Aipono Awards 2025

Aipono Awards 2025, Kapalua Maui

This past weekend, we joined Maui No Ka Oi Magazine at the annual Ai Pono Awards Gala hosted at the Ritz Carlton Kapalua. As a strong proponent of workforce development, we were proud to support local talent in pursuing the hospitality industry by awarding six students scholarships! MHLA awarded $1800 each to Hoai Thuong Ha, Justin Lamprano, and Naneaikauha’aha’a Poaha-Kaai of the College of Business and Hospitalty and Caitlyn Corpuz, You Joo Bonnes and Stephanie Leano from the Culinary Academy. All students were welcomed to dine at the MHLA sponsored table as well as be recognized on stage by five hundred attendees. Students were able to meet and mingle with top chefs, mixologist, and executives from across the island while entertained by emcee, Dean Wong, raffle drawings and a special interview with the one-and-only, Shep Gordon.

Over five-thousand votes were submitted to award forty categories of honor. Many of MHLA members won awards and honorable mentions including:

• Best Lounge: Pilina of Fairmont Kea Lani
• Best Wine List: Ka’ana Kitchen of the Andaz Resort
• Best Late Night Dining: Pint & Cork of the Shops at Wailea
• Best Grab & Go Market: Island Gourmet Market of the Shops at Wailea
• Best Steak: DUI Steak & Seafood of the Four Seasons Wailea
• Best Luau: Old Lahaina Luau
• Best Pacific Rim Cuisine: Ko of the Fairmont Kea Lani
• Best Hawaii Regional Cuisine: Ko of the Faimont Kea Lani
• Most Innovative Menu: Lineage of the Shops at Wailea

For more details, contact Maui No Ka Oi Magazine at (808) 242-8331 or visit MauiMagazine.net.

Mahalo to Maui Photo Hub for the high resolution captures. See our reel at @mauihla808