FACES OF HUALĀLAI The wonderful Hualālai staff likely need no introduction—they’ve probably had the pleasure of serving you before, maybe you’ve known each other for years. So instead of an introduction, the following is a chance to catch up with a few members of our Hualālai family, or, as we like to say, our ʻohana.
> The confections of pastry chef Lisa Siu
are clear—and scrumptious—evidence
of her culinary talent, as anyone who has devoured her vanilla-infused chocolate chip cookies with a French-pressed Kona coffee or savored her fluffy malasadas with their drizzling of caramel sauce knows full well. What they might not realize, however, is that the Hawaiʻi native has built her entire pâtissier career from scratch, without any formal training in the art of sweet baked goods. “I actually had no baking experience,” says Siu, who has been with the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai since 2006. “I was working in
dessert to conclude guests’ meals, Siu
the kitchen as a pantry cook then. I just
loves to read, paddle, swim, and spend
got thrown into the pastry department.”
time with her daughter.
After just two years, in 2008, she was promoted to pastry chef. So, what is the
> Teaching his coworkers to protect them-
> For 18 years, Gina Louise Keleimoku
Gesling has worked at the Members-only Hualālai Canoe Club, and in 2019, the resort recognized her as Employee of the Year. But to the Members and her
9) DANA EDMUNDS; “FACES OF HUALĀLAI” PORTRAITS: ANNA PACHECO
secret to her success? “I’ve just worked
selves is part of Ralph Yawata’s job, but for
colleagues at Hualālai, the self-described
on my craft for many years,” she says. “It
the experienced safety officer—he is also
“people person” who loves “talking story”
was a difficult journey, but I really enjoyed
a retired assistant chief of the Hawaiʻi Fire
is so much more than an exemplary
it. The people on my staff are what make
Department and current chief of Hualālai’s
bartender with management expertise.
me enjoy my job. Hualālai really tries to
volunteer fire brigade—it’s far more than
She is a dear friend. “They call me Gina
invoke the aloha or ʻohana feeling—that’s
a task to be checked off. “One time we did
Fifty-Two Questions, because I kind of
what makes the resort so special.” When
a CPR class—real brief CPR, no breathing,
[know], especially with a new Member,
she’s not busy dreaming up the perfect
just what they call hands-only CPR—and
how many questions I can ask without
one of the housekeepers did it [later] on
being nosy,” she says. “My highlight is get-
her husband and actually saved his life,”
ting to know these people. I’ve just met
says Yawata. “It’s stuff like that; they got to
some great people that’ll be friends for
use it, and it made a difference. That’s the
life.” Case in point: “One of the [Members]
best part.” As someone who takes his work
is pregnant, and I’ve known her since she
to heart, he also strives to make his lessons
was in her mom’s stomach. It’s totally fam-
fun. “It’s not the most exciting topic,”
ily.” Enhancing that sense of community,
he says with a chuckle, noting that the
she says, is the Hualālai ʻOhana Founda-
areas he covers range from extinguishing
tion, a Members-supported nonprofit that
kitchen fires to preventing repetitive-
benefits Hualālai employees. Through
motion injuries. Video-based trainings are
the foundation, she attended Quick-
counterbalanced with hands-on exercises
Books training in Honolulu, which has
and even crossword puzzles, to keep the
helped her manage the auto-body shop
mood light. Yawata’s commitment to the
she owns with her husband. “It’s helped
welfare of others extends from Hualālai to
my husband, it’s helped me, it’s helped
the rest of his life as well. He and his wife
us pay our mortgage,” explains Gesling.
take care of her 87-year-old mother (they
While she clearly works hard, she also
were also caregivers for her father and his
knows how to unwind. “I love the beach,
parents before their passing), and he vol-
and I love my yoga,” she says. And just this
unteers with state and local committees
past winter, she was eagerly anticipating
such as CERT (Community Emergency
something—or rather, someone—new to
Response Team), sharing his disaster-
love. “I’m having a grandson December 25,
preparedness know-how.
Christmas Day.”
Hualālai’s team of talented professionals includes (left to right) Lisa Siu, Ralph Yawata, and Gina Louise Keleimoku Gesling.
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