Honolulu
Event Team
Ann Marie Camacho
Host
Lives in
- Honolulu
Motto
- Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.
Hobbies
- Music
Profession
- People wrangler, VP of Operations at List SIR
Maleko McDonnell
Host
Lives in
- Honolulu
Motto
- Je me régale!
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Communications and Marketing
Malie Moran
Host
Lives in
- Honolulu
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Shey Acio
Group Leader
Lives in
- HONOLULU
Motto
- La vie est belle
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Graphic designer, Lash Artist, Self Employed!
Pete Castillejos
Group Leader
Lives in
- Kailua
Motto
- “Yes. You have to wear white.”
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Hiring Awesome Real Estate Agents
Hilaire Nakamura
Group Leader
Lives in
- Ewa Beach
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Alyssa Picadura
Group Leader
Lives in
- Honolulu
Motto
- Heart Happy-- living and doing things that set your soul on fire & literally makes your heart smile.
Hobbies
- Travel, Food, Drink, Fun & Adventure
Profession
- Civil Enginerd :)
Aubrey "AJ" Pucan Hester
Group Leader
Lives in
- Honolulu
Motto
- Life is like a camera. Focus on what's important. Capture the good times. And if things don't work out, just take another shot. -Ziad K. Abdelnour
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Wifey, Mommy + Worker Bee
Shane Kelii Valdez
Group Leader
Lives in
- Kailua
Motto
- "what's a motto with you"
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
-
Melissa Wennihan
Group Leader
Lives in
- Kailua
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
- OHA Trustee Aide / KS Cheer Coach
Candice Wong
Group Leader
Lives in
- Honolulu
Motto
- “My only regret in life is that I didn’t drink enough Champagne.” - John Maynard Keynes, American economist and philosopher
Hobbies
- Travel
Profession
- HR Management
Redelyn Abille
Table Leader
Lives in
- Waipahu
Motto
- There are so many beautiful reasons to be happy.
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Aubrey Akana
Table Leader
Lives in
- Kaneohe
Motto
- Let yourself Be drawn by the strong pull Of that which you truly Love -Rumi
Hobbies
- Cooking
Profession
- Mama love
Paul Bactista
Table Leader
Lives in
- Pearl City
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Kim Bardon
Table Leader
Lives in
-
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Cheryl Borney
Table Leader
Lives in
- Honolulu
Motto
- Start each day with a grateful heart.
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Registered Nurse
Alisha Christakis
Table Leader
Lives in
- Kailua
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Chef
Natalie Cook
Table Leader
Lives in
- Kailua
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Erika Cravalho Meyers
Table Leader
Lives in
- Kapolei
Motto
- Be a pineapple, stand tall, wear a crown, and be sweet inside
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Rebecca Cummings
Table Leader
Lives in
- Kailua
Motto
- Don't worry, be happy.
Hobbies
- Yoga
Profession
- Publishing
Trina Fernandez
Table Leader
Lives in
- Kailua
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
-
Aloha Hau`oli
Table Leader
Lives in
-
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Design
Profession
-
Melissa Hieda
Table Leader
Lives in
- Kaneohe
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Shauna Hirota
Table Leader
Lives in
- Kailua
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Teacher/Wedding Coordinator
Melissa Hoyer
Table Leader
Lives in
- Honolulu
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Patrick Ibarra
Table Leader
Lives in
- kapolei
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Dion Ishmael
Table Leader
Lives in
- Waipahu
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Ruth Kaneko
Table Leader
Lives in
-
Motto
- Imua e nā pua a Pauahi!
Hobbies
- Art
Profession
- Cosmetologist and Artist
Chanda Keawe
Table Leader
Lives in
- Ewa Beach
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Kelly Kitashima
Table Leader
Lives in
- Kapaa
Motto
- May 24th
Hobbies
- Yoga
Profession
- General Manager - Bali Hai Villas
Cha McKee
Table Leader
Lives in
- Kailua
Motto
- Do good. Get good.
Hobbies
- Cooking
Profession
- Administrative Manager
Felicity (Kui) Meyer
Table Leader
Lives in
- Kapolei
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Keola Nakamura
Table Leader
Lives in
- Ewa Beach
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Russell Pascua
Table Leader
Lives in
- Waipahu
Motto
- YOU'RE NEVER GONNA BE HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU GET IF YOU'RE NOT HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE
Hobbies
- Hiking
Profession
- SELF EMPLOYED
Rowena Pucan Abear
Table Leader
Lives in
- Mililani
Motto
- You always have a choice….
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Eric Rajasalu
Table Leader
Lives in
- Kaneohe
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Dana Sagum
Table Leader
Lives in
-
Motto
- Be EXTRAordinary <3
Hobbies
- Reading
Profession
- Business Owner
Drew Schnelker
Table Leader
Lives in
-
Motto
- On our tombstone there will be two numbers separated by a dash. Make the most of the DASH!
