Harold Rapoza has been promoted to vice president-operations planning and special projects. Rapoza, who joined ASTON in mid-1997, will be responsible for property transitions and special projects, including the annual budgeting process. He also will oversee all the properties on the island of Oahu. 

�Harold has done an excellent job in his capacity of assistant vice president. His support and leadership has been invaluable to ASTON,� said Gary Ettinger, executive vice president of ASTON Hotels & Resorts Hawaii. �We look forward to continuing to work to refine our processes and procedures and improve our product under Harold�s leadership.�

Mike Tasaka, who began his career at ASTON in 1996, is transferring from the ASTON at the Waikiki Banyan to become the general manager of the ASTON Waikiki Beach Tower and the ASTON Waikiki Beachside. Tasaka also will be responsible for working with ASTON�s Oahu general managers as a liaison between the various properties and the corporate office. 

�Mike�s enthusiastic contributions to everything from fundraisers, to the budget process, to the support and development of various initiatives in the operations department, have been major factors in our success,� said Ettinger. �It has taken a very long time to find a person to carry on the legacy left behind by long-time ASTON Waikiki Beach Tower general manager, Doris Oldenburg. I am confident that Mike is that person.�

ASTON, also recognized for its advancement of women, promoted two more women into higher management positions in this recent organizational change. 

Patty Maher, who started as a secretary for ASTON Hotels & Resorts in March of 1987, transfers to the 315-room ASTON at the Waikiki Banyan as assistant general manager. Since joining ASTON, she has worked her way up to hold positions of general manager of ASTON�s Coral Reef and Honolulu Prince hotels.  

Most recently, Maher served as general manager of the Waikiki Joy and ASTON Coconut Plaza hotels.  Prior to that, she worked for ASTON on the Big Island, Maui, and Kauai. Maher is a Certified Hotel Administrator.

Charlotte Caster takes over the general manager post at the Honolulu Prince. Caster started with Aston in 1994 and has worked in various positions throughout the islands. In March of 1999, she was transferred to the Honolulu Prince as rooms division manager; she was promoted to general manager of the Waikiki Grand Hotel in August of 2000.  

ASTON is also proud to promote several employees from within to well-deserving individuals born and raised in the islands at a time when many of Hawaii�s young people are seeking opportunities abroad.

Earl Nakachi has been promoted to general manager at the Waikiki Grand Hotel. Nakachi joined ASTON in November 1998 as rooms division manager of the Coral Reef Hotel and was transferred to the ASTON Waikiki Beachside in August 2000 as rooms division manager. 

Wes Kawakami moves up to assistant general manager of the ASTON Waikiki Beach Tower. Kawakami started with ASTON in October 2000 as rooms division manager at the Honolulu Prince and after a short period of time was transferred to the ASTON Aloha Surf Hotel as rooms division manager where he assisted with the complete renovation of that hotel.

David Saito takes over the rooms division manager position at the ASTON Aloha Surf.  Saito joined ASTON in August 2000 as front office manager at the ASTON Waikiki Circle Hotel. 
 
Clem Lagundimao has been promoted to general manager at the ASTON Coconut Plaza Hotel. Clem started with ASTON in April 2000 as rooms division manager at the ASTON Waikiki Beachside Hotel, then transferred to the ASTON Waikiki Beach Tower as assistant general manager.  

�It is really exciting to see people within our organization be given an opportunity to grow with the company,� said Ettinger. 

While ASTON is excited about the promotions within, it is also happy to announce the opportunity in this management restructuring to allow a former Hawaii resident to return home.  Moving-in as general manager of the Waikiki Joy Hotel is a new member of the ASTON team.  Michael Ako, who has his roots in Hawaii, is moving from Florida where he served as the general manager of the Ocean Key Resort, a 100-room luxury resort in Key West Florida. In Hawaii, he has worked with Hawaiian Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, and Amfac Hotels & Resorts.

Based in Honolulu, ASTON Hawaii operates 34 condominium resorts and hotels on the four major Hawaiian islands. The company is the number-one operator of suites and resort condominiums and hotels in Hawaii. Hotel Corporation of the Pacific, dba ASTON Hawaii, is a ResortQuest International company, the leading provider of condominium and vacation home rentals in premier resort locations worldwide. ASTON Hawaii and ASTON Hotels & Resorts Hawaii are registered trade names and trademarks of ASTON Hotels & Resorts International, Inc.