Yvette Kitagawa has been appointed as Hotel Manager at Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows

Yvette Kitagawa is the heart and soul of Royal Lahaina's history of generational hospitality, having spent her childhood growing up at the iconic resort and devoting 27 years of her career to leading operations from the front desk, room reservations, sales, and Complex Area Director of Rooms, and most recently was appointed Hotel Manager. Her father, Baye Balmores, led as the hotel's beloved Executive Sous Chef in the 1970s, and her grandmother, Emily Kaniho, was a retired baker at the renowned resort. At the young age of 8, Kitagawa would string fresh plumeria lei for the ohana (family) to wear as they went to work, and to this day, she shares her gracious and generous culture with guests and associates every day. With a heart of aloha, she is an acclaimed guest speaker at the Maui Community College Hospitality School, preparing the next generation of industry leaders. Kitagawa was awarded the '2024 Leadership Award' by the Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce.