Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i honors long-term colleagues, local foundations in honor of its 35th anniversary

Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort & Spa is celebrating a legacy of aloha that spans more than three decades, as this year marks the 35th anniversary of the resort offering unparalleled hospitality and unforgettable travel experiences on the Garden Island.

Takenaka Corporation, the resort’s owner, continues its longstanding legacy of generosity in honor of the milestone anniversary by celebrating long-term hotel colleagues and gifting significant endowments to local community foundations.

An exclusive celebration for colleagues who have worked at the resort for 30 years or more was hosted last month.

An anniversary celebration earlier this month honored four local foundations with the presentation of financial gifts of $100,000 each, furthering the resort and Takenaka Corporation’s support for the Kaua‘i community.

TAK Hawai‘i Treasurer and Vice President and Kawailoa Development Director Hiroki “Rocky” Matsuda said celebrating the resort’s team and uplifting local foundations was to honor the community’s generosity while giving back in a way that truly reflects Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i and Takenaka Corporation’s heartfelt appreciation.

“The foundation of the resort’s success is rooted in the incredible team of colleagues who bring the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i experience to life,” said Matsuda in a release about the recent celebrations and awards. “We are deeply grateful for the dedicated colleagues, whose commitment has shaped the past 35 years, and for the Kaua‘i community, whose warmth and aloha have supported us every step of the way.”

The celebration for long-term resort colleagues was hosted Nov. 17. It included a luncheon and presentation of financial gifts for each person on behalf of the Takenaka Corporation in recognition of their extraordinary dedication and tremendous efforts throughout the past three decades.

“We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing generosity of the Takenaka Corporation and their commitment to ensuring that not only our hotel colleagues, but the greater community of Kaua‘i, is able to … thrive,” said Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa General Manager Michael Murphy. “The Takenaka’s leadership and care is reflected in the more than 130 resort colleagues who have worked at our resort for more than 30 years, many of them having opened the resort in 1990.”

The resort and Takenaka Corporation on Dec. 5 hosted the anniversary celebration in honor of those four local foundations.

The organizations that received the $100,000 endowments, as well as a Makau Fish Hook keepsake — a symbol of guidance, strength and connection — were:

University of Hawaiʻi Foundation

• The University of Hawaiʻi Foundation — established in 1955 — is the central fundraising organization for the University of Hawaiʻi System. In addition to fundraising, the foundation manages more than 7,000 gift accounts for the benefit of the university and its students.

Wilcox Health Foundation

• Nonprofit Wilcox Medical Center is dedicated to creating a healthier Hawaiʻi. As the island’s largest medical facility, and only designated Level III Trauma Center and Primary Stroke Center, Wilcox provides accessible quality health care in 30 specialties, including cardiology, pediatrics, gastroenterology, orthopedics and internal medicine.

Hawaiʻi Community Foundation

• Hawaiʻi Community Foundation is the state’s leading philanthropic organization. With its 105-year history, trusted expertise and generous support of donors, the organization works to solve the state’s most difficult challenges — from affordable housing to fresh water — with a vision of creating a better Hawaiʻi.

Island School

• Island School is an independent, college preparatory school serving students in grades Pre-K through 12. The school’s mission is “educating the mind, inspiring the heart” and “preparing Kauaʻi youth to lead lives of significance” through fostering creativity, critical thinking, initiative and respect. The school cultivates a dynamic learning environment, where students feel safe to voice their opinions, take risks in their learning and seek new challenges.

Grand Hyatt Kauaʻi has created extraordinary vacation experiences — since welcoming its first guest Nov. 15, 1990 — that showcase the island’s breathtaking landscapes, rich culture and timeless charm.

Nestled on the Garden Isle’s sunny south shore near Poʻipū, the resort provides an ideal retreat for travelers seeking to explore the island’s diverse wonders, from the dramatic cliffs of Waimea Canyon to the famous beaches of the North Shore.