KONRAD TALON – A SUCCESS STORY

- Visitor Industry Supports Maui’s Future Leaders –

WAILUKU, MAUI – Maui-born Konrad Talon was one of three National Academy Foundation (NAF) alumni awardees that were honored at the annual NAF conference in Philadelphia last July. This coveted national award recognizes outstanding Academy graduates for their achievements in industry, higher education, and giving back to the Academy. 

NAF launched the Academy of Hospitality & Tourism (AOHT) in 1987. The AOHT is a program that prepares students for post-secondary education and careers through a theme-based, contextualized curriculum approach. It provides public high school students with the requisite knowledge and skills for a successful career in one of the world's largest service industries through a curriculum that provides an in-depth look at all aspects of tourism and hospitality, including coursework in business, geography, hospitality, and economics. The AOHT operates as a small learning community and is located in more than 110 high schools nationwide.

The first academy in Hawaii began on Maui in the early 1990’s at Lahainaluna High School funded by a one-time donation from the Kaanapali Beach Hotel.  Because of its success, Maui High School and Baldwin also joined the program in 1994 & 1995 respectively. Currently there are approximately 220 students enrolled in the AOHT programs on Maui. The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association provides administrative and program support for the AOHT.

Konrad, son of Lawrence Talon of Kahului and Barbara McLeod of Wailuku, is a 2005 graduate of the Maui High School’s “Academy of Hospitality and Tourism” (AOHT) and credits the program for many of his successes.  According to him, "The AOHT program changed the course of my future for the better.  Students who are thinking about staying in Hawaii, should let the AOHT entice them to join the hospitality and tourism industry as a viable career.”

College was never within the scope of Konrad Talon’s future plans during his early years at Maui High School. In his mind, entering the workforce after high school was his only option – this was the path of his family and friends; therefore, this was the direction that he intended to pursue. However, after joining AOHT where he assumed the leadership role of vice-president, the program afforded him an opportunity to participate in various job-shadowing and internship placements in the hospitality industry. With these real-world experiences under his belt, Konrad realized that a career in visitor industry management was not only desirable, but very much attainable.

Upon graduating from high school -- as the first member in his immediate family to ever pursue post-secondary education -- Konrad enrolled at Maui Community College where he also worked full-time at the former Maui Prince Hotel. Upon obtaining his Associates Degree in Liberal Arts two years later, Konrad still hungered for more and was successful in transferring to the University of Hawaii at Manoa where he was accepted into the School of Travel Industry Management. Because of his outstanding job performance, he was also able to transfer to a Prince Hotel sister property on Oahu where he continued to work full time while attending UH.

During his time at the UH TIM School, Konrad was the chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Satellite Chapter, tripling its membership within a year. He also was the recipient of the Dean’s Spirit of TIM Award for 2010, and was an executive intern with the general manager of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki.

In addition, Konrad serves as a mentor and role model to academy students.  He is on the Advisory Board for the AOHT, speaks regularly to Hawaii’s high school AOHT students, and contributes to the annual AOHT student conference and career fair. His inspirational speeches motivate students to think about higher education and a future career within the hospitality industry.

This past December, Konrad graduated from UH with a bachelors of science degree in travel industry management.  He is currently employed as the Rooms Controller at the new and luxurious Waikiki EDITION Hotel. This highly stylized hotel functions as a "home away from home" for leisure and business travelers. In addition, it also caters to the modern day business traveler by offering functional, technologically sophisticated working environments with the comfort and ease of actually conducting business in an "office away from the office". The innovative new hotel delivers the best of both worlds: polish with personality, perfectionism with individualism and comfort with charisma and charm.

On Friday, January 21 at 9am Council Member Mike Victorino will be introducing a resolution honoring Konrad’s many accomplishments before the Maui County Council. Another feather in young Konrad’s budding career!

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