When did you realize hospitality was your calling, not just your career?
I was born in Hawaiʻi but raised in Japan until I was 15 years old. When I returned to Hawaiʻi to attend Mid-Pacific Institute, I experienced the islands in a completely different way. I fell in love with the beauty of the land, the richness of the culture, and most importantly, the people.
There was a warmth and sense of belonging that immediately made me feel at home. As a teenager, I saw Hawaiʻi through fresh eyes. The islands left a lasting impression on me, and I realized hospitality was about much more than providing a room or a meal. It was about creating experiences that allow others to feel the same connection I felt when I returned home.
Today, hospitality gives me the opportunity to share Hawaiʻi with people from around the world. Every guest arrives hoping to create memories, and being part of an industry that helps bring those experiences to life is what transformed hospitality from a career into a calling.
What responsibility does hospitality have in honoring local culture and community?
Hospitality has a responsibility to preserve, respect, and share the culture of Hawaiʻi in an authentic way. Visitors come here because Hawaiʻi is unlike anywhere else in the world, and we have a responsibility to help them understand what makes these islands so special.
For me, this responsibility is personal. I have been dancing hula since 1997. Although I took a break while focusing on my career, I remain a proud member of Hālau I Ka Wēkiu. Over the years, I have had the privilege of competing in nine Merrie Monarch Festivals and hope to participate in my tenth in 2027.
Through hula, I learned lessons that continue to guide me today: commitment, discipline, teamwork, humility, and respect. These values are just as important in hospitality as they are in hula.
When guests stay with us, we want them to experience more than a hotel. We want them to feel the aloha spirit and gain a deeper appreciation for the people, culture, and traditions that make Hawaiʻi unique.
What is a personal value you refuse to compromise in business?
The value I refuse to compromise is aloha.
Many people think of aloha as simply a greeting, but to me it represents genuine care, kindness, respect, and compassion for others. It is the foundation of how I lead and how I approach every interaction.
While business results and performance metrics are important, people will always come first. I believe that when leaders genuinely care about their team members, those team members naturally extend that same care to our guests.
Whether I am working with associates, guests, owners, or business partners, I strive to lead with empathy and respect. People may forget what you said, but they rarely forget how you made them feel. Aloha is more than a value—it is a way of life.
What is one moment with a guest or team member that truly moved you?
The moments that move me most are when I see people develop a genuine connection to Hawaiʻi and to each other. I love seeing guests visit Hawaiʻi for the first time and completely fall in love with the islands.
Even more rewarding is when they return year after year and choose to stay with us again. Knowing that our team played a role in creating memories that bring people back is incredibly fulfilling.
I feel the same way about our associates. Many have dedicated years, and sometimes decades, to our hotel. Watching them take pride in their work, care for one another, and treat the property as their second home is inspiring. When associates view their coworkers as family and genuinely care about creating memorable guest experiences, it creates a culture that cannot be taught. Those are the moments that remind me why I love this industry.
What legacy do you hope to leave within Hawai‘i’s hospitality community?
I hope my legacy is one of service, mentorship, and pride in Hawaiʻi. I want to help showcase Hawaiʻi to the world in a way that honors our culture, respects our
community, and creates lasting memories for visitors. At the same time, I hope to inspire the next generation to see hospitality as more than a job.
Hospitality is one of the few careers where you can positively impact someone’s day while representing your home to people from around the world. It offers opportunities for growth, leadership, and meaningful connections.
If I can help young people discover the same passion for hospitality that I found years ago, while encouraging them to share the spirit of aloha with others, then I will consider my career a success. Hawaiʻi has given so much to me, and I hope to spend my career giving back through the people and experiences we create every day.
