Inaugural ‘Wāhine in Balance’ event draws 135 attendees on Maui

Hawaiʻi Women in Lodging & Tourism’s inaugural Maui event, “Wāhine in Balance: Life, Leadership & Legacy,” drew an estimated 135 attendees. The event, held Oct. 8 at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, featured a panel of four accomplished Maui women whose personal and professional journeys provided different perspectives on leadership, resilience, community and purpose.

Panelists included: Angela Vento, General Manager of Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott, Maui; Sherri Hamamura Grimes, Vice President & General Manager of Maui Radio for Pacific Media Group; Kimberly Brown, founder of award-winning Maui company Akamai Coffee; and Kalikolehua Storer, Area Cultural & Training Specialist for Hyatt Resorts Maui. The panel was moderated by Tara Dugan, Maui Representative for Hawaiʻi Women in Lodging & Tourism and Enterprise Sales for Pacific Media Group’s Digital, Experience Hawaiʻi Media and Hawaiʻi Airport Advertising.

Guests gathered together to share wisdom, connect and uplift one another. Created as an opportunity for women on Maui to connect, learn from one another and be encouraged by the experiences of other local women, the event brought together leaders from hospitality, business, media and the community for an engaging conversation about navigating life, leadership, purpose and legacy.

The gathering marked an important expansion of Hawaiʻi Women in Lodging & Tourism’s efforts on Maui and was designed to welcome women across industries, professions and stages of life — not solely those working in hospitality and tourism.

Through its themes of Life, Leadership & Legacy, the inaugural gathering reflects Hawaiʻi Women in Lodging & Tourism’s broader mission to connect, empower, elevate and inspire women while creating opportunities for mentorship, professional development and meaningful relationships.

For more information, visit hawaiilodging.org/womeninlodging.