Finalists are honored at the 28th annual Na Po‘e Pa‘ahana Awards. The ceremony was held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort on Jan. 11.

HONOLULU – Hawaii’s hospitality industry honored the best-of-the-best of its employees at the 28th annual Na Po’e Pa’ahana (the hard-working people) Awards.

Nearly 1,000 employees, family members and industry representatives from throughout the state gathered for the luncheon ceremony sponsored by the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association (HLTA) at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort on Jan. 11.

Mufi Hannemann, HLTA president and CEO, said, “We’re very proud to recognize the people who are the heart and soul of our visitor industry. They number in the tens of thousands across the state, and this year we have been able to recognize 60 of the finest individuals across small, medium and large hotels throughout the state. All of the Na Po’e Pa’ahana honorees embody the aloha spirit at work and in the community, and we cannot be more thankful for their contributions to the success of our industry.”

Recipients of HLTA’s accolades are selected based on nominations submitted by their supervisors and co-workers. They are judged on the basis of outstanding and exceptional service to lodging guests, co-workers and the community.

A total of 67 awards were presented at the event, emceed by KHON2 co-anchors Howard Dashefsky and Marisa Yamane. This year’s Na Po’e Paahana Award winners and runners-up from Maui are: Manager of the Year, Brandon Maeda, The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas, second place; Bell/Valet Person of the Year, Large Property (Over 450 Rooms), Patricio (Peter) Santiago, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, first place, and Benjamin Sarian, Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, third place; Bell/Valet Person of the Year, Medium Property (200-450 Rooms), Nathan Brovelli, Aston at The Whaler on Kaanapali Beach, third place; Bell/Valet Person of the Year, Small Property (Under 200 Rooms), Rexie Butihi, Maui Beach Hotel, first place; Engineering/Maintenance Person of the Year, Large Property (Over 450 Rooms), David Rickard, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, first place, and Nelson Tomas, Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, third place; Food & Beverage Person of the Year, Large Property (Over 450 Rooms), Roger Arrieta, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, first place, and Willie Aniban, The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas, second place; Food & Beverage Person of the Year, Medium Property (200-450 Rooms), Debra Agdinaoay, Andaz Maui at Wailea, third place; Front Office Person of the Year, Large Property (Over 450 Rooms), Kelly Stutzman, Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, second place; Front Office Person of the Year, Medium Property (200-450 Rooms), Rebecca “Becs” Kaneapua-Alexander, Aston at The Whaler on Kaanapali Beach, first place, and Craig Pohl, The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, third place; and Security Officer of the Year, Large Property (Over 450 Rooms), Marvin Rabara, The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas, first place.

The Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association (HLTA) is a statewide organization representing hotels, condominiums, timeshares, other lodging entities, suppliers and related firms and individuals.

HLTA is dedicated to supporting Hawaii’s visitor industry through education, political action and membership benefits.