Seasonal Food Runner/Busser (Full-time)
Company : Highgate
Location : Lahaina, HI, 96761
Job Type : Full Time
Date Posted : 10 January 2026
Compensation Type
HourlyHighgate Hotels
Highgate is a premier real estate investment and hospitality management company widely recognized as an innovator in the industry. Highgate is the dominant player in U.S. gateway markets including New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Honolulu, with a rapidly expanding presence in Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Highgate’s portfolio of global properties represents an aggregate asset value exceeding $20B and generates over $5B in cumulative revenues. The company provides expert guidance through all stages of the hospitality property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate also has the creativity and bandwidth to develop bespoke hotel brands and utilizes industry-leading proprietary revenue management tools that identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive out performance and maximize asset value. With an executive team consisting of some of the industry’s most experienced hotel management leaders, the company is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. Highgate maintains corporate offices in London, New York, Dallas, and Seattle.
Overview
The Food Runner ensures timely delivery of orders so that food is the freshest it can be, resulting in high guest satisfaction. This position is also responsible for ensuring the order is accurate, in accordance to the Server's entry and aesthetically appealing. Food Runners will also assist with clearing tables after service and resetting. Strives to maintain health code standards of food handling.
Rate of pay: $15.68/hr (Probationary Rate) $18.21/hr (Regular Rate)
Responsibilities
- Report to work area on time in proper uniform
- Prep garnishing station as requested by the chefs at the beginning of the shift
- Deliver food timely and accurately as requested by the servers and prepared by the chefs
- Being knowledgeable of all menu items and ingredients contained in the food
- Able to accurately interpret server’s requests and ask for clarification as needed
- Ensure that the table is properly set up for the next course
- Being able to deliver food accurately to the proper location and seat without auctioning
- Ensure that the food is properly described to guests as is delivered.
- Assist on cleaning, detailing and resetting tables
- Ensure that work area is kept neat, organized and detailed during the shift
- Additional projects assigned by the manager
- Attend departmental meetings
Qualifications
- Speaks, reads and writes in the English language.
- Available and willing to work a variety of shifts including days, evenings, weekends and holidays.
- Team player able to effectively coordinate service with servers and bussers
- Ability to stand / walk for extended periods of time and engage in considerable physical activity on a consistent basis.
- Ability to lift / carry up to 30 lbs and navigate through a crowded space.
- Neat and professional appearance, a genuine Spirit of Aloha and desire to work with the public.
- TB clearance required.
- As a condition of employment, candidate must be able to satisfy all pre-employment screenings, such as criminal background checks, drug screening, and personal and professional references.
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Frequently asked questions
Expect to be on your feet for most of your shift, frequently walking and carrying up to 30 lbs while maneuvering through a busy dining area. This job requires stamina and agility to keep pace with service demands in a fast-paced hospitality environment like Lahaina.
Food Runners coordinate closely with servers by delivering dishes promptly and accurately, ensuring orders are visually appealing and correctly placed. They also assist with clearing and resetting tables, contributing to smooth service flow and elevated guest satisfaction.
Beginning in this role offers hands-on hospitality experience that can lead to positions such as server, host, or even management roles. Developing strong communication and multitasking skills is key to advancing within hotel or restaurant operations, especially within companies like Highgate.
Highgate emphasizes onboarding that familiarizes Food Runners with menu knowledge, health standards, and service coordination. This helps employees deliver exceptional guest experiences aligned with the company’s hospitality standards in Lahaina’s vibrant market.
Highgate’s focus on premium guest satisfaction means Food Runners must be detail-oriented, with an emphasis on food presentation and timely delivery. Their proprietary tools and market insights also encourage staff to be proactive and adaptable in service delivery.
Lahaina’s tourism-driven economy creates steady demand for seasonal food service roles, but competition can be high during peak seasons. Candidates with flexibility for varied shifts and a strong work ethic often have an edge in securing positions locally.
The offered rate of $15.68/hr during probation and $18.21/hr after aligns reasonably with Lahaina’s service sector wages, balancing the area’s higher living costs with competitive compensation for full-time seasonal hospitality work.
Shifts involve garnishing prep, delivering food swiftly, assisting servers, and resetting tables. Given Lahaina’s busy dining culture, Food Runners must efficiently juggle multiple orders while maintaining a clean, organized station throughout their full-time hours.
Highgate’s status as a leading hospitality manager brings high operational standards and professional expectations. Employees benefit from a structured environment that values teamwork and guest-centric attitudes, enhancing both service quality and job satisfaction.
Obtaining a tuberculosis clearance is mandatory, reflecting Hawaii’s public health requirements. Additionally, adherence to local health codes and passing background and drug screenings are standard prerequisites for employment with Highgate in Lahaina.