Honolulu
Event Team
Maleko McDonnell
Host
Lives in
- Honolulu
Motto
- Je me régale!
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Communications and Marketing
Malie Moran
Host
Lives in
- Honolulu
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Ann Marie Camacho
Head Leader
Lives in
- Honolulu
Motto
- Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- People wrangler, VP of Operations at List SIR
Shey Acio
Group Leader
Lives in
- Honolulu
Motto
- La vie est belle
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Graphic designer, Lash Artist, Self Employed!
Kehaulani Breault
Group Leader
Lives in
- Kapolei
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Housing Promoter (aka Realtor, with Engel & Völkers)
Pete Castillejos
Group Leader
Lives in
- Kailua
Motto
- “Yes. You have to wear white.”
Hobbies
- Golf
Profession
- Your friendly neighborhood Realtor
Hilaire Nakamura
Group Leader
Lives in
- Ewa Beach
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Aubrey Pucan Hester
Group Leader
Lives in
- Pearl City
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, Momma, Chaos Coordinator .. + paid as a health org quality improvement specialist
Shane Kelii Valdez
Group Leader
Lives in
- Kailua
Motto
- "what's a motto with you"
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
-
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
- Cooking
Profession
- HR Management
Redelyn Abille
Table Leader
Lives in
- waipahu
Motto
- There are so many beautiful reasons to be happy.
Hobbies
- Sports
Profession
-
Aubrey Akana
Table Leader
Lives in
- Kaneohe
Motto
- Aloha mai no Aloha aku
Hobbies
- Design
Profession
- Mama Love
Kim Bardon
Table Leader
Lives in
- Kaneohe
Motto
- The impossible just takes a little longer...don't give up!
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Realtor, Soccer Coach and Referee, Momma, and caretaker
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
-
William Elliott
Table Leader
Lives in
- Pearl City
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Wine
Profession
-
Kawana Elrod
Table Leader
Lives in
- Mililani
Motto
- Jesus Saves
Hobbies
- Dancing
Profession
-
Trina Fernandez
Table Leader
Lives in
- Kailua
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
-
Rosa Haro
Table Leader
Lives in
- Kailua
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Art
Profession
-
Shauna Hirota
Table Leader
Lives in
- Kailua
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Maila Kaneaiakala
Table Leader
Lives in
- Honolulu
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
Trinh Mcpeak
Table Leader
Lives in
- Honolulu
Motto
- Be kind always 💖
Hobbies
- Art
Profession
- Full time fur mom 🐾🐾💙
Keola Nakamura
Table Leader
Lives in
- ewa beach
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Sports
Profession
- Plumber
Russell Pascua
Table Leader
Lives in
- Honolulu
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
CARRI POTHIER
Table Leader
Lives in
- Ewa Beach
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Golf
Profession
- Realtor
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
-
Blake Scott
Table Leader
Lives in
- Ewa Beach
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Mandy Sosa
Table Leader
Lives in
- Kapolei
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Gardening
Profession
- Healthcare
Jayla Tamashiro
Table Leader
Lives in
- Kaneohe
Motto
- Don’t ever stop chasing your dreams, they’re closer than you think
Hobbies
- Eating
Profession
- Financial Services Agent
Kelsey Treiber
Table Leader
Lives in
- honolulu
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Sports
Profession
- Occupational therapist
Melissa Wennihan
Table Leader
Lives in
- Kailua
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
- OHA Trustee Aide / KS Cheer Coach
Candice Wong
Table Leader
Lives in
- Honolulu
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Cooking
Profession
- HR
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
Senior 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
Operations 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.”
Liza Belikova
Sponsorship and Events Project Manager
Liza’s background in Arts Administration brings both structure and creative flow to event management. With experience in operations, hospitality, and large-scale event coordination, she enjoys creating seamless guest experiences and being part of the details that make every Dîner en Blanc evening feel elegant, welcoming, and memorable. In her free time, you can usually find her wandering through a museum, discovering a new restaurant, or planning her next trip.
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.
Judy Turk
Social Media Specialist
With a background in interior architecture and filmmaking, Judy brings four years of experience in content creation and video production to her role as Social Media Specialist. She develops engaging social media campaigns and visual content for Diner en Blanc Montreal and New York while also contributing to Diner en Blanc International's global advertising campaigns. Having lived in several countries and speaking multiple languages, she enjoys working in multicultural environments and creating content that resonates with diverse audiences. Judy is passionate about the arts, including painting, acting, singing, photography, fashion, and travel.
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.
Axelle Pierresteguy
Business Development Coordinator
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.
