Name: Kenneth T. Ching
Age: 53
Position: General manager, Royal Kona Resort
First job: Sold newspapers in San Francisco
Favorite pastime: Tennis

Ching named to run Royal Kona

Hawaiian Hotels & Resorts has chosen Kenneth T. Ching to manage the 452-room Royal Kona Resort on the Big Island. He replaces John Brunold, now general manager of the Royal Lahaina Resort on Maui.

Ching has nearly 30 years in the hotel industry including management positions with HTH Corp. and Sheraton Hotels. He joined Hawaiian Hotels & Resorts in 1994 as regional food and beverage director; most recently he was general manager of the Kauai Coconut Beach Resort.

From 1969 to 1978, Ching was one of the owners of the Chart House restaurant at the Ilikai Hotel, and then he moved to San Francisco where he operated the Following Sea restaurant on Pier 39 until 1984.

"The restaurant business taught me a lot," Ching said.

Ching studied the travel industry at the University of San Francisco and the University of Hawaii.

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By Jerry Tune, Star-Bulletin