Name: Walter "Kamika" Smith
Age: 35
Position: Director of groups, Sheraton Kauai Resort
First job: Deckhand for Fern Grotto Cruises
Favorite pastime: Mountain biking

Refocusing the Sheraton Kauai

After a $40 million reconstruction project following Hurricane Iniki, the Sheraton Kauai Resort will open Dec. 1 with Walter "Kamika" Smith as director of groups.

"We're trying to reposition the hotel," Smith said. "Before the hurricane we had many individual travelers. Now were looking for more groups."

For the past two years, Smith has been sales manager at the Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club.

He also was economic specialist of tourism for the County of Kauai, and vice president of sales and marketing for Smith's Motor Boat Service, his family's cruise and tour business.

He is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools. Smith earned a bachelor's degree in business administration-business management from Seattle University, and a master's degree in Japanese business studies from Chaminade University.

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By Jerry Tune, Star-Bulletin