Association honors top tourism employees

Lisalani Baybayan, a concierge at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, was named Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year on Thursday by the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association.

Baybayan was recognized for her “personal acts of aloha, which include crocheting luggage tags for guests and picking up mail boxes for guests without transportation, as well as volunteering with the Charity Walk for 25 years,” the association said in a news release.

Baybayan was one of 27 honored at the 27th annual Na Po‘e Pa‘ahana (The Hardworking People) Awards luncheon held at the Sheraton Waikiki Resort.

“While visitors are attracted by the four S’s — sun, sand, sea, and surf — it’s really another S, the spirit of aloha, that makes the greatest impression on people,” said Mufi Hannemann, HLTA president and CEO. “The Na Po‘e Pa‘ahana honorees embody the aloha spirit at work and in the community, and we owe them a tremendous debt for their contributions to the success of our industry.”

The Allied Member of the Year was Oahu Publications Inc., owner of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

“Through the strong leadership of its president and publisher, Dennis Francis, OPI has been an outstanding advocate of the state’s No. 1 industry. They understand that tourism is an industry that we can’t take for granted, and they have been at the forefront in advocating for solutions to combat homelessness,” said Hannemann.

This year’s Na Po‘e Pa‘ahana award winners and runners-up:

Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year

First Place: Lisalani Baybayan, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa

Second: Alyssa Lende Kane, Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa

Third: Rosie Newton, the Westin Maui Resort & Spa

Manager of the Year

First: Precy Burbano, Mauna Lani Hotel & Bungalows

Second: Eric Au, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani

Third: Kenneth Duane Sparkman, the Westin Maui Resort & Spa

Housekeeper of the Year

First: Eddie Macoco, Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort and Spa

Second: Nenilia Eugenio, Trump International Hotel Waikiki

Third: Irene Abordo, the Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort

Food & Beverage Person of the Year

First: Mark Gonsalves, Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort

Second: Yuen Nam Wong, the Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort

Third: Alona Watson, the Westin Ka‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas

Engineering/Maintenance Person of the Year

First: Danny Chounramany, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani

Second: Myron Yamamoto, Mauna Lani Hotel & Bungalows

Third: Michael Sakaida, the Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort

Front Office Person of the Year

First: Sherrie Smith, Waikiki Resort Hotel

Second: Iwalani Segovia, Ala Moana Hotel

Third: Nancy Jones, Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort

Bell/Valet Person of the Year

First: Kawika Maeda, Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort

Second: Ross Ramelb, Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa

Third: Ernesto Cabrera, Maui Beach Hotel

Security Officer of the Year

First: Jose Castellanos, Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort

Second: Curtis Aiwohi, Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort and Spa

Third: Jarrett Hew, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani

Allied Member of the Year

Oahu Publications Inc.

Leader in Sustainability Award

Sheraton Princess Kaiulani

Hospitality Educator of the Year

Jerry Agrusa, Hawaii Pacific University

Na Po‘e Pa‘ahana Legacy Award

Society of Seven

Woman of the Year Award

Barbara Campbell, Outrigger Enterprises Group

Restaurateur of the Year

Roy Yamaguchi