04 Aug KBRA Names Angela Nolan as First ‘Nā Hōkū O’ Kā‘anapali’
Angela Nolan, Vice President Resort Operations Hawai‘i for Vistana Signature Experiences, is the first “Nā Hōkū O’ Kā‘anapali” named by the Kā‘anapali Beach Resort Association. Nolan is one of 10 “shining stars” who will act as ambassadors of KBRA’s new public relations campaign, which launched in May. The campaign aims to highlight Kā‘anapali’s best and brightest individuals and share their stories with media, thereby increasing the public’s understanding and interest in this dynamic area.
Nolan oversees The Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas, The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas, and the Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas. Prior to her appointment in 2016, she served as general manager of The Westin KORV, where she oversaw all resort operations, strategic planning, Homeowners Association board and owner relations. Under her leadership, the resort was recognized for its outstanding achievements in sustainability, food and beverage, financial success, associate engagement and its avid support in the community. She also led the resort to its first AAA Four Diamond distinction in 2011, which it has now held for eight consecutive years.
Born in India, Nolan grew up in Virginia with loving and supportive parents who encouraged her ambition and taught her to be both strong and compassionate. She recalls the moment when her parents first took her to Kā‘anapali at the age of 16 as pure magic. “We arrived late at night at The Westin Maui where we were staying. We woke up the next morning and walked out to the beach and were in complete awe of the beauty of the ocean, the sand, the sky and the neighboring islands of Lana‘i and Moloka‘i. That moment changed my life… and I still remember it like it was yesterday. It was the most beautiful place I had ever seen. We could feel the spirit of Aloha in that moment.”
Nolan took that feeling with her when she applied for and won her dream position as a management trainee at The Westin Maui. Following her graduation from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania with a degree in international business management, she packed her bags for Maui.
Nolan credits the people around her, as well as her parents, for her success. “I was fortunate to have some really great mentors, very early on, and some senior leaders in our organization who truly believed in my potential,” she says. “Now I work alongside some of the best hospitality professionals in the industry. I do my best not to get in their way, yet support them so they can be at their best to provide memorable experiences for our guests and ensure that we as a region are aligned on our goals, priorities and results.”
Nolan’s diverse career in hospitality has included multiple leadership positions: at the Kapalua Bay Hotel; Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa; the Trump International Hotel, Las Vegas; and the Planet Hollywood Towers by Westgate, Las Vegas. Additionally, Nolan serves on the board of many hospitality organizations, including KBRA, Maui Visitors Bureau, American Resort Development Association (ARDA) and the Hawai‘i Lodging and Tourism Association. She was recently appointed to the board of the Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation and supports numerous nonprofit organizations on Maui.
Her accomplishments have not gone unnoticed: she was named a “2014 Woman to Watch,” and a 2016 and 2017 Pineapple Award finalist in the Hospitality Management category, both recognitions by Pacific Business News.
While serving as revenue manager at Kapalua Bay Hotel in 2001, she met her Maui-born husband, Fernando. Nolan now has a 22-year-old stepdaughter and 6-year-old son. When she’s not working or with family, you might spot her stretching at Afterglow Yoga or Pure Barre, planning her next travel adventure—or just happily perched in her favorite spot: “that grass area between Leilani’s and Hula Grill, where the beach is pristine, the catamarans roll in and out, the beautiful neighboring islands beacon, and the sky is always perfect. Over the years, I’ve often found myself there, watching the world go by!”
“We are thrilled to introduce Angela as our first Nā Hōkū O’ Kā‘anapali,” says KBRA Executive Director Shelley Kekuna. “With her humility and compassion, as well as her ambition and dedication to creating lasting memories for our guests, she is truly an ambassador for this special place we love.”
Nā Hōkū O’ Kā‘anapali embody several essential qualities: they are well-respected in the Kā‘anapali community; they are 100-percent committed to serving the area; and they are at the top of their game in their professional fields. They are also fascinating individuals with unique interests—and their respect for Hawaiian culture runs deep.
Throughout the year, KBRA will introduce and celebrate more of our Nā Hōkū with media events, demonstrations and discussions, both in person and online. Our stars will help to promote Kā‘anapali and increase editorial exposure in key national markets, thereby attracting a steady flow of visitors to help ensure a vibrant local economy.