Luana Hospitality Group promotes Furuto-Mears to VP, Berry to culinary director

Luana Hospitality Group, comprised of five restaurants on two islands, has promoted two key senior executives within the organization — Jolene Furuto-Mears to vice president and Cliften ‘Loetree’ Berry to culinary director.

Luana Hospitality Group is comprised of Huggo’s, On the Rocks, KAI Eats + Drinks in Kona and Lava Lava Beach Club Waikōloa on the Big Island and Lava Lava Beach Club on Kaua‘i.

Luana Hospitality Vice President and Culinary Director Ken Schloss is retiring at the end of the year. Schloss was pivotal to growth and expansion of the Luana Hospitality Group having opened Lava Lava Beach Club Waikōloa and Kaua‘i and KAI Eats + Drinks. Schloss plans to move back to California to be closer to family, with plans to travel annually to Italy.

“My partner Eric and I wish Ken Schloss well in his retirement,” said Luana Hospitality Group Principal Scott Dodd. “No one in our organization was more influential than him in our recent growth as a company. We will miss Ken’s culinary flair and leadership.”

Dodd continued: “We are also thrilled with promoting Jolene and Loetree as key members of the team to help with the overall management of all aspects of Luana Hospitality Group in 2024. We are so fortunate to have them as part of our Luana Hospitality Group team.”

Jolene Furuto-Mears, Luana Hospitality Group vice president

Furuto-Mears joined Luana Hospitality Group in 2020. She currently manages the Human Resources and Administrative Departments for all five Launa Hospitality restaurants. The Kona native was previously the regional human resources director for the YMCA in California for 14 years.

Cliften ‘Loetree’ Berry, Luana Hospitality Group culinary director

Loetree moved in 1998 to the Big Island, where he has had a long culinary career. He previously worked at Mauna Lani Bay Hotel, Merrimans, Sansei and at Huggo’s for several years, leaving as executive chef. Loetree returned to Luana Hospitality Group to open Lava Lava Beach Club Waikōloa after the extensive property renovation last year.  He will assume all culinary oversight for five restaurants.