Unwavering Aloha

‘Unko’ Bobby Baraoidan

by Serene Gunnison

In early 2023, Bobby Baraoidan celebrated 54 years of employment at Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel. Known colloquially at KBH as “Unko” Bobby (“unko” is the local-style way of saying uncle, which is an endearing term for kūpuna, or elders, in Hawai'i), his first day on the job was in February 1969 – a time when twin-engine Cessnas arriving from Honolulu deposited tidily dressed vacationers at a thin airstrip near Kahekili Beach. Drop-top Chevy Bel Airs and Cadillac DeVilles were the rental car status quo, and only three hotels, Royal Lāhainā Resort, Sheraton and Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel, stood on Kā‘anapali’s now-famous shoreline.

Through Kā‘anapali’s years of evolution, one thing has remained unchanged: Unko Bobby’s resolute Hawaiian hospitality. His steadfast aloha spirit and pono values have even helped mold KBH into what it is today.

In 1986, general manager Mike White and Dr. George Kanahele, an authority on Hawaiian culture, enlisted Unko Bobby’s help in creating the hotel’s mission statement, which emphasizes Hawaiian heritage, local lifestyle, ho‘okipa (hospitality) and po‘okela (excellence). KBH is one of the few hotels with an employee-written mission statement rather than one crafted by a management team. “Just putting it together was hard,” said Unko Bobby. “But Dr. Kanehele was instrumental in having us do it. Whatever [Hawaiian values] we learned or used, we put it all together in the mission statement. And it’s still a cornerstone for some of our values here.”

Helping craft KBH’s time-honored mission statement is just one of Unko Bobby’s many accomplishments. When a retired Navy commander vacationed at KBH in 2019, he was so impressed by Unko Bobby that he presented him with a medal. “He called me over one day and said, ‘Here, this is for you,’ ” Unko Bobby said. “He told me it’s something they don’t usually give out, and he told me to remember these two words: Bravo Zulu. That means you did a great job, or job well done.”

Through his position as a bell/valet attendant, Unko Bobby has met some well-known people. “I’ve met football Hall of Famer Steve Young. I wore his Superbowl ring,” said Unko Bobby. “Also Charleston Heston and Wilt Chamberlain, the famous basketball star. Morgan Freeman, I met him, too.”

Despite the medals and celebrities, Unko Bobby says one of his favorite things about working at KBH is interacting with guests and learning about their lifestyles. “You can learn a lot [from guests],” he said. “When you talk to them, it’s like you’re traveling to their hometown and living like they do. It’s quite an experience, but you gain a lot of knowledge.”

For those who work in Maui’s hospitality and tourism industry, showing aloha is a job requirement. But for Unko Bobby, it’s a way of life – and embodies all that he is. In addition to making an impression on countless guests over the years, Unko Bobby has donated over 100 hours of sick and vacation time to coworkers in need. “It’s giving from the heart,” he said.

Next time you stay at KBH, throw Unko Bobby a shaka or stop by the bell/valet desk to say hello. His unwavering aloha might be the most valuable remembrance of your time in Kā‘anapali.