Huggo’s · Luana Hospitality Group

Meet the team

Huggo’s is part of the employee-owned Luana Hospitality Group family. Meet the leadership team supporting our restaurants, our people, and the guests we welcome each day.

Our Luana Hospitality Group family ↗

Eric Von Platen Luder

Co-CEO

Luana Hospitality Group

A fourth-generation Hawaiʻi Island resident of Hawaiian-Chinese and German heritage, Eric von Platen Luder grew up in the hospitality business, beginning work at Huggo's at just 11 years old. After earning his degree in business administration from Southern Methodist University, Eric returned home and eventually took over leadership of the restaurant his parents, Hugo and Shirley, founded in 1969. Alongside his husband and fellow Co-CEO Scott Dodd, he helped grow Huggo's from a single family restaurant into what is now Luana Hospitality Group. Eric has also been deeply involved in the Kona community, including serving three terms as president of the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, during which he initiated the forming of the Kailua Village Business Improvement District and served as its president for two terms, and was inducted into the Hawaiʻi Restaurant Association Hall of Fame in 2019.

Scott Dodd

Co-CEO

Luana Hospitality Group

Scott Dodd began his hospitality career in hotel operations after graduating from Southern Methodist University, including serving as Assistant Food & Beverage Director at the Hyatt Regency Maui. In the early 1990s, he joined Eric von Platen Luder in Kona, beginning both a life and business partnership that would help transform Huggo's from a single restaurant into what is now Luana Hospitality Group. Together, they developed new concepts including On The Rocks and Lava Lava Beach Club while expanding the company's reach across Hawaiʻi. Scott has also been active in the Hawaiʻi Island community throughout his career, including as a longtime supporter of the Hawaiʻi Island Humane Society, where he served as board president and chairman of the capital campaign that raised the funds to build the Animal Community Center. He was inducted into the Hawaiʻi Restaurant Association Hall of Fame in 2025. Today, he and Eric continue to lead Luana together as the company moves forward as an employee-owned organization.

Jose Fuentes

President

Luana Hospitality Group

Jose Fuentes joined Luana Hospitality Group in 2015, initially leading the opening and operations of Lava Lava Beach Club Kauaʻi. After beginning his career in finance in Boston, Jose made a career change into restaurants and quickly advanced into management, operating restaurants in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles, among others, including prominent New York restaurants such as Rosa Mexicano at Lincoln Center. Since joining Luana Hospitality Group, Jose has helped oversee operations across the company's restaurant portfolio and today serves as President. His leadership combines a strong operational background with a people-centered approach, helping guide the company's restaurants, teams, and culture while supporting Luana Hospitality Group's continued growth.

Jolene Mears

Vice President

Luana Hospitality Group

Kona native Jolene Mears joined Luana Hospitality Group in 2020 and today serves as Vice President. A graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Jolene was a four-year letterwinner on the university's women's golf team. With an extensive background in human resources and organizational leadership, including 14 years as a Regional HR Director for the YMCA in California, Jolene brings deep experience in supporting people, teams, and growing organizations. At Luana Hospitality Group, she plays an important role across human resources, administrative operations, leadership development, and company culture. Her connection to Hawaiʻi Island and focus on the people behind the business help carry Luana's ʻohana-centered approach throughout the organization, supporting the teams and systems that allow each of the company's restaurants to thrive.

Cliften 'Loetree' Berry

Culinary Director

Luana Hospitality Group

Chef Cliften "Loetree" Berry has been part of Hawaiʻi Island's culinary community since moving to the island in 1998. Over the years, his career has included experience with Mauna Lani, Merriman's, Sansei, and Huggo's, giving him a deep connection to the island's food and hospitality community. Today, as Culinary Director for Luana Hospitality Group, Loetree leads culinary direction across the company's restaurants. Working closely with each kitchen team, he helps develop menus, strengthen culinary standards, mentor chefs, and create dining experiences that reflect the individual character of each restaurant while maintaining the quality and hospitality that connect the Luana family of brands.

Liann Delaney

Director of Finance

Luana Hospitality Group

Liann Delaney brings more than 15 years of finance and accounting experience to her role as Director of Finance at Luana Hospitality Group. With a background that includes food and beverage management, financial leadership, and business consulting, she brings a strong understanding of both the operational and financial sides of hospitality. Her experience spans financial strategy, process improvement, change management, and business transformation. At Luana Hospitality Group, Liann leads the financial systems and strategies that support the company's restaurants, teams, and continued growth, helping provide the structure, insight, and financial stewardship needed as the organization continues to evolve.

Eric Child

Director of Facilities

Luana Hospitality Group

Eric Child joined Luana Hospitality Group as Director of Facilities in 2025, bringing facilities leadership experience across healthcare, aviation, and large-scale property operations in Hawaiʻi. Before joining Luana, he held facilities roles with Aliʻi Health Center, Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, and The Club at Hōkūliʻa. Today, Eric oversees maintenance, infrastructure, and operational reliability across Luana's restaurant portfolio. His approach emphasizes preventative maintenance, strong systems, and giving his team the tools and resources they need to succeed, helping ensure that each property remains safe, reliable, and ready to support both the teams who work there and the guests they welcome every day.

Mahea Lemus

Director of Operations

Luana Hospitality Group

Born and raised in Kona, Mahea Lemus is the director with the longest tenure at Luana Hospitality Group. She began her career with the company as a hostess at a single restaurant and worked her way up through every front-of-house position, gaining a firsthand understanding of restaurant operations, guest service, and the teams behind each experience. Today, as Director of Operations, Mahea oversees operations across five of the company's restaurants, turning Luana Hospitality Group's vision into the everyday experiences guests encounter. Her journey from hostess to director makes her a powerful example to her teammates of what dedication and hard work can build. Working closely with leadership and restaurant teams, she supports operations, communication, service standards, and the many details required to keep multiple locations moving together. Her deep connection to the culture and community of Hawaiʻi, combined with decades of experience within the company, brings a grounded understanding of the people and place at the heart of Luana Hospitality Group.

Yonathan Mickelsen

Marketing Director

Luana Hospitality Group

Yonathan Mickelsen leads marketing for Luana Hospitality Group, overseeing the brands and digital experiences of Huggo's, On The Rocks, Kai Eats + Drinks, and Lava Lava Beach Club. With a background spanning hospitality, marketing, technology, and creative storytelling, he brings an interdisciplinary approach to how Luana Hospitality Group connects with its guests and community. Yonathan studied hospitality at Les Roches and later trained in full-stack development, experience that has shaped his work across branding, content, web development, digital systems, and emerging technology. At Luana Hospitality Group, he focuses on bringing together storytelling and technology to strengthen the guest experience, support restaurant teams, and build meaningful connections between the company, its brands, and the communities they serve.