On the big island of Hawaii sits the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel which this year is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

When visionary Lawrence Rockefeller spied this ocean front property from the air, he fell in love with it and built a tropical destination resort without equal. He hired a young General Manager named Adi Kohler who managed this grand beach resort for the next 27 years.

It has been said that Adi belongs to a time when the great hotels were run by creative and independent individuals whose names were familiar to their guests as their guests’ names were to them.

The extended period at the peak of his profession at the same establishment has led to Adi being honoured with the title ‘Mr Mauna Kea’!

Adi retired 10 years ago after receiving a Bailliage of USA Bronze Star of Excellence in 2000 and a 30-year Officier Commandeur pin in 2008. In January 2015 he was presented with a special Bailliage of USA award by Marie Addario, Vice-Chargée de Presse Nationale, assisted by Kimi Mater, Bailli of Big Island of Hawaii.

To celebrate the presentation of the award, Hans Lentz, the Mauna Kea’s Executive Chef, created an ingenious formal dinner including many of Adi’s favourite courses – updated versions on the classics with a tropical twist.

At the same time as the making the award, Marie Addario inducted current General Manager, Phyllis Branco as a Maître Hôtelier and presented her with a  plaque for the hotel to celebrate not only its long affiliation with the Chaîne, but also its 50 years of excellence in the realms of hospitality and fine dining.

Marie Addario
Vice-Chargée de Presse Nationale


Background information

¹ The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel offers the perfect location on the sunny Kohala Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. Situated on a beautiful crescent beach, the luxury resort offers guests the ideal setting for a relaxing getaway in paradise. With a timeless tradition of aloha, the hotel welcomes generations of guests to be inspired by the past, embraced by the moment, enchanted by the warm days and exciting possibilities ahead.

² Hawaii’s Mauna Kea (its more traditional Hawaiian name is Mauna a Wākea) is a dormant volcano standing 4,205 m (13,796 ft) above sea level. Its peak is the highest point in the U.S. state of Hawaii. In Hawaiian religion, the peaks of the island of Hawaii are sacred and Mauna Kea (which means "white mountain" in Hawaiian) is the most sacred.