Westin Maui Wins Excellence in Sustainability Award

Aipono Awards ceremony participants included (from left) Pacific Biodiesel Vice President Kelly King, Westin Maui Landscaping Manager Duane Sparkman, Engineering Director Derek Fletcher and Resort General Manager Tony Bruno. Courtesy photo.

The Westin Maui Resort & Spa took home and “Excellence in Sustainability” award at the recent 2016 ‘Aipono Restaurant Awards ceremony.

Sponsored by Maui No Ka ‘Oi Magazine, the annual ‘Aipono Awards recognize the best of the island’s food, wine and hospitality industries as determined by ballot by its readers.

More than 400 restaurant professionals and industry supporters attended the 2016 ‘Aipono Gala, a fundraiser for the Maui Culinary Academy at the University of Hawai‘i Maui College.

Managed by Westin Hotels & Resorts, one of the 11 brands under the umbrella of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa achieved an elevated level of innovation through various sustainability efforts.

The resort is also actively involved in Starwood’s landmark environmental initiative, 30/20 by 20, which calls for a 30% reduction in energy use and a 20% reduction in water consumption per built hotel room globally by 2020.

The word “WESTIN” is a bio swale design and part of the resort’s rain garden program. Westin Maui photo.

Westin Maui Sustainability Champion Sulinn Aipa works closely with leaders and associates from various departments within the resort to drive the resort’s eco-friendly revolution and promote a healthy environment for associates and guests alike.

Their powerful commitment to transform the property and its services into a greener operation also helps reduce the impact of business activities within the environment and move towards a long-term goal of carbon reduction. These include nurturing a culture of sustainability through Malama Ka Aina i Ke Kai (care for the land and the ocean) projects.

“Winning the Excellence in Sustainability award is an honorable distinction that would not have been possible without the passion of our teams and associates who support the countless initiatives in place,” said Aipa.

Westin Maui Resort Executive Sous Chef Ikaika Manaku sources local produce, including Maui Gold pineapples. Westin Maui photo.

Aipa also credited organizations and community partners for their support, including Pacific Biodiesel Technologies, Maui Eko Systems, West Maui Ridge 2 Reef, West Maui Kumuwai, Coral Reef Alliance, UHMC and Maui Cultural Lands.

According to Westin Maui General Manager Tony Bruno, resort guests—both leisure and business travelers—are choosing hotel brands that reflect their desire to reduce the global footprint.

“The Westin Maui Resort & Spa has long been a champion of sustainability and we are excited to meet and exceed their expectations,” said Bruno.

The resort had also invested in capital improvements, including spending over $70 million for complete redesigning of its Ocean Tower, LED lighting and mechanical system upgrades, Bruno said.

Leaders and associates at The Westin Maui Resort & Spa continue to integrate sustainable and social responsibility practices into food and beverage, housekeeping and landscaping operations within the resort’s 12-acre surroundings on Kā‘anapali Beach. These include restaurant menus that support local farmers and remove threatened seafood varieties, as well as utilizing biodegradable takeout containers.

The Maui Westin Resort had also invested in multi-million dollar upgrades in capital improvements as part of its environmental initiative program. Courtesy photo.

Sustainable landscaping practices led by Landscaping Manager Duane Sparkman include composting green waste, installing rain gardens and using reef-friendly fertilizers.

Resort Executive Aous Chef Ikaika Manaku is also championing sustainable workforce within the culinary industry through resort internship programs and partnership with the Alternative Learning Center at Lahainaluna High School.

In celebration of Earth Day, the resort is inviting associates, resort guests and general public to join its Morning Beach Clean-Up to help remove trash and debris from Kā‘anapali Beach.

The one-hour activity will begin at 7 a.m. on Earth Day, April 22, 2016, on the resort’s Ocean Front Lawn.

“We would like to attribute this effort to the Hawaiian voyaging canoes, Hōkule’a and Hikianalia, and their Malama Honua journey around the world to learn, create global relationships, and explore how to care for the Earth and Oceans,” said Aipa.

Visit www.westinmaui.com for more information about the Westin Maui Resort & Spa.

Visit www.starwoodhotels.com about Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.

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