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
