For more than 30 years, Reed Sunahara, Unit 8 member and UH-Hilo women’s volleyball head coach, has been leading athletes to victory.
Reed was a star athlete in his own right, receiving a scholarship to play volleyball for UCLA and later going pro. After a tragic motorcycle accident prevented him from continuing his own professional volleyball career, he decided to become a coach so he could help others achieve their dream. Since then, he’s worked with athletes from all over the nation, including Team USA in the Olympics. Mahalo for all that you do Reed!
HGEA Members Honored for Service In Hawaii’s Courts
Before his retirement, one of the last acts of Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald was to present awards to Hawaii State Judiciary employees who have distinguished themselves through exceptional service and accomplishments. From outstanding case management to diligent record keeping, this year’s awardees are dedicated to maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of the Judiciary.
Among the more than 20 honorees from HGEA is recent retiree Michele “Maile” Holt, pictured above, who received the Meritorious Service Award. Holt served as a circuit court clerk II and was a Unit 3 member since 2003.
Everyday our members are proving that Hawaii really does work best when we do.
After securing major wins in this year’s legislative session like requiring the state to defend professionally licensed or certified state employees from work-related civil lawsuits, HGEA’s political action committees have begun planning for the upcoming 2026 legislative session.
This is your chance to let us know if you have an idea for a new law or how to improve a current one.
Submit your proposal for consideration by Sunday, Oct. 19.
Join this 10-hour continuing education course to get a practical introduction to legislative advocacy for labor and community leaders. Participants will gain hands-on experience in researching Hawaii Revised Statutes, interpreting statutory and legislative language, and preparing effective written and oral testimony. The course culminates in a role-play hearing where participants present testimony in a simulated committee setting.
Course is hybrid begining Oct. 21 online and culminating in-person on Oct. 25.
Before his retirement, one of the last acts of Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald was to present awards to Hawaii State Judiciary employees who have distinguished themselves through exceptional service and accomplishments. From exceptional case management to diligent record keeping, this year’s awardees are dedicated to maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of the Judiciary.
Among the more than 20 honorees from HGEA is recent retiree Michele “Maile” Holt, who received the Meritorious Service Award. Holt served as a circuit court clerk II and was a Unit 3 member since 2003.
The recipients of this year’s awards are:
Meritorious Service Award
Michele “Maile” Holt (ret.), circuit court clerk II, Unit 3
Group Meritorious Service Award
Shelley Carter, social worker V, Unit 13
Glen Lefiti, social worker IV, Unit 13
Wendy Opiopio, social worker IV, Unit 13
Jendi Saldana, social service assistant V, Unit 3
Shannon Savage, social worker IV, Unit 13
Spirit of the Judiciary Award
Rebekah Lee, court operations specialist IV, Unit 13
Darla Requelman, estate & guardianship specialist, Unit 3
Certificate of Commendation
Wade Hirashi (ret.), Human Resources Manager, Excluded Member
Jacqueline Raquel, clerical section supervisor, Unit 4
Group Certificate of Commendation
Sandra Roman, court documents supervisor, Unit 4
Grace Cabaccang-Sajor, judicial clerk II, Unit 3
Sheri Lee Chong, court documents clerk I, Unit 3
Chelsea Lynn Clarke, judicial clerk I, Unit 3
Molly Fernandez-Kahakauwila, court documents clerk III, Unit 3
Nadine Gomes, court documents clerk III, Unit 3
Stacey Hoeft, court documents clerk III, Unit 3
Amanda Kaili, court documents clerk III, Unit 3
Charlene Pinheiro, court documents clerk III, Unit 3
Scores of HGEA members across state government were honored by Gov. Josh Green for their “high caliber” of service to the public.
“Public employees continue to make extraordinary contributions that improve the efficiency and quality of government services,” Green said in a news release. “This year’s honorees exemplify that spirit and we are truly honored to work alongside such dedicated individuals and teams who are changing lives every day.”
Among the many recipients of the Governor’s Awards were Kathryn Tipton, public librarian with the Hawaii State Public Library System at Pahoa Public & School Library, who won State Manager of the Year. Marly Nakamura, corrections education supervisor with Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, won State Employee of the Year.
Art education programs, financial skills classes and a focus on early literacy skills earned Tipton her recognition, while Nakamura shines with her educational programing that helps incarcerated individuals earn their diplomas and degrees.
Everyday our members are proving that Hawaii really does work best when we do.
Here are more of our members honored this year.
