HILARY HOSIA
Not a day goes by that Marshall Islands Resort doesn’t captivate the eyes of every passersby — both visitors and locals alike — as it maintains a known standard for its neatness.
Although there are a lot of hard working individuals behind the scenes at MIR, the nation’s resort, one stood out for both her exemplary work ethic and for breaking stereotypes: Liona Kimij.
Since the day she started working at MIR in 2008, Liona has been in charge of maintaining the cleanliness of the resort. Her daily routine includes using the weed whacker, lawn mower, machete, shovel and rakes. And, of course, her favorite tool, the pink rear-cart, which hotel staffers know can only be used by her.
Resort General Manager Hirobo Obeketang said he asked Liona what color she wanted her rear-cart painted and she immediately replied, “pink!” The instruction went to other maintenance staff to prepare the rear-cart properly. “Pink paint?” asked one. “Yes,” confirmed Hirobo. “Everyone knows, don’t touch Liona’s rear-cart,” he said.
Liona has a habit of reminding co-workers to maintain the hotel’s cleanliness, whether it’s making sure everyone follows the no “betel nut” usage on the grounds or by constantly reminding her peers to dispose even the littlest thing like cigarette butts.
“I’ve grown to love this job and it’s one that I can proudly say has changed the way I view things, even after I clock out and head home,” she said.
Read more about this in the August 12, 2016 edition of the Marshall Islands Journal.