Hawaii County hosted its 53rd annual Employee Recognition awards ceremony for 2017-18 on Oct. 30, with 30 exemplary employees nominated for the categories of manager, supervisor and employee of the year.
For Manager of the Year, nominees were:
• Neil Azevedo, Highway Division chief, Department of Public Works
• Gabriella Cabanas, human resources manager II, Department of Human Resources
• Jeffrey Darrow, planning program manager, Planning Department
• Mason Souza, recreation administrator, Department of Parks and Recreation
• Kazuo Todd, battalion chief, Hawaii Fire Department
For Supervisor of the Year, the nominees were:
• Mary Aken, tax maps and records supervisor II, Planning Department
• Mark Disher, deputy prosecuting attorney, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney
• Nori Ishii, accountant IV, Department of Parks and Recreation
• Leanne Kapahu, fire radio dispatcher III, Hawaii Fire Department
• William O’Neil Jr., water service district supervisor II, Department of Water Supply
• Randell Riley, automotive equipment superintendent, Department of Public Works
• Allan Watanabe, police lieutenant, Hawaii Police Department
For Employee of the Year, the nominees were:
• Sandra Bogaars, buyer-purchasing clerk, Department of Water Supply
• Nicole Charon, administrative assistant, Department of Research and Development
• Esther Domian, accountant II, Department of Finance
• Janice Higa, human resources technician I, Department of Human Resources
• Stacie Iwasaki, human resources Technician II, Department of Human Resources
• Lindsey Iyo, recreation director IV, Department of Parks and Recreation
• Kauanoe Jackson, deputy prosecuting attorney, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney
• Amber Kepoo, clerical services assistant, Office of Management
• Ronald Kim, deputy corporation counsel, Office of the Corporation Counsel
• Linh Lee, land use plans checker III, Planning Department
• Lono Lindsey, fire equipment operator, Hawaii Fire Department
• Kaleb Meno, senior account clerk, Department of Parks and Recreation
• Donald Nithan, information systems analyst IV, Department of Information Technology
• Barett Otani, information and education specialist, Department of Public Works
• Gene Quiamas, environmental compliance specialist, Department of Environmental Management
• Roberto Segobia, police officer II, Hawaii Police Department
• Doriann Sugihara, clerk III, Hawaii Fire Department
• Bryan Tina, police sergeant, Hawaii Police Department
Mason Souza was named Manager of the Year, Leanne Kapahu took the Supervisor of the Year award and Employee of the Year was accorded to Roberto Segobia.