Member Spotlights

  • šŸ‘®ā€ā™‚ļø Fearless hero: Robert Umiamaka, Unit 14, Protecting the community with bravery and dedication!

    If malicious actors want to wreak havoc at our airports, they’ll have to go through Deputy Sheriff Robert Umiamaka and his K-9 Lexy first. A Unit 14 member and a director on HGEA’s Board of Directors, he’s been protecting the public for more than a decade. After starting as a corrections officer, Umiamaka later became…

  • Principal Sheldon Oshio Leads Waikele Elementary School to National Honors

    Retiring at the end of this year, Sheldon Oshio, Unit 6 member and principal at Waikele Elementary School, has led a legendary career spanning more than 32 years. Inspired by his parents who were both HGEA members and educators, Sheldon knew he wanted to follow their footsteps from a young age. To cap off his…

  • Making a Difference One Scholarship at a Time

    Since 1966, our union has been dedicated to helping members and their dependents reach their educational goals. Just this year, 22 members and dependents were awarded a total of $45,000 across all scholarships. Hear from a few 2025 scholarship recipients on how this financial support has made a difference: Meet Megan NashiwaWith ambitions to become…

  • Unit 6’s Sheldon Oshio Leads First “Model Academy with Distinction” Elementary School in the Nation

    Unit 6’s Sheldon Oshio made headlines after Waikele Elementary School, where he serves as principal, became the first elementary school in the country to earn the “Model Academy with Distinction” designation from the National Career Academy Coalition. Waikele’s program is part of a larger career academy emphasis in the Waipahu Complex of schools. Traditionally career…

  • HGEA Welcomes Honolulu’s Newest Unit 15 Ocean Safety Recruits

    Fourteen new members of HGEA’s Unit 15 are making waves after successfully completing the eight-week training program for the Honolulu Ocean Safety Department. Joining the finest ocean safety professionals in the world, these recruits will be assigned across Oahu’s shores as first responders and guardians of residents and visitors alike. The graduates include Jesse Arias, Brisco Beaton, Malaika…

  • Free Christmas Concert Featuring HGEA Members in Royal Hawaiian Band

    HGEA members in the City and County of Honolulu’s Royal Hawaiian Band will lead a lineup of acclaimed musicians and artists in the free Kalikimaka Ho’omau concert heralding the start of the Christmas season. The two-hour holiday concert will be held at the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28. Seats…

  • Unit 15’s Chelsea Kahalepauole-Bizik and Kapua Chang Among the “8 Women Who Save Lives”

    When it comes to saving lives, lifeguards Chelsea Kahalepauole-Bizik and Kapua Chang are pros. As pioneering women in ocean safety their stories are highlighted in Hawaii Business Magazine’s “8 Women Who Save Lives.” Kahalepauole-Bizik, water safety officer III, started her lifeguard career at age 18 at a hotel pool. She honed her skills, like spotting distressed swimmers…

  • Banned Books Week: How Unit 13 Librarians are Fighting for the Freedom to Read

    This week, libraries across the U.S. are observing Banned Books Week. Led by states like Texas, Tennessee, and Florida, book bans continue to riseā€”limiting access to vital educational resources and silencing diverse voices, especially within marginalized communities. That’s why librarians like Unit 13 members Lani Kawahara of Lihue Public Library and Jenny Silbiger of the…

  • From Tragedy to Triumph: Reed Sunahara Leading Hilo Volleyball to Victory

    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…

  • Stars of the Hawaii State Judiciary: HGEA Members Honored for Their Service

    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.Ā 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…

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