Four Maui women who've built careers in hotel management, radio, coffee and Hawaiian cultural stewardship will share the stage next month for a new networking event aimed at professional women across the island. Hawaiʻi Women in Lodging & Tourism is hosting its inaugural Wāhine in Balance: Life, Leadership & Legacy event on Thursday, October 8, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, with registration closing Thursday, September 24.
The event marks HIWIL's push to expand its statewide programming into a dedicated Maui gathering, according to Maui Now. Space is limited and advance registration is required, with tickets priced at $85 for HIWIL members and $95 for non-members. The gathering is designed to connect women on Maui, facilitate learning, and encourage attendees through the experiences of local women leaders, and it's open to women across industries, professions and stages of life, not just hospitality.
A Panel Spanning Hotels, Radio and Coffee
The moderated panel brings together four Maui women with distinct backgrounds. Angela Vento, general manager of Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott, Maui, brings more than 30 years of hospitality leadership; per the same report, she chaired the 2024 Maui County Charity Walk, which raised $1.55 million. The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association lists her as general manager at the resort.
Sherri Hamamura Grimes, vice president and general manager of Maui radio for Pacific Media Group, brings more than three decades of experience in marketing, media, events and community leadership across Hawaiʻi, the article notes. Grimes was named one of Pacific Business News' “Women Who Mean Business” honorees in 2019, according to Maui Now's earlier coverage.
Kimberly Brown, founder of the award-winning Maui company Akamai Coffee, rounds out the business side of the panel. Brown co-founded Akamai Coffee, Maui's first drive-through coffee shop in Kahului, per Lahaina News. Akamai Coffee also has cafés in Wailea and offers 100% Maui-grown coffee alongside single-origin coffees from Mexico and Colombia.
Cultural Stewardship Takes Center Stage
Kalikolehua Storer, area cultural and training specialist for Hyatt Resorts Maui, is a Lahaina native who has spent years bridging Native Hawaiian tradition and hospitality operations. Storer was appointed to her Hyatt role in May 2019, according to Luxury Travel Advisor. She was integral in creating the cultural storyline for the Feast at Mōkapu lūʻau.
Tara Dugan, Maui representative for Hawaiʻi Women in Lodging & Tourism and enterprise sales staff for Pacific Media Group, will moderate the panel. Dugan said there has been a lack of events for professional women to come together on Maui, a gap this gathering is meant to fill. The panel will explore the lessons, challenges, relationships, values and life experiences shaping leadership, with time built in afterward for attendees to meet and build relationships beyond the formal discussion.
Building on a Statewide Network
HIWIL is a statewide committee under the Hawaiʻi Lodging & Tourism Association, according to Trade Media Hui.
Kathy Gunderson said HIWIL is creating a welcoming space for women from all walks of life to connect, share stories and inspire one another. HIWIL says its mission centers on connecting, empowering, elevating and inspiring women through mentorship, professional development and meaningful relationships, according to the Hawaiʻi Lodging & Tourism Association.
The Backdrop for Maui's Tourism Workforce
Lunch and shopping vendors are included as part of the October 8 gathering, giving attendees additional time to connect beyond the panel discussion itself. With registration set to close Thursday, organizers are encouraging interested women across Maui's industries and professions to secure a spot before the window shuts.