Brendan Akamu, Excluded Member, Program Manager, Department of Agriculture
Gary Bignami, Unit 6, Facilities Planner II, Department of Education
Melonie Cavaco, Unit 13, Tax Information Specialist I, Department of Taxation
Kimberly Dela Cruz, Unit 4, Stadium Supervisor, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism
Bryce Fujii, Excluded Member, IT Band D, Department of Accounting and General Services
Renee Kim, Unit 2, School Food Services Manager III, Department of Education
Michelle Lauro-Demaya, Unit 3, Homestead Assistant II, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
Robert Lee, Unit 13, Project Manager II, Department of Transportation
Lesley Matsumoto, Unit 13, Administrative Specialist, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Finn McCall, Unit 13, Engineer VI, Department of Land and Natural Resources
Derek Mizuno, Excluded Member, Department of Budget and Finance
Ronnie Morante, Unit 14, Deputy Sheriff II, Department of Law Enforcement
Jaquilyn Naanos, Unit 13, Labor Law Enforcement Specialist V, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
Marly Nakamura, Unit 13, Corrections Education Supervisor II, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Eric Nitta, Excluded Member, Department of Human Services and Development
Carol Oshiro, Unit 8, Program Manager, University of Hawaii
Amy Read, Unit 3, Office Assistant IV, Department of Budget and Finance
Roy Suda, Unit 8, IT Manager, University of Hawaii
Jon Takaki, Unit 13, Audio Visual Production Specialist, Hawaii State Public Library System
Bobbie Teixeira, Unit 13, Environmental Health Specialist V, Department of Health
Kathryn Tipton, Unit 13, Librarian IV, Hawaii State Public Library System
Catherine Scardino, Unit 13, Support Services Supervisor III, Department of Human Services
Maui Lifeguard Kapena Kuailani, his son and junior lifeguard Kanoa Kuailani, and Kapena’s father, Sam Kuailani, were honored by Maui Mayor Richard Bissen for saving the life of a diver found unresponsive in waters off Kahului Harbor. Off duty at the time, Kapena, a Unit 15 member, and his family of watermen pulled the diver into their boat, performed CPR and brought the man back to shore for help from first responders. (Photo courtesy of County of Maui.)
With no end in sight to the staffing vacancy crisis in state and local government, officials are once again admitting what HGEA has long contended: inadequate pay and benefits for public service jobs are hindering the recruitment and retainment of employees.
“The pay is probably the biggest challenge,” said Dawn Apuna, the city’s director of the Department of Planning and Permitting, according to The Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Apuna sits on the state Legislature’s task force to examine bottlenecks in Hawaii’s permitting process. “Private pays more, and then you have the feds … they pay even higher.”
HGEA has consistently argued that state and local government, with their decades-old salary scales, have been attempting to recruit with both hands tied behind their back. We’ve called for a dramatic overhaul of pay and benefit packages if government wants to remain competitive in a job market filled with younger workers saddled in student debt and desiring flexible work arrangements.
The sobering vacancy picture at Honolulu’s DPP mimics that of many other departments across government. In commercial property permitting, 14 out of 33 positions are vacant. Six out of 32 positions are vacant in residential permitting. The situation on Maui isn’t all that different, according to the Star-Advertiser, with the county’s Department of Public Works reporting five vacancies out of 14 positions.
Pay and benefits for public service jobs lag so far behind the private sector that applicants often balk at the paltry salaries, Apuna said.
“People won’t even come for an interview just knowing what the salary range is,” she said.
For more than 40 years, Unit 13’s Bennett Yap, information technology manager, has worked to ensure that the public has easy access to government services.
One of his proudest career moments was leading the quick set up of the emergency unemployment insurance claim center in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Often working seven days a week to ensure the hub and its 500 workstations were running smoothly, Bennett and his team transformed a ballroom at the Hawaii Convention Center into a claims processing center that ran for one and a half years. Outside the office, Bennett serves on the HGEA Board of Directors.
Aliamanu Middle School Principal Albert Hetrick, a Unit 6 member, visited KHON 2 News’ morning broadcast to celebrate his school’s selection as a 2025 “School of Distinction.” Moanalua and Kaimuki Middle Schools were also honored by the Association for Middle Level Education, making them among only 24 schools across the country to gain the distinction.
“It’s humbling to be honored like this,” Hetrick said. “There are a lot of great things happening at the middle school. … It’s all about opportunities, giving [our students] as much opportunities as we can. I’m just so proud of our staff.”
Each school was selected for its extraordinary capability of meeting “the unique needs of middle schoolers,” academically, socially and emotionally, according to the state Department of Education.
“This award is a testament to our schools’ commitment to creating positive environments that encourage growth, exploration and well-being during a crucial time in students’ lives,” Superintendent Keith Hayashi said.
Dwain “Oki” Uyeda, animal specialist and Unit 13 member, recently celebrated his retirement after four decades of service at the Honolulu Zoo.
Oki had a childhood fear of geckoes that he overcame to become the reptile keeper for beloved animal friends like Elton the crocodile monitor lizard, according to a city news release.
“Oki’s incredible knowledge of animal care and ability to problem solve made him a huge asset to the team. I already miss his smiling face and wish him well in his new adventures,” said Honolulu Zoo Director Linda Santos.
Oki’s story appeared on Hawaii News Now. Watch now!
Two years after one of the deadliest wildfires in U.S. history ravaged Lahaina, Maui students are finding glimmers of hope on the King Kamehameha III Elementary School campus.
CBS Mornings’ Nate Burleson visited the temporary campus, built in 90 days by the Army Corps. of Engineers, and spoke with Unit 3’s Darice Garcia, an educational assistant at the school.
“In the early days, I would hear the kids make comments like, ‘My house is gone,’ ‘My cousin died,’” said Garcia. She sees her role as providing a sense of stability by “being open arms for them, that love and compassion… so they know they can come to a place where people care about them.”
