Grand Hyatt Kauaʻi honors ancestors, builds bridges between generations, plus raises $27K for scholarship program
It was a cultural celebration of life in remembrance of those who came before us while supporting future generations to come by nearly $30,000.
Grand Hyatt Kauaʻi Resort & Spa, located on 50 oceanfront acres overlooking Keoneloa Bay on Kauaʻi’s South Shore near Poʻipū, hosted its annual bon dance Aug. 8.
The event featured the traditional Japanese dance honoring ancestors, plus raised $27,000 for the resort’s scholarship program.

“We are amazed and thankful to our colleagues, guests and local community for the incredible turnout for this year’s bon dance,” said scholarship program ambassador and Grand Hyatt Kauaʻi Director of Revenue Makanalani Sakihama in a release about the event’s success. “The bon dance is an important event to honor those who came before us, build bridges between generations and honor Hawaiʻi’s Japanese heritage.”
Funds raised during the annual affair are put into the scholarship program, which supports the educational journeys of the resort’s employees and their ʻohana.
Grand Hyatt Kauaʻi encourages and uplifts its employees and their keiki as they pursue further knowledge and learning opportunities.
The resort awarded $3,500 scholarships earlier this year to 14 employees and their dependents to help them pursue academic and professional goals.
A broad range of educational endeavors at trade schools, community colleges and 4-year universities throughout the United States have been aided by the program.
Recipients have used scholarship awards to seek out opportunities at a variety of institutions in multiple fields of study and industries including:
- Aesthetics and nail care at Honolulu Nails and Aesthetics Academy.
- Nursing and culinary arts at Kauaʻi Community College.
- Pre-medical imaging technology at Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, Ore.
- Combination welding at Maysville Community and Technical College in Maysville, Ky.
- Environmental studies at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The resort continues to be invested in its employees and supports them and their families.
Scholarship funds are raised through a series of events hosted throughout each year by the resort including a Colleague Golf Tournament and The Great Ball Drop, as well as the annual bon dance sponsored by Hyatt’s Asia Pacific Islander Colleague Chapter.
Banana bread sales and Valentine’s Day flower sales, plus other internal initiatives, also support the program.
Visit the Grand Hyatt Kauaʻi Resort & Spa website or call 808-742-1234 for additional information. Also, follow the resort on on Facebook and Instagram at @grandhyattkauai.