Tom Spillar,
GUEST SERVICES
KAPALUA PLANTATION GOLF COURSE

Spillar is standing at his post near the bag drop area on the golf course. He points off toward the coastline. Waves from the deep blue Pacific Ocean beat on the shore about two miles away. The sun is shining, heating the day to a warm high of about 80 degrees. “This is my office,” says Spillar. “Welcome to it.”

A native of Galveston, TX, Spillar has been in Maui since 1991, and has worked at the Kapalua Plantation Golf Course – home of the Mercedes Benz Championship PGA tournament – for nine years. As an employee, he gets to play the course for free, something he takes advantage of as often as possible.

In between rounds, and moments admiring the panorama, Spillar is busy taking care of golfers’ needs – lining up and cleaning out carts, organizing the numerous bags that line one wall. He services anywhere from 100 to 200 guests per day. His biggest tip? $100. But that view from “the office?” Priceless.

Ken Aotaki,
BELLMAN
RITZ-CARLTON KAPALUA

While many in Hawaii’s tourism industry are from the mainland, Aotaki is a native islander. The 36-year-old has worked at Ritz-Carlton for 10 years. “I tried to move away, but I missed the islands way too much,” he says.

Bellman duty means work comes in spurts. Sometimes he’s really busy and sometimes he stands around looking good in his uniform. Over a decade in the job, Aotaki says he’s seen it all. “We get all kinds of characters,” he says. “But mostly, you see people get out of the car who are just exhausted. It takes a long time to get here from anywhere else, so usually people just want to get out and head to their room.”

Aotaki reports he’s only fallen once in his career, slipping as he circled behind a taxi. “It didn’t hurt – but it was pretty embarrassing,” he says, smiling.

Nick Noghabai,
WAITER, THE BANYAN TREE

Originally from Iran, Noghabai moved to Maui from California 14 years ago. He’s been a waiter for 28 years, and has worked at The Banyan Tree for a dozen years. You can’t go wrong at this upscale restaurant, recently re-opened after a renovation, with its sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and the neighboring island of Molokai.

It’s a romantic spot, and Noghabai says he’s seen – and assisted – many a marriage proposal over the years. “Not too long ago, a gentleman gave me the ring and asked me to bring it back later on a plate,” he says. “I put a cover over the plate, so it looked like I was bringing out a dessert. Her eyes got really big when she saw what it was.” Oh, and for the record, she said “yes.”

Shona Lohman,
BAR MANAGER
THE PLANTATION HOUSE RESTAURANT

It seems like every other person in Hawaii is wearing a floral print shirt. Lohman is part of the club, and she doesn’t mind. This native of a small Colorado city just outside of Denver has been in Maui five-and-a-half years, and spent three of those years working at The Plantation House.

She enjoys mixing up cocktails, and works both morning and evening shifts. Since her bar is in a restaurant, a lot of her patrons are just sitting down for one drink before their dinner reservations. But she has her share of locals that like to warm the barstools.

Lohman believes her Honolua Lemonade (pictured) has a bright future. The alcoholic drink includes Absolut Mandarin, lemonade and pomegranate juice, and is garnished with fresh mint and a lemon. “These are delicious, and getting popular,” she says.

Daniel Sorensen,
LEAD CONCIERGE
Kate O’Connell,
CONCIERGE
KAPALUA ADVENTURES

Just opened in December 2007, Kapalua Adventures offers zip-line and ropes courses to intrepid travelers. Sorensen and O’Connell work in the resort area sign-up center, and are a high-energy pair. O’Connell is from Northern Virginia, and has been on Maui for eight years; Sorensen is from Seattle and has been island-based for just a little longer than her partner.

“I love the energy flow that comes with this job,” says O’Connell. “We have the concierge area, and the retail area, and the energy flows in a circular motion…And I have to say, these are the best uniforms I’ve had to wear since I moved to Maui.”

Of the zip-lines, O’Connell finds them “exhilarating.” Sorensen talks about how safe it is sliding from one mountain-high platform to another on a device that is balanced on thick, steel cables. “They’re not just safe, they’re comfortable – it’s like riding in a hammock. We’ve had 80-year-old ladies do it and they had a great time.”