Name: Diane Shitanishi
Age: 34
Position: Director of weddings, Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel
First job: Clerk stenographer
Favorite pastimes: Volleyball, golf

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Looking for bliss at
Kahala Mandarin

The Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel has promoted Diane Shitanishi to a new position to focus more on the weddings business. The resort's chapel can handle receptions of up to 500 persons.

"We have two oceanfront gazebos and an oceanfront chapel," Shitanishi said. "Honeymooners are very important to Hawaii. We've had them from Taiwan, China, United Kingdom and Japan. The biggest market is local weddings."

She has 14 years in the hotel business and most recently was the hotel's catering/conference services manager.

Shitanishi came to Hawaii in 1984 and worked at the Plaza Hotel and Holiday Inn at Honolulu Airport, Holiday Inn Waikiki, Princess Kaiulani Hotel and the Royal Hawaiian Hotel before coming to the Kahala Mandarin Oriental in February 1996.

The Kahala hotel is part of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.

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By Jerry Tune, Star-Bulletin