What legacy do you hope to leave within Hawai‘i’s hospitality community?
I’ve been fortunate throughout my career to work alongside incredible people and be part of an industry that creates opportunities for others. At Aulani, one of the things that has always been most important to me is supporting our Cast Members and helping local residents build rewarding careers in hospitality.
I also hope the work we’ve done has made a positive impact on the broader community through mentorship and career development opportunities, support for local organizations and efforts to share Hawai‘i’s culture and stories with guests from around the world. If I’ve been able to help open doors for others along the way and positively steward Hawai‘i’s culture, that is something I would feel truly grateful for.
What responsibility does hospitality have in honoring local culture and community?
Hospitality has a very important responsibility in honoring local culture and community. For many visitors, their hospitality experience shapes how they come to understand Hawai‘i, its people, and culture. As a Native Hawaiian who was raised here, that responsibility is very personal to me. At Aulani, we’ve worked closely with cultural advisors, artists, and practitioners to help ensure Hawaiian culture and language are authentically represented throughout the resort experience, including our KA WA‘A lū‘au and the ʻŌlelo Room and Cast Members who help share ʻŌlelo Hawai‘i with guests each day.
Furthermore, honoring Hawai‘i means caring for the community and environment beyond the resort itself. Through our Disney VoluntEARS program, Aulani Cast Members give their time at Nā Mea Kūpono to help restore lo‘i patches and preserve traditional farming practices.
For me, this work is about helping ensure Hawai‘i’s culture, traditions and communities continue to thrive for future generations, whether through efforts like the Aulani Scholarship or long-standing partnerships with organizations such as Make-A-Wish Hawai‘i and Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children.
What does leadership look like to you behind closed doors?
Behind closed doors, leadership is about relationships and taking care of people. I try to spend as much time as possible connecting with our Cast Members, listening to them and supporting them however I can. Sometimes that means helping someone navigate a challenge, celebrating milestones and birthdays, or simply walking the resort and checking in throughout the day. Nurturing others has always been very important to me, and I try to bring that same spirit into how I lead our team.
After more than 35 years in Hawai‘i’s hospitality industry, I’ve come to believe that humility and resilience are essential qualities in leadership. Our industry and communities continue to evolve, and leadership requires listening, adapting, and being thoughtful about how tourism impacts our islands and local families. I believe leadership should always be grounded in care, respect, and responsibility to the community we serve.
What do you believe Hawai‘i hospitality gets right that the rest of the world often misses?
Hawai‘i’s approach to hospitality has always been about much more than service. It’s about making people feel genuinely welcomed and connected while creating experiences that reflect the spirit, culture, and values of Hawai‘i in authentic ways. The most meaningful experiences are rooted in place and community, whether through storytelling, music, language, food, or personal connections with the people who live and work here.
As the landscape of travel continues to evolve, the industry is also helping lead important conversations about how we care for both our visitors and communities by prioritizing mindful, regenerative stewardship. We understand that to truly care for our guests, we must equally care for the islands they came to experience and the people who call Hawai‘i home. The health of our communities, culture, and environment is deeply connected to the experiences we create for visitors.
What is the biggest challenge facing Hawai‘i hospitality over the next decade?
I believe one of the biggest challenges facing Hawai‘i hospitality over the next decade will be ensuring that Hawai‘i remains a place where local families can continue to live, work, and thrive while sustaining a healthy visitor industry. Our economy is deeply connected to tourism, but our communities are also facing real challenges related to housing affordability, alongside environmental stewardship and cultural preservation.
We will need to continue evolving thoughtfully so the benefits of tourism are felt across our communities in meaningful ways. This includes continuing to invest in local residents, caring for our natural resources and ensuring Hawaiian culture and values remain respected and protected. I think the future of Hawai‘i hospitality will depend on how well we balance all of those responsibilities while creating meaningful experiences for residents and visitors.
