Meet The Team

Pura Stephen - Catering Sales Manager

Pura has more than 20 years hospitality experience. She started her hotel career on Maui in the catering department of the Maui Marriott, Kaanapali Beach, in 1989. Before finding her fit at Turtle Bay, Pura joined the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua for its opening; Worked in the Westin Maui sales department; Became Director of Sales for Embassy Suites at John Wayne Airport in California; Moved on to Director of Sales for the Continental Surf Hotel in Waikiki and assumed the position of General Manager there. At Turtle Bay Pura enhanced the wedding experience by bringing ceremonies and receptions outside to take advantage of the hotel's majestic surroundings and five miles of pristine private beaches. Ceremonies are now offered at five different outdoor sites. Pura also championed expanding reception venues to more than 12 sites. Pura has made brides and grooms happy for years, saying if they have a dream no matter how small or big, she can make it reality. Some of her fondest memories include bringing a groom's vision of riding a helicopter to his wedding ceremony to life; Coordinating a surprise helicopter flower drop and rescuing a bride whose zipper broke right before the ceremony. Pura is excited to see what new trends pop up in the wedding world and she looks forward to executing more happy beginnings at Turtle Bay.

 Sheri Chang - Catering Sales Manager

For more than 15 years Sheri has been in the wedding business. Sheri has shared and demonstrated her extraordinary talent at Turtle Bay since 2006. Sheri loves meeting new people and making people happy, finding her position at Turtle Bay to be the perfect fit for her. She has successfully made clients' dreams reality, including a bride's wish to be married by a Rastafarian Pastor. Sheri contributed to the success of countless events at the resort with her diverse experience, skills and talent. Her first marketing skills and relationship with Turtle Bay began when she obtained a contract with the Hotel to sell her creations in the hotel lobby as well as teach Hawaiiana crafting to hotel guests.

 Mikilani Ikalani - Catering Service Manager

Mikilani was raised on the North Shore of O'ahu and grew up playing on the shores of Turtle Bay.  Now Mikilani has returned to her childhood playground helping couples make their wedding dreams a reality.

Mikilani received her Bachelors of Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing from the University Of Hawaii, Manoa and has amassed over twenty years of experience in the food service industry serving in all capacities from service line staff through Store Manager at the famous local eatery, Zippy’s Restaurants.

Mikilani originally joined the team at Turtle Bay as an Assistant Restaurant Manager and while observing all of the weddings on property she quickly developed an interest in becoming a Catering Event Manager.  When a position opened up she submitted her application and prayed for the best…the rest as they say is history.  Mikilani services numerous weddings annually from elopements to large three to four hundred guest events.  Mikilani shares, “It is truly rewarding to be able to meet my clients and their guests as strangers and embrace them as my ‘Ohana.  It brings me great joy to be able to share with them the spirit of not just Aloha, but the true spirit of Hawai’i.”