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Financial Professional
Mandy Sosa
Table Leader
Lives in
-
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Jayla Tamashiro
Table Leader
Lives in
-
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Eating
Profession
- Financial Services Agent
Shiulina Wu
Table Leader
Lives in
- Honolulu
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
International team
Sandy Safi
Chief Executive Officer
Having started her career onstage in the performing arts, Sandy's love of the entertainment sector brought her to work in special events in 15 countries over the years. She has developed and managed large-scale concerts in Dubai, worked in the Opera world at prestigious locations such as the Los Angeles Opera, the Casino de Paris, and Barcelona's Gran Teatre del Liceu, and finally started her adventure with Diner en Blanc in 2011, when she applied her network and her experience to facilitate the first American Diner en Blanc in New York. She co-founded Diner en Blanc International in 2012, and then became the sole owner of the Diner en Blanc trademark and company in 2022. Above all, Sandy seeks to encourage creativity and connect culinary communities around the world.
Chantal Blanchard
Public Relations Specialist
As a publicist in the world of entertainment, Chantal was fortunate enough to travel the world for many years with Cirque du Soleil. Those amazing years on the road gave her the opportunity to somewhat satisfy her thirst for everything that is lifestyle i.e. food, wine, cocktails, fashion, urban life, architecture, design, etc. As Chantal would say “this career path and passion for all that is good in life predestined her to join the team of Diner en Blanc International.
Lucia Sacco
Accounting & HR
Lucia brings over 2 decades of administrative and accounting experience to Diner en Blanc International. She has worked in the event planning industry since 2007 whereby she occupied the position of Accounting Director and Office Manager. “I feel blessed to be able to combine my organizational skills and passion for bringing events to life towards a career at Diner en Blanc International,” says Lucia. Her interpersonal skills are an asset when communicating with hosts and dealing with accounting specialists or government offices, all the while maintaining a high level of integrity.
Zina Acherir
Project Manager
Zina is a passionate and creative professional with concrete organizational and planning skills. Her educational background in event management allows her to innovate, communicate and visually translate ideas and visions to memorable experiences. Zina enjoys networking, planning, and travelling. "Working at Diner en Blanc International allows me to practice my passion on a daily basis and gives me the opportunity to meet amazing hosts all around the world, which also gives me the advantage of learning about different cultures and how other cities manage events."
Jennifer Soto
Project Manager
Jennifer’s experience in management in the education sector gives her the perfect balance of leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills. She loves working with hosts around the world, helping them plan their events in an organized and timely manner, while showing empathy and understanding of each city’s differences and needs. “I feel privileged to work with the team of Diner En Blanc International and be surrounded by culture, diversity, food, music, and friendship.”
Elizabeth Carbonell
Event Operations Strategist
As Production Manager, Elizabeth oversees all aspects of the production and coordination of the Diner en Blanc events hosted by Diner en Blanc International. Her 10-year background in event managing for an international design non-profit organization, and her previous work in the fashion industry, allowed her to travel around the world and learn from incredible people. In her free time, Liz has an active and vegan lifestyle. She enjoys going out to restaurants, trying new cocktails, working out and cooking.
Fiorella Arbanil
Client Relations & Business Development
With over two decades of service in customer relations and twelve years of sales experience, Fiorella brings a wealth of expertise to her current role in Client Relations and Business Development. It is her mission to identify and secure hosts to produce Le Diner en Blanc events in cities worldwide. With a bachelor’s degree in advertising, marketing, and social media management, she has cultivated a strong foundation for driving strategic growth and fostering enduring client partnerships, and she is committed to expanding the reach and impact of Diner en Blanc globally.
Axelle Pierresteguy
IT Support & Project Manager
Axelle is a dynamic and youthful employee who has brought fresh and innovative ideas to the success of Le Diner en Blanc over the past few years. With a forward-thinking mindset and a talent for finding creative solutions, Axelle brings a vibrant energy to her work. She has always had a passion for the arts, including music, dance, theater, and filmmaking. Once she realized she could combine her love for the arts with her skills in managing and creating, she knew that the event-planning world was the perfect fit for her.
Batin Can Balkan
IT Project Manager
As the IT Project Manager at Diner en Blanc International, Batin applies his skills in innovative IT solutions to enhance unique event experiences and connect with incredible hosts globally. Le Diner en Blanc is a cultural platform where technology meets tradition, allowing one to see firsthand how cities around the world bring their unique flair to their event. Each day offers new opportunities to merge his IT expertise with a passion for creating memorable moments.
David Gallego
Full Stack Developer
David is a passionate software developer who brings creativity and dedication to every project. He believes that helping others meet their goals is how we drive innovation and create meaningful change. He also possesses the ability to adapt to different situations and offer a unique perspective which enriches discussions and fosters a culture of creative problem-solving.