Danny Akaka, Christof Luedi and Mayor Billy Kenoi (Photo courtesy of The Fairmont Orchid)

MEDIA RELEASE

Regional vice president and general manager of The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii, Christof Luedi is the recipient of the 2013 Mayor of Hawaii County’s “Spirit of Aloha” award, presented annually to a person who embodies the true meaning of Aloha and spirit of the Islands.

In presenting the award to Luedi, Mayor Billy Kenoi said, “Chris is someone who is of here, not from here. He celebrates the values we are proud to call Hawaiian: Haahaa (humility), Paahana (diligence), Kela (excellence), Lealea (playfulness), Alakai (leadership) and Kulia i ka nuu (achievement).”

Born and raised in the Swiss Alps, Luedi first set foot onto the Hawaiian Islands in January 2001, when Fairmont acquired its first Hawaiian resort, The Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui. He has more than 25 years of experience in the luxury hospitality industry across the United States. He is also an avid waterman with a passion for outrigger canoe paddling.

In 2003, Luedi, together with local Maui community leader Kimokeo Kapahulehua, envisioned traveling the entire Hawaiian archipelago in a traditional six-person Hawaiian outrigger canoe, beginning on the Island of Hawaii. This dream became a reality in July of 2008 when the paddlers completed their final leg, which marked the completion of a six-year, 1,650-mile archipelago journey.

Their journey was chronicled in the award-winning documentary ‘Family of the Waa,’ which was shown at The Big Island Film Festival in 2012.

Last week, the Big Island Film Festival welcomed filmmakers representing 54 new movies from Hawaii and around the world and included celebrity guests Vincent Kartheiser aka Pete Campbell from “Mad Men” and Kate McKinnon from “Saturday Night Live.”