Hi-Spa BOARD
Officers
KAMALA NAYELI
Hi-Spa President
Director of Spa & Wellness at Halekulani, Oahu
Kamala Nayeli is the Director of Spa & Wellness at Halekulani, the award-winning spa nestled into Oahu’s finest resort, Halekulani. As Director, Kamala oversees daily spa, salon, pool and fitness operations, develops new innovative wellness programming and contributes to Halekulani’s sustainable and environmental practices. Prior to joining Halekulani, she served as Spa Director for Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort’s Manea Spa and established additional locations in French Polynesia’s Tahiti and Huahine.
Additionally, she held the positions of Guest Relations Manager and Fitness Instructor at the Canyon Ranch Spa Club aboard the Queen Mary 2, the flagship ocean liner of Cunard cruise line. Her experience also includes Program Advisor at Canyon Ranch Health Resort in Arizona. Kamala studied Business at the University of Cincinnati and Eastern Medicine at the Desert Institute of Healing Arts in Tucson, Arizona. Kamala is also an active member of the Organization of Women Leaders Hawaii and Soroptimist International of Honolulu.
MARY RONNOW
Hi-Spa Director of Events
Founder & Licensed Esthetics Instructor
Mary opened The Skin Institute, a professional esthetics school in St. George, Utah, in 2002. She has been a licensed Master Esthetician for 25 years. It is her goal to provide quality education to meet the ever-increasing demand for professional estheticians. Mary has worked in every avenue of the Spa/Medi-Spa Industry. She is expanding the success of the business and her philosophy of gold star training and exquisite customer service to the Hawaiian Islands and the Pacific Rim.
DARRYLL LEIMAN
Hi-Spa Treasurer and Past President
Regional Vice-President of Resort Operations at Mandara Spa, Hilton Hawaiian Village
Darryll’s alma mater in the spa industry was the Golden Door Health Resort in Escondido, CA. He became Director of Golden Door Spa at Sea, on QE2 and other Cunard Line vessels. Darryll took up a position at Spa’Deus, a health spa in Tuscany Italy, and then relocated to Maui, HI, where he was the opening spa director at Grand Wailea Resort. After opening spas in Honolulu, Guam, Aruba, Asheville, Las Vegas and West Palm Beach, Darryll once again returned to sea setting up the Mandara Spa Cruise Division and operating spas on Silversea and Norwegian Cruise Lines.
Darryll would later join Canyon Ranch in Tucson, AZ, set up and operate the spa on board Queen Mary 2 cruise liner, finally returning to Mandara Spa as Regional Vice President (Hawaii), where he continues today based in Honolulu, HI. Darryll is a founding member of the Hawaii Spa Association and Past President.
DANA MURAKAMI
Hi-Spa Secretary
Nā Ho’ola Spa Supervisor at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort and Spa
Dana started working as a part time spa attendant and grew more and more interested in the spa industry. During that time, she completed her Hospitality Operations Management Certificate and was promoted to spa concierge with full time status. Dana has taken on the role of acting manager on duty and has completed supervisor tasks with ease since the spa’s reopening after being closed from covid and was promoted to spa supervisor. She brings 10 years of experience in the resort spa and wellness industry.
LENA ANDRADE
Hi-Spa Board Member
Spa Operations Manager, Hilton Hawaiian Village
Lena began her spa career as a Massage Therapist at the Spa at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. During the course of her career, she spent time in both the resort and day spa worlds, been involved with two resort spa openings (The Spa at Cheeca Lodge & Red Door Lifestyles spa at Bonaventure), been a corporate massage trainer, regional department head, treatment and menu developer and Spa Director (The Spa Biltmore at the Inn on Biltmore Estate). She moved to Oahu in 2016 and finally stepped completely out of the treatment rooms herself to become the Operations Manager at The Mandara Spa, Hilton Hawaiian Village. Lena has a true passion for this industry and enjoys being involved with its continuous growth and evolution.
CHRISTI CANO
Hi-Spa Board Member
Spa & Wellness Consultant
Christi Cano, a seasoned hospitality professional with over 30 years of experience, began her career as a Management Trainee with Hyatt Regency Waikiki in 1990. Her tenure with Hyatt Resorts in Hawaii included work on Oahu and the Big Island, as well as resort openings on Kauai and at the Grand Wailea on Maui. She has developed, opened, and managed spas, salons, and fitness centers for prestigious brands including Four Seasons Resorts, Marriott International, Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, Wynn Las Vegas, and Ko’a Kea Resort along with many other resort spas, day spas, and wellness centers.
