& Beach jumped BEACH — It mattered very little to the panicked mom that the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort Club employee who into the pool with all his clothes on to save her young daughter from drowning didn’t have a college
& Beach jumped BEACH — It mattered very little to the panicked mom that the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort Club employee who into the pool with all his clothes on to save her young daughter from drowning didn’t have a college degree.
Ronald Carpenter was a lifesaver.
He received an award from hotel leaders for that feat, and recently was named the state’s top engineer/maintenance person of the year at the annual Hawai‘i Hotel & Lodging Association Na Po‘e Pa‘ahana Awards program on O‘ahu earlier this month.
For Carpenter, 50, a groundsman, it was a natural thing to do, the right thing, because nobody else was around, the mother couldn’t swim, and if he hadn’t acted the child likely would have died, he said.
Add another career experience to the long list of things done in his life. The Newark, N.J. native moved to California in the 1950s, and came to Kaua‘i after being laid off from a position with Bank of America. His wife, Irma, also works at the Kaua‘i Marriott, in the At Your Service department, and the idea of coming to the island to be closer to their daughter and grandson was appealing, too, he said.
He will make two years at the Marriott in September, and the couple will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary later this year. They have two children, including daughter Roxanna Copeland and grandson Brent Copeland, 8, in Lihu‘e, and a son and two other grandchildren in California.
Carpenter worked for Lee’s Furniture as a manager and furniture repairman and refurbisher, and has owned and operated his own maintenance and landscaping company.
He enjoys telling visitors and coworkers, “How do you like my office?” while showing them the outdoor area he is assigned to maintain. It is challenging and exciting to work around a variety of different people on a daily basis, and he sees in his coworkers the aloha spirit embodied. “We’ve got the good aloha here in Kaua‘i.
“I guess I love my job,” and being surrounded by lots of topnotch associates makes it worthwhile, he said.
“The award is not only a honor and privilege, but the gold medal of gold medals in the industry. It is an honor to represent Kaua‘i and the Kaua‘i Marriott,” which he is convinced is the “best place to stay and best place to work on Kaua‘i.”
About the significance of the award on other associates and managers at the property, Carpenter said, “We’re viewed as number one, the hotel.” He feels the award will draw guests to the hotel, and reflects positively on his coworkers, managers, the entire hotel staff and entire island. “The incentive things make it worth it to work here.
“I represent grounds, maintenance, engineering, the heart of the house, behind the scenes, back of the house. They’re my coworkers,” he said. “Basically, we live together at the hotel. They deserve applause, too. I don’t feel I deserve all the credit.”
Carpenter works Tuesday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and had at least one other entity he wanted to thank. “I gotta give a lot of praise to my creator for bringing good things to me,” said Carpenter, who always gives 110 percent, and tries to treat people kindly, the way he would like to be treated.
After his creator, his wife and career are important, he said. “I got a beautiful wife,” almost lost her to cancer, but she came out of it, he said. “I love my wife dearly. She’s an inspiration to me.”
Carpenter didn’t even know Glenn Craven, grounds superintendent, had nominated him until he went to O‘ahu earlier this month for the awards luncheon. “Oh, I was just in shock. I had no idea I was even nominated,” let along a semifinalist. He said he thought the awards ceremony in Waikiki was just for Marriott employees.
“He’s really been good to me as an individual,” Carpenter said of Craven.
Carpenter won a koa box, cash award, and letters of congratulation from Gov. Linda Lingle, Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste (who was at the Waikiki luncheon), and others.
The award was the result of concerted efforts on the part of Marriott personnel to honor outstanding associates, said Simon Jongert, Kaua‘i Marriott general manager.
“Every month we celebrate our associates,” and top annual employees are nominated for the HHLA awards program, Jongert said.
“We work all year on the nomination process. Those are our best associates. We are very proud to have our Ron come out on top,” Jongert continued.
Having statewide winners, and statewide finalists, “is a tremendous moralebooster” that also leads to greater guest satisfaction, he added. Peers are proud of associates in their departments who win these kinds of awards, and workers in departments and the entire hotel get boosts from these kinds of recognitions, he said.
It has an impact on guests and service delivery, he said. “If you have happy associates, you usually have happy guests,” with associates who are happy, smiling, and taking good care of guests, he noted.
