What part of your personality makes you especially suited for this industry?
I truly enjoy the art of hospitality, the art of dining. I’m naturally professional, personable, and detail-oriented, which makes me well suited for luxury hospitality. Growing up on Maui taught me the value of genuine service and creating meaningful guest experiences. I stay calm under pressure, work well in high-standard environments, and enjoy taking initiative to ensure guests receive exceptional service. I also enjoy supporting and motivating a team, which has helped me grow into leadership-oriented roles within hospitality.
How do you inspire your team when morale feels low?
I inspire the team by leading by example and keeping a positive, solution-focused mindset even during challenging moments. I encourage the team to take pride in what we do and remind them that our energy directly shapes the guest experience. I also believe in supporting and recognizing the team so everyone feels motivated, confident, and connected to a shared goal of excellence.
How do you balance family, personal life, and the demands of hospitality?
It is important to ensure you have boundaries; I have been working on mastering my schedule, being effective while at work to ensure I can address everything and having a hard out. This is a recent change as I truly enjoy working, but in an effort to balance out I need to be able to depend on the team.
What legacy do you hope to leave within Hawai‘i’s hospitality community?
I hope to leave a legacy of excellence, leadership, and genuine hospitality within Hawai‘i’s hospitality community. I want to help elevate teams by creating an environment where people feel inspired to grow, lead, and take pride in delivering exceptional service. Beyond the guest experience, I hope to mentor future hospitality professionals who will continue carrying forward the values of aloha, refinement, and world-class service, not only in Hawai‘i, but throughout the industry as a whole.
Who was an early mentor that shaped your leadership style?
My leadership style was shaped through the collective mentorship I experienced during my tenure working with Wolfgang Puck, where I was surrounded by professionals who held themselves to exceptionally high standards while still understanding the importance of teamwork and hospitality.
I was also heavily influenced by Charlie Trotter’s pursuit of excellence and attention to every detail, as well as Danny Meyer’s philosophy that hospitality begins with how you care for your people. Together, those experiences shaped my approach to leadership, striving for excellence while building a strong, motivated team culture.
