KAHULUI — The Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce last week announced two recipients of prestigious Gintong Pamana Leadership Awards to honor their outstanding leadership and contributions to the community.

They are Glenn Casil, director of operations at The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas, and David “Kawika” Mattos, supervisor at the Maui Family Support Services Inc.

Both will be honored, along with 15 scholarship recipients, at the 2021 Gintong Pamana Leadership & Scholarship Awards on Tuesday, June 29, at 5:30 p.m. at the Maui Beach Hotel.

Limited seats are available for the evening banquet, but the public may also purchase online tickets to access the event’s live stream via Zoom. Go to mauifilipinochamber.com to support the event.

“We are happy to bring back the Gintong Pamana event to honor our leaders in the community and also hear from our scholars,” said Chris Rabang, president of the Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce.

“It has always been a night of inspiration, which we need at this time, and we are happy to safely ease our social gatherings back on our calendars. We look forward to your support!”

Casil has been in the hospitality industry for more than 30 years, graduating from Maui High School. After completing an Associate Degree at Maui Community College (now University of Hawaii Maui College), he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Management at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Today, as an active member of the Hawaii Management Association, he serves as chair of the Student/Executive Interchange Committee.

Community service is one of his passions, participating in island-wide initiatives such as the Maui Visitor Industry Charity Walk, Adopt-A-Highway Cleanups, and other cleanups and restoration projects.

Volunteer efforts include malama activities in Honokowai and Honokohau, as well as the wind farms at Kaheawa. Beyond the physical work, he gives time and energy to fundraise, donates food to the Maui Food Bank and gifts to the Salvation Army Angel Tree program, and has served dozens of our elderly at the Kupuna Dinners held during the holiday season.

Known as a communicator, he enjoys guest speaking invitations to the local college hospitality classes and doing mock interviews at high schools to help students prepare and practice interviewing skills.

Mattos is a supervisor at the Maui Family Support Services Inc. and a facilitator at the Aloha House-Addiction Residential Treatment Center Inc.

Mattos attended the University of Hawaii at Hilo to study Business Administration.

He started as a program manager for the Maui Youth and Family Services boys and girls Residential Intensive Program (RIP). Later, he became a foster parent and provided a home for five boys. After several years as a foster parent, he became the director for the Maui Central Boys & Girls Club (BGC), followed by three years as BGC executive director on the Big Island.

This began his journey toward selfless service and leadership in the community. Next, he returned to Maui and started at the Paukukalo Boys & Girls Club for five years, helping to make it the most attended and thriving club on Maui. Eventually, he became the Central Maui Island Area Director. He has provided guidance, mentoring and a safe environment for the children of our community and established a culture of respect during his time with the Boys & Girls Clubs.

Mattos currently serves as the program supervisor and facilitator of Kane Connections, a program that teaches men that any man can father a child.

As a member of the Hawaii State Commission on Fatherhood, he served as chair for two years and is credited for reviving and revitalizing the organization after many years of inactivity.

Through his diligence and determination, the commission activated its mission to promote healthy family relationships by emphasizing the important role fathers play in the lives of their children. The commission serves an advisory function to state agencies, making recommendations on programs, services, contracts, policies and laws relating to children and families.

Also, his involvement with Early Childhood Action Strategies helped to further their focus on supporting families with newborns to six years old to involve fathers with their families.

Finally, Mattos is part of the Na Leo Kane, an organization under the Hawaii State Department of Health that focuses on the prevention of family and children’s physical and sexual violence and abuse.