Counselor, Lead, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
Bell & Valet Person of the Year – Small Property
First Place: Jonathan-Trey Butac, Bellman, The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club
Second Place: Matthew Mori, Bellman, Maui Beach Hotel
Third Place: Charles Sanchez, Bell, Luggage & Valet Attendant, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
Bell & Valet Person of the Year – Large Property
First Place: Robert Oshiro, Service Express Captain, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kāʻanapali
Second Place: Randall Lavarias, Bellman, The Royal Hawaiian Resort Waikiki
Third Place: John Thompson, Door Attendant, OUTRIGGER Reef Waikiki Beach Resort
Engineer & Maintenance Person of the Year – Small Property
First Place: Mark Venzon, Maintenance Supervisor, The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club
Second Place: Ikaika Langley, Engineer, Marriott’s Kaua‘i Beach Club
Third Place: Antonio Rubi, Maintenance Tech II, Club Wyndham at Waikiki Beach Walk
Engineer & Maintenance Person of the Year – Large Property
First Place: Tyler Castro, Engineering Coordinator, Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk
Second Place: Samuel Wilson, Plumber Journeyman, Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort
Third Place: Fleance Ramos, Engineering Operations Supervisor, Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club
Food & Beverage Person of the Year – Small Property
First Place: Donna Matsumoto, Meridia Waithelp, Westin Hapuna Beach Resort
Second Place: Christian Taibi, Bar Supervisor, The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club
Third Place: Julius Nilo, Banquets Cook I, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
Food & Beverage Person of the Year – Large Property
First Place: Miyako Hongo-Rodriguez, Server, The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
Second Place: Colleen Sanchez, Waithelp, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani
Third Place: Leslie Lactaoen, Cook II, Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection
Front Office Person of the Year – Small Property
First Place: Fe Manuel, Guest Service Agent, Maui Seaside Hotel
Second Place: Jacques Beyerman, Front Desk Host, Regency on Beach Walk by OUTRIGGER
Third Place: Angel Medrano, Guest Services, Lawai Beach Resort
Front Office Person of the Year – Large Property
First Place: Grace Kuhau, Guest Service Agent, Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa
Second Place: Angelica Valdez, Front Office Guest Experience Expert, Wailea Beach Resort
Third Place: Junko Toshida, Guest Service Agent/Rooms Controller, Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
Housekeeper of the Year – Small Property
First Place: Josephine Cortez, Housekeeping Supervisor, Romer House Waikiki
Second Place: Arlene Estabillo, Housekeeping Dispatcher, Ka La‘i Waikiki Beach, LXR Hotels & Resorts
Third Place: Mely Rivera, Housekeeping Supervisor, Aston Waikiki Beach Tower
Housekeeper of the Year – Large Property
First Place: Remy Bagoyo, Housekeeping Inspectress, Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa
Second Place: Thelma Ramos, Housekeeper – Rooms/Premier Suites, Halekulani
Third Place: Jean Matillano, Housekeeping Supervisor, Wailea Beach Resort
Security Officer of the Year – Small Property
First Place: Nicanor Ocumen, Security Officer, Lawai Beach Resort
Second Place: Andrew Alce, Security Officer, Wayfinder Waikiki
Security Officer of the Year – Large Property
First Place: Lloyd Mendes Jr., Security Supervisor, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
Second Place: Mark Hong, Safety & Security Officer, Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas
Third Place: Mana Greig, Safety & Security Officer, Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club
Manager of the Year
First Place: Jennifer Koon, Director of Spa, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach
Second Place: Ed Hope, In-Room Dining Manager, Halekulani
Third Place: Ashley Kelsey-Carroll, Director of Sales, Travel Industry, Wailea Beach Resort
Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year
First Place: Ofa Savou, Sales Coordinator, The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
Second Place: Tyson Kubo, Banquet Houseman, Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
Third Place: Maria Calso, Revenue Analyst, Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk
HLTA Allied Member of the Year: Hawai‘i Gas
Sustainability Leader of the Year: Highgate Hotels
Pūlamahia Award (Perpetuating the Native Hawaiian Culture): The 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture. Awarded to Festival Director Aaron J. Salā & Festival Chair Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā.
Na Po‘e Pa‘ahana Legacy Award: Amy Hānaialiʻi Gilliom
Mahalo to our sponsors:
Beachside Roofing
Domino's Pizza Hawai'i
Hawai'i Gas
Mananalu Powered by Boomerang
Orchid Lei Company
Pepsi Hawai‘i
Tihati Productions
T S Restaurants
United Laundry Service
Domino's Pizza Hawai'i
Hawai'i Gas
Mananalu Powered by Boomerang
Orchid Lei Company
Pepsi Hawai‘i
Tihati Productions
T S Restaurants
United Laundry Service
