Hawaii County hosted its 54th annual Employee Recognition awards ceremony for 2018-19 on Nov. 14, with 36 exemplary employees nominated for the categories of manager, supervisor and employee of the year.
For Manager of the Year, the nominees were:
• Michael Kaha, Solid Waste Operations deputy division chief, Department of Environmental Management.
• Douglas Le, administrative services officer, Planning Department.
• Jason Mattos Sr., park maintenance manager, Department of Parks and Recreation.
• Julie Rawlins, equal opportunity officer/ADA coordinator, Department of Human Resources.
For Supervisor of the Year, the nominees were:
• Carol Akau, financial systems analyst, Department of Finance.
• Antoinette Aki, legal clerk, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.
• Deanne Bugado, planner, Planning Department.
• Chris Correia, sergeant, Hawaii Police Department.
• Iris Higa, program director, Department of Parks and Recreation.
• Brenda Isa, accountant, Department of Water Supply.
• Steven Kalilikane Sr., solid waste supervisor, Department of Environmental Management.
• Marcia Matsui, administrative services assistant, Department of Liquor Control.
• Sherry Ann Moyer, council services assistant, Office of the County Clerk.
• Christina Raine, administrative services assistant, Office of Aging.
For Employee of the Year, the nominees were:
• Nyssa Aoki, clerk, Department of Liquor Control.
• Tracie-Lee Camero, land use plans checker, Planning Department.
• Iwaloa Chilson, senior account clerk, Department of Finance.
• Eric Davis, electronics technician, Department of Water Supply.
• William Farr III, information systems analyst, Office of Aging.
• Alejandra Flores-Morikami, recreation specialist, Department of Parks and Recreation.
• Juliana Holzman Escareno, derelict/abandoned vehicle coordinator, Department of Environmental Management.
• Oscar Jaramillo, park caretaker, Department of Parks and Recreation.
• Wyatt Kaili-Leong, officer, Hawaii Police Department.
• Pierce Kise, automotive mechanic, Mass Transit Agency.
• Michael Lam, fire/EMS specialist, Hawaii Fire Department.
• Tracy Mayer, fire/EMS specialist, Hawaii Fire Department.
• Benjamin McMillan, information systems analyst, Department of Information Technology.
• Desiree Mende, senior account clerk, Department of Parks and Recreation.
• Glenn Sako, economic development specialist, Department of Research and Development.
• Royce Shiroma, housing and community development specialist, Office of Housing and Community Development.
• Jonnette Soares Padilla, clerical services assistant, Office of Management.
• Robert Stewart, officer, Hawaii Police Department.
• Darren Tagawa, accountant, Office of the County Clerk.
• Joyce Unoki, accountant, Office of the Corporation Counsel.
• Elik Vodovoz, officer, Hawaii Police Department
• Kelden Waltjen, deputy prosecuting attorney, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.
Jason Mattos Sr. of Parks and Recreation was named Manager of the Year, Iris Higa of Parks and Recreation took the Supervisor of the Year award and Employee of the Year was awarded to Kelden Waltjen of the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.
