About neu events

Hair and Makeup: Christina Webb

In 2000, company founder, Mona L. Hirata-Sung, started with real life experience handling weddings and events at a boutique hotel. With a passion for service, we at neu events have built upon that foundation and have crafted our approach to event planning based on our guiding set of values – working hard for our clients, bearing their best interests in mind, and standing by ethical principles.

Essentially, we look at each wedding and event and think to ourselves, “if this were our best friend’s special occasion or event, and possessing the industry knowledge and skills that we have honed, how can we help, giving as much as we possibly can, so that they can have the very best event imaginable?”

For us, “it’s personal.” Your success is our success, and nothing could make us happier than to see you achieve your goals.

Hundreds of weddings and events later and after teaching wedding planning to aspiring planners, neu events continues to service clients based on the same founding principles and values. We hope to have the opportunity to provide you with our very best, too.

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MONA L. HIRATA-SUNG, MBA
mona@neuevents.com

After years of traveling and working abroad, Mona returned to Hawai’i where she launched in 2000 what is now neu events, applying her life experience abroad to servicing both local and international clients. Since then, neu events has become one of leading boutique style wedding and event planning companies. In 2006, Mona was named to Pacific Business News’ "Forty Under 40," an award established to recognize Hawai‘i’s emerging young leaders. With numerous accolades and 100’s of weddings and events under her belt, enjoys sharing her knowledge by lecturing to visiting international students on entrepreneurship and her career field. As owner and planner, Mona makes it a priority to maintain a “big picture” focus on the direction of the company while simultaneously working directly with clients, helping them design and plan a memorable event. Whether on island or planning from afar, it is Mona’s desire to transform your dreams and goals into reality. Contact Mona at mona@neuevents.com.

HEIDI ANGEL PARK SMOOT,
MSCP, MFT-I
heidi@neuevents.com

Heidi has dedicated her expertise to wedding and event planning with neu events for over a decade. Her portfolio includes personalized services for couples and the coordination of a diverse range of events, spanning from magazine launches and glamorous galas to fundraisers. Before her association with neu events, Heidi gained years of experience working in various industries, managing logistics and marketing at trade shows nationwide. She also managed events of grand scale with concert promoter of the Pacific, Tom Moffatt, on concerts and VIP parties. In addition to her event planning role, Heidi serves as a Marriage and family therapy intern, providing counseling services to keiki, adults, couples, and kupuna. Heidi’s local roots and global experience make her perfectly suited to work with clients from near and far alike. Her own wedding planning journey unveiled her true passion as a wedding and event planner, and she has since become an invaluable member of the neu events team. Contact Heidi at heidi@neuevents.com.

AILEEN NGUYEN
aileen@neuevents.com

Aileen started as an intern with neu events as a student from the University of Hawaiʻi, studying in the School of Travel Industry Management. After graduation Aileen has since continued to work with neu events whenever they needed a helping hand. Since the end of 2021, she is now a part of the team full time. Aileen has had opportunities to work with different coordinators in the wedding and events industry, learning and gaining experiences and skills at different weddings and events. Getting to work closely alongside with Mona and the couples and clients and then getting to see their vision become a reality is so gratifying. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and baking and spending time with family and friends.

DENICHEL “DENI” RUIZ
deni@neuevents.com

Like Aileen, Deni also started with neu events as an intern before graduating from the School of Travel Industry Management at the University of Hawai`i at Manoa. After graduation, Deni worked at various event planning companies, broadening her experience and honing her skill set working as a lead event planner. After a temporary hiatus from events, Deni has since made her way back to the industry and is now working with neu events once again. Deni is also a travel advisor and owns a small handmade pet accessories business with her sister. She enjoys traveling and spending time with family.

GINA HO
gina@neuevents.com

As a seasoned event planner, Gina has been a part of the neu events team since February 2022, spearheading the planning of many of neu events' corporate, non-profit, government, and legacy events. Gina was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii.
She has a diverse career background but her roots in event planning began with her role as an Executive Assistant for one of Hawaii’s distinguished entrepreneurs. From small social gatherings to large corporate sales conventions, Gina found herself captivated by the logistics and process improvements that could be made. She is a problem solver who is devoted to making her events run smoothly. Her perfectionist nature leaves no detail unseen. She has the talent and devotion required to create extraordinary events from concept to execution.
Gina uses one of her favorite quotes as inspiration while collaborating with clients. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou. It is Gina's goal to ensure that clients always receive her very best.