The County of Hawai'i held its 54th Annual Employee Recognition awards ceremony for 2018-2019 on Thursday, November 14, 2019, 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 I, Planning Department
• Jason Mattos, Sr., Park Maintenance Manager, Department of Parks & 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 IV, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney
• Deanne Bugado, Planner V, Planning Department
• Chris Correia, Police Sergeant, Police Department
• Iris Higa, Program Director IV, Department of Parks & Recreation
• Brenda Isa, Accountant III, Department of Water Supply
• Steven Kalilikane, Sr., Solid Waste Supervisor, Department of Environmental Management
• Marcia Matsui, Administrative Services Assistant I, Department of Liquor Control
• Sherry Ann Moyer, Council Services Assistant III, Office of the County Clerk
• Christina Raine, Administrative Services Assistant I, Office of Aging

For Employee of the Year, the nominees were:
• Nyssa Aoki, Clerk III, Department of Liquor Control
• Tracie-Lee Camero, Land Use Plans Checker III, Planning Department
• Iwaloa Chilson, Senior Account Clerk, Department of Finance
• Eric Davis, Electronics Technician, Department of Water Supply
• William Farr, III, Information Systems Analyst IV, Office of Aging
• Alejandra Flores-Morikami, Recreation Specialist I, Department of Parks & Recreation
• Juliana Holzman Escareno, Derelict/Abandoned Vehicle Coordinator, Department of Environmental Management
• Oscar Jaramillo, Park Caretaker III, Department of Parks & Recreation
• Wyatt Kaili-Leong, Police Officer II, Police Department
• Pierce Kise, Automotive Mechanic I, Mass Transit Agency
• Michael Lam, Fire/EMS Specialist III, Fire Department
• Tracy Mayer, Fire/EMS Specialist II, Fire Department
• Benjamin McMillan, Information Systems Analyst III, Department of Information Technology
• Desiree Mende, Senior Account Clerk, Department of Parks & Recreation
• Glenn Sako, Economic Development Specialist III, Department of Research & Development
• Royce Shiroma, Housing & Community Development Specialist V, Office of Housing & Community Development
• Jonnette Soares Padilla, Clerical Services Assistant, Office of Management
• Robert Stewart, Police Officer III, Police Department
• Darren Tagawa, Accountant I, Office of the County Clerk
• Joyce Unoki, Accountant I, Office of the Corporation Counsel
• Elik Vodovoz, Police Officer II, Police Department
• Kelden Waltjen, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney

Jason Mattos, Sr. of the Department of Parks & Recreation was named Manager of the Year, Iris Higa of the Department of Parks & Recreation took the Supervisor of the Year award, and Employee of the Year was accorded to Kelden Waltjen of the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.  Congratulations to everyone.