Lankan GM at the helm of Hawaii’s Mauna Lani resort
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Sanjiv Hulugalle
Hawaii’s just reopened Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows part of the Auberge Resorts Collection has at its helm Sri Lankan Sanjiv Hulugalle, general manager and vice president of Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection.
The resort, known as an iconic Hawaii Island property comprising 330 rooms, suites and private bungalows located on 32 acres along Hawaii Island’s Kohala Coast has undergone a $200 million redesign.
“Everything has worked out very well, and the place is looking magnificent and absolutely gorgeous,” Hulugalle said in a recent interview with Pacific Business News.
“The property today is thoughtfully enhanced and revitalized with contemporary design elements,” he added. “It’s a total renovation, and we have touched every element of the property, starting from the arrival experience — we have relocated our front desk and put it with an incredible view of the ocean.” In addition to the physical changes, Hulugalle said that one of the key aspects to the property is the introduction of new programming, which includes cultural experiences such as lei making and fish pond walks, as well as ocean activities like surfing and canoe paddling.
Hulugalle, described in the article as an industry veteran, has been working in hospitality since he was just 19, when he took a job at a Four Seasons in Australia to pay for college. He went on to hold hotel management positions throughout the
world, including as the former general manager of the Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina.
Asked how he hopes the renovations will impact the property, he told Pacific Business News, “We are trying to really celebrate what Mauna Lani is and was, and then look to the future in bringing in all the wonderful aspects to the property — the cultural elements and the outdoor pursuits. We want our guests to be immersed in a sense of place. There is so much history and culture here.
“What really makes [the resort] so special is the connection with the land and the ocean, and then what really tops it off is the team.”
“Mauna Lani has the most incredible employees who really care for the place, and it’s more than just a job for them,” he added. “We are continuing to share our values through the history of our employees. It’s great to have a world-class setting and great restaurants, but at the end of the day, it’s really about the heart, the soul and the values that have been shared over the years. That is really the heart of great hospitality.