“Often we forget to say ‘thank you’ to our associates, give them a pat on the shoulder. It means a lot to them,” he said.
On Carpenter, Craven had this to say: “He’s a natural ambassador for our guests, and enjoys giving impromptu tours of the hotel grounds. Ron is a natural motivator and a positive influence on his department and to everyone who comes in contact with him.”
The Kaua‘i Marriott had two other employees who were finalists in their respective categories. They are Ryden Domingsel, a runnerup in the category of concierge of the year, and Godfrey “Kaipo” Kealalio Jr., in the category of recreation person of the year.
“A valuable asset to his managers, coworkers, our guests and the community, Ryden’s enthusiasm is contagious, and we are very happy to have him as part of the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club’s ‘ohana,” said his nominator.
“Kaipo exemplifies the true aloha spirit with his smile and unending positive attitude,” said Kealalio’s nominator. “A dedicated team player, Kaipo’s flexibility and consideration of others is commendable. Kaipo has the ability to make guests, children, parents, coworkers and managers feel comfortable when speaking and dealing with him,” the nominator said.
“He is always very aware of the safety and security of every child within the Kalapaki Kids Camp, and of every guest who enters the Fitness Center and Aerobic facility. Kaipo is a wonderful asset and a valued member of the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club’s ‘ohana.”
Other finalists in various categories included Wesley Moribe of the Radisson Kauai Beach Resort, in the category of outstanding lodging employee of the year; Coppin Colburn of the Princeville Resort in the category of manager of the year; John Murphree of the Princeville Resort in the category of food and beverage person of the year; and Josephine Felipe of the Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa in the category of roomkeeper of the year.
Kaua‘i nominees in various categories, receiving honorable mention, included Ron Kawamura of Princeville Resort and Sandy Tomacder of the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club, bell person of the year; Leilani Cabais of the Princeville Resort and Kahea Molabe, Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Resort, concierge of the year; Jerry Andres of Aston at Poipu Kai, Rody Ganiron of Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club and Ernest Valvieja, Princeville Resort, engineer/maintenance person of the year; Randy Ebesu, Kauai Coconut Beach Resort, Job Kane, Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club, Garret Katahira, Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa, and Emma Quinn, Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club, food and bever age person of the year; Shirley Ebinger, Kauai Coconut Beach Resort, Malaika El Saieh Rowe, Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa, Lani Garcia, Princeville Resort, Kwai Yen KaohiDela Cruz, Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club, Nadine Mier, Waimea Plantation Cottages, and Chad Tangalin, Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club, front office person of the year; and Stella Burgess, Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa, Donna King, Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club, Nolan Omi, Kauai Coconut Beach Resort, and Cathy Veatch, Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club, manager of the year.
Felipe “demonstrates several admirable traits that make her especially deserving of the Na Po‘e Pa‘ahana (“the hardworking people”) award,” said her supervisor.
“Quiet, focused, and humble, she concentrates on her work, and wisely distances herself from the rumor mill.”
She is, according to supervisors, the “hardestworking employee in housekeeping,” trains new housekeepers and new housekeeping managers, and “provides exceptional daily service.” Finally, she is “a pleasure and honor to work with,” according to supervisors.
Colburn, Princeville Resort’s director of security, received a glowing nomination from his supervisor:
“Through his passions, Coppin has not merely enhanced Princeville’s security team, but also the resort’s programs, guest experiences and surrounding community. Coppin is a person who dedicates 100 percent of his time to his job and still finds time to give to and assist others.
He truly embodies the aloha spirit, which he selflessly and lovingly shares with his fellow employees, community members, and most of all, guests at the Princeville Resort.
Murphree, who works at Princeville Resort’s Cafe Hanalei, has an upbeat, infectious attitude that coworkers and guests both catch, according to his nominator. “His spirit and friendliness toward other employees and guests makes him a great team player an asset for our hotel.
“John has truly embraced the spirit of aloha that drew him to the islands, and he shares it with everyone he can.
His warmth, enthusiasm, and genuine desire to provide excellent service has given extra special memories for guests to take home from their trip to Hawai‘i.”
“We are very proud of all of our winners, our honorees and our semifinalists,” said Sandi KatoKlutke of the Aston at Poipu Kai, president of the Kaua‘i chapter of the HHLA.
Paul C. Curtis, associate editor, may be reached at 2453681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@pulitzer.net.