Christi’s expertise spans resort spa director, hotel management, consulting, and spa product sales and training. She attended massage school to learn how to safely massage her father who was diagnosed with cancer. She has served on the boards of the Washington (D.C.) Spa Alliance and Southeast Spa & Wellness Association.
Christi has been named “Favorite Spa Consultant” by American Spa Magazine multiple times and received their Women in Wellness Award. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University.
Advisory Board
AMANDA SCHMIEGE
Hi-Spa Advisor and Past President
Senior Spa Director at Four Seasons Dubai, UAE
From her initial roots working in a local spa business in Michigan, Amanda’s expertise now spans across the globe as she has transformed and opened spas and gyms in a variety of luxury destinations including Chicago, Orlando, New York, Dubai, and Hawaii. Amanda has worked for iconic brands including Elizabeth Arden, WTS International, Starwood, and Marriott, before her years now at Four Seasons. Previously she served in Dubai for the St. Regis, W Hotel and Westin complex. She also served as the Marriott Spa Regional leader supporting an additional 15 spas in the Dubai and Abu Dhabi region. Amanda transitioned to Hawaii 5 years ago and was serving as Senior Spa Director at Four Seasons Hualalai for the past 3 years, supporting O’ahu, Lanai, Bora Bora, St. Louis, and the opening for Cartagena. She transferred to Four Seasons Dubai as Senior Spa Director. Amanda has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, also completing studies at University College London. She holds a Nutrition Certification from NASM and served as the President of the Hawaii Spa Association. A wellness seeker in her spare time, Amanda enjoys being in nature, hiking, any type of new workout, sound therapy, reading, and eating well. She is always planning her next adventure or travel itinerary.
SHAWN HALLUM
Hi-Spa Advisor and Past President
Regional Director for Freedom Spas
Shawn is Vice President of Operations for Freedom Spas and has more than 25 years of leadership experience in the wellness industry. His career highlights have included Regional Vice President for Red Door Spas, Vice President North America for Premier Salons, Executive Director for Bacara Resort & Spa, Corporate Spa Director for Plus One Health Management, and Spa Champion for Hawaii and French Polynesia for Starwood Resorts.
Passionate about education, Shawn is also professor of integrative health courses for American College of Healthcare Sciences and an educator and advisor for the Spa Management Program at The University of California, Irvine. Academically, he holds a M.S. degree in Complementary Alternative Medicine, a B.S. in health promotion and A.S. in business admin. Shawn holds multiple professional wellness coaching certifications, culminating from intensive training through Mayo Clinic and Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching. He is a nationally board-certified health and wellness coach (NBC-HWC) and credentialed (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation.
CECILIA HERCIK
Hi-Spa Advisor and Past President
Cecilia is Managing Director – C-SPA Consulting Firm
With over 25 years of expertise in resort and day spa operations on a national and international scale, Cecilia Hercik boasts a comprehensive background in spa management and the hospitality industry. Her professional journey includes roles with renowned companies such as Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, Aveda-Estee Lauder-Neill Corporation, Waldorf Astoria Resorts, WTS International, Miraval Destination Spa, Four Seasons Resorts and Sea Island Resort.
An advertisement graduate of the Instituto Metropolitano of Lima, Peru, and having pursued studies at the Florida Community College of Jacksonville, Florida, Cecilia is proficient in both English and Spanish. Additionally, she holds certification as a Nutritional Consultant from the Global College of Natural Medicine.
JENNIFER HOLZWORTH
Hi-Spa Advisor
Corporate Director of Spa Operations for Montage International
Jennifer is currently Corporate Director of Spa Operations for Montage International. With more than 20 years of experience in the spa and wellness industry, Jennifer’s passion for health and wellness began with a private practice for both massage and esthetics before transitioning into hospitality and spa management where she sat on the advisory board overseeing west coast properties in the luxury segment. She has opened new hotels across the country and led teams in numerous urban, resort, and destination locations. Jennifer currently serves on multiple industry boards including ISPA and advisory committee member to HI-SPA. When she is not traveling, you will find her spending time with her husband in one of their two favorite places, Park City UT and Maui HI.
SHARON OTAGURO
Hi-Spa Advisor
Founder and WELLth Coach at TPO Coaching & Consulting
Sharon was a founding board member and former Hi-Spa President, and now continues to support the wellness industry in Hawaii as part of the Advisory Board. With a Bachelors in Economics, Life Coach certification training and through the use of tools such as Love Languages, DISC & CMA she is able to provide a powerful platform for self-awareness and transformation for her clients. She specializes in personal and professional optimization, financial and marketing support, work/life integration for success and workplace engagement training.