Sheraton chef named top lodging employee

A Sheraton cafeteria cook took top honors on Tuesday during a luncheon to celebrate the annual Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association’s Na Po‘e Pa‘ahana ("the hardworking people") statewide awards.

Kervin Leval, who has worked at the Sheraton Waikiki since 1986 and now serves as chef at the employee cafeteria Moki­hana, was named outstanding lodging employee of the year. Leval, who started his career as a 15-year-old busboy at the Sheraton Maui, said he was shocked and honored to receive his industry’s highest award.

"I’m a person that feels Hawaii is almost like heaven, and working in the hotel industry, we are like little angels trying to make people’s dreams come true," Leval said, adding that working in the industry has made his own dreams come true. "It’s afforded me to have a home here. My whole life is because of having a job here."

Wayne Pereira, a waiter at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel’s Surf Lanai, and Eddie Mahoney, director of astronomy at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, placed second and third, respectively, for the outstanding-employee award.

Awardees at HLTA’s 24th awards ceremony at the Hilton Hawaiian Village were selected from nominations submitted by their supervisors and co-workers, and were judged for outstanding and exceptional service to lodging guests, co-workers and the community.

Unlike other awards ceremonies, HLTA recognizes the contributions of the lodging industry’s rank-and-file employees.

Infante Llamas, who works at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, took the housekeeper of the year award. He shared the honor with second-place winner Kham­pone Phom­ma­vong of The Kahala Hotel and Resort, and third-place winner Boni­fa­cio "Boni" Bonilla, who works at Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel.

HLTA also recognized Trump International Hotel Waikiki Beach Walk associate Dean Yama­gu­chi as top bell/valet person of the year. George "Tosh" Fujita of The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas finished second, and Grant Shi­ma­bu­kuro of the Sheraton Wai­kiki placed third.

Likewise, the Sheraton Wai­kiki’s Reginald "Reggie" Ughoc was named top engineering/maintenance person of the year. His peers Eric Muro­ba­ya­shi of the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa, and James Higa of the Kauai Beach Resort took second- and third-place honors, respectively.

For a complete listing of award winners, visit hawaii­lodging.org.