Tourism Career Success Stories
As you begin to explore new career options in the tourism industry, the best advice you can get is from working professionals. We'd like to introduce a few professionals in the tourism and hospitality field who have risen through the ranks and have made great careers. They share one thing in common; they all used education and training opportunities to advance their careers. Please take some time to read about people that have used education and training to advance their careers. We hope this will inspire you to explore new training and education opportunities!
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Ka‘upena Kinimaka, Area Director Loss Prevention, Kaua‘i Marriott
Meet Ka‘upena Kinimaka, Area Director of Loss Prevention with the Kaua'i Marriott. Learn how Loss Prevention can help maintain a hotel property's profitability. Click here for the interview. |
Waikīkī Aloha Ambassadors, Winifred Spencer
Learn about Waikīkī's Aloha Ambassadors with Winifred Spencer Click here for the interview. |
Lane Muraoka, Owner, Big City Diner
Ever wonder what it's like to own and operate a chain of restaurants? Learn from Lane Muraoka, owner of Big City Diner and find out what it takes to be a success in the restaurant business! Click here for the interview. |
Jon Matsubara, Chef de Cuisine, Azure Restaurant, The Royal Hawaiian
Meet Jon Matsubara, Chef de Cuisine of Azure Restaurant and learn how he turned his passion for food into a life-long career creating unique culinary delights. Click here for the interview. |
Noelani Harris, Executive Assistant, Sheraton Princess Ka‘iulani Hotel
Executive Assistants often serve as the right-hand man for a CEO or general manager. Meet Noelani Harris and hear about her experience as an executive assistant for Sheraton Princess Ka‘iulani Hotel. Click here for the interview. |
Ronald Williams, CEO, Atlantis Submarines Hawai‘i
Ron Williams, a local boy from Hilo first started off washing cars in the rental car business. Now, he is CEO for Atlantis Submarines. Check out his video interview. Click here for the interview. |
Russell Chung, FASLA, LEED AP, Executive Vice President, PBR HAWAII
The outdoor beauty of a resort is often the work of a landscape architect. Meet Russell Chung, Executive Vice-President of PBR HAWAII and hear his experience in the landscape architecture business. Click here for the interview. |
Jeffrey Gaspar, General Manager, Sam Choy's Breakfast Lunch and Crab
Any restaurant will involve coordinating the activities of chefs, servers, bartenders and other staff. Restaurant managers are responsible for ensuring operations run smoothly. Hear Jeffrey Gaspar's experience in becoming a restaurant manager for Sam Choy's Breakfast, Lunch, and Crab. Click here for the interview. |
Jocelyn Cheng, Water Color Artist
We often forget that the work of art in a hotel room was created by an artist. Jocelyn Cheng, a water-color painter from Kaimukī, has had a successful career while sharing her talent with both locals and visitors. Click here for the interview. |
Albert Masaki Teruya, Manager, Teruya's Andagi
In order to meet the demands of his customer's palettes, Albert Teruya, owner of Teruya's Andagi in Shirokiya must be creative in developing new food products. Click here for the interview. |
Cherilyn Inouye, Teacher, ‘Ilima Intermediate School
Please meet Cherilyn Inouye, a middle-school teacher with ‘Ilima Intermediate School. Listen to her experience in becoming a teacher and how she contributes to teaching students to be cultural ambasssadors. Click here for the interview. |
Norton Chan, Aquarium Biologist, Waikīkī Aquarium
Who would think a biologist would be part of the tourism industry? Norton Chan, a biologist with the Waikiki Aquarium, is responsible for monitoring and breeding some of the aquarium's marine animals. See what it takes to become a biologist. Click here for the interview. |
Kyle Nakayama, Owner, Excessive Celebrations
After working in the tourism industry for many years, Kyle Nakayama decided to go out on his own and start up his own events planning company, Excessive Celebrations. Hear his story and learn what it takes to start up an events planning company. Click here for the interview. |
James Chan, Realtor, Prudential Locations
Please meet James Chan, a young and upcoming realtor for Prudential Locations. In this video he shares his story and experience in becoming a successful realtor. Click here for the interview. |
Kanai‘a Nakamura, Member of Holunape
Sometimes, finding one's passion is by pure luck. In Kanai‘a Nakamura's case, his exposure to Hawaiian music and culture ignited in him the desire to begin a career in as a musician and eventually form Holunape, a popular Hawaiian music group. Click here for the interview. |
George Applegate, Executive Director, Big Island Visitor's Bureau
Meet George Applegate, Big Island Visitor's Bureau Executive Director and hear his story of how his attitude toward learning has helped him become successful in his career. Click here for the interview. |
Konrad Talon, Student, School of Travel Industry Management, UH Mānoa
After graduating from Maui High School, Konrad Talon went on to Maui Community College and eventually UH Manoa's School of Travel Industry Management. Click here for the interview. |
Colin Hazama, Executive Chef at Rum Fire
Colin Hazama has taken his local roots and melded them with his experience working for renowned chefs such as Alan Wong and Roy Yamaguchi. Click here for the interview. |
