Almost half the audience was nominated for recognition at the Fifth Annual Malama Awards Recognition Banquet, held at the Princeville Resort ballroom earlier this month. Nearly 200 people attended, with all 76 nominees considered winners just for being nominated and
Almost half the audience was nominated for recognition at the Fifth Annual Malama Awards Recognition Banquet, held at the Princeville Resort ballroom earlier this month.
Nearly 200 people attended, with all 76 nominees considered winners just for being nominated and recognized. There were no first-place awards, just recognition for workers in the island’s largest and most important industry.
Besides the industry’s leaders and families and friends of those nominated for the awards, also in attendance were Mayor Maryanne Kusaka, Gini Kapali of the count Office of Economic Development, and Kaua’i Planning Commission member Jay Furfaro, general manager of the Radisson Kauai Beach Resort and a candidate for Kaua’i County Council.
The event was hosted by Dickie Chang of Wala’au, and entertainment came from Maluhia from Kaua’i and Chant from O’ahu.
Here are the winners, by category:
Administrator/Accountant of the Year: Gina Caliendo, marketing assistant, Hanalei Bay Resort; Josette Corona, senior accounting clerk and administrative assistant, Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club; Patricia Cuaresma, night auditor, Embassy Vacation Resort at Poipu Point; Alex Dupitas, night auditor, Lawai Beach Resort; Eden Fagarang-Vallatini, accounting clerk, Sheraton Kauai Resort; Andrea Katayama, revenue auditor, Radisson Kauai Beach Resort; Sharon Knott, accounting clerk, Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort-Kauai.
Bell Person of the Year: Burt Kubota, reception service attendant, Sheraton Kauai Resort; Selso Manuel, luggage attendant, Princeville Resort; Dean Matsumoto, bell person, Radisson Kauai Beach Resort; Ernie Nacapuy, bell attendant, Embassy Vacation Resort at Poipu Point; Dainard Spore, bellman, Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club; Brandon Toguchi, bellman, Kauai Coconut Beach Resort.
Concierge of the Year: Angela Agustin, Japanese concierge, Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa; Shannon Cummings, concierge and briefer, Embassy Vacation Resort at Poipu Point; Dolores Fernandez, concierge, Sheraton Kauai Resort; Ruth “Luka” Hooten, concierge, Hanalei Bay Resort; Mona Lake, guest service representative, Kauai Coconut Beach Resort; Charlotte Nash, guest express supervisor, Radisson Kauai Beach Resort; Toshiko Saiki, concierge, Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club; June Sundberg, concierge, Princeville Resort.
Engineering/Maintenance Person of the Year: Abraham Aquino, maintenance, Aston at Po’ipu Kai; Ernesto Barroga, maintenance, Radisson Kauai Beach Resort; Fred Bermudez, maintenance, Lae Nani Resort, Outrigger Hotels & Resorts; Fernando Butac, landscape section tender, Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa; Marshall Camara, maintenance engineer, Princeville Resort; Frank Cano, engineer, Lawai Beach Resort; Florentino Caoagas, maintenance, Sheraton Kauai Resort; Armando Corpuz, engineer, leadman, Embassy Vacation Resort at Poipu Point; Dennis Saflor, maintenance technician, Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort-Kauai; Tim Tin, maintenance mechanic, Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club.
Food & Beverage Person of the Year: Romel Begonia, cook, Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa; Herman Fabian, bus help, Kauai Coconut Beach Resort; Janet Flipert, bartender, Sheraton Kauai Resort; Cherolyn Kaneholani, cashier, Radisson Kauai Beach Resort; Brian Labuguen, purchasing coordinator, Princeville Resort; Michael Maldonado, bartender, Embassy Vacation Resort at Poipu Point; Ric Ochoco, lead cook, Kukui’s restaurant, Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club; Juan Ramirez, food server, Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa; Kimi Uemura, bus person, Hanalei Bay Resort; Britt Whitfield, cook, Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort-Kauai.
Front Office/Reservations Person of the Year: Patsy Bermoy, guest service agent, Embassy Vacation Resort at Poipu Point; Lei Lin Compoc, guest service agent, Lawai Beach Resort; Dawn Cummings, front desk agent, Aston at Poipu Kai; Celeste Daida, front office associate, Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club; Tracey “Moana” Kaleikini, sales receptionist, Hanalei Bay Resort; Tina Malabe, front office agent, Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa; Penny Miranda, front desk agent, Princeville Resort; Morgan Moises, administrative assistant, Radisson Kauai Beach Resort; Janine Relacion, front desk clerk, Lae Nani Resort, Outrigger Hotels & Resorts; Michele Towler, rooms director, Kauai Coconut Beach Resort; Colleen Valdez, guest services representative, Kauai Coconut Beach Resort; Betty Whitfield, reception service agent, Sheraton Kauai Resort.
Roomkeeper of the Year: Cora Cruz, housekeeping supervisor, Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club; Trinidad Dace, room attendant, Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort-Kauai; Angie Ganotisi, housekeeper, Aston at Poipu Kai; Nerie Hernandez, room attendant, Outrigger Lae Nani Resort; Emma Jimenez, linen attendant, Princeville Resort; Ruth Kanoa, rooms control clerk, Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa; Priscilla Laiz, room attendant, Sheraton Kauai Resort; Beverly Palau, inspectress, Lawai Beach Resort; Alvin Pinoliar, general attendant, Outrigger Lae Nani Resort; Jeanette Ridings, room attendant, Kauai Coconut Beach Resort; Donna Silva, suites control clerk, Embassy Vacation Resort at Poipu Point; Jovita Valdez, room attendant, Radisson Kauai Beach Resort.
Security Officer of the Year: Nick Arruda, security officer, Sheraton Kauai Resort; Tony Hubahib, security supervisor, Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa; Donald “Moki” Okami, loss prevention officer, Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club; Albert Soto, security officer, Lawai Beach Resort; Roger Westbrook, security officer, Princeville Resort.
Supervisor/Manager of the Year: Mercedes (Gonzales) Casticimo, resort assistant controller, Embassy Vacation Resort at Poipu Point; Shawn Doo, assistant front office manager, Kauai Coconut Beach Resort; Owen Hoff, outlet manager, Sheraton Kauai Resort Club; Jackie Inanod, engineering coordinator, Princeville Resort; Nolan Rapozo, director of security and loss prevention, Lawai Beach Resort; Karl Schwartzlow, senior assistant controller, Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club.
