UH Hilo faculty and staff honored at 2026 Awards and Recognition Celebration

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In a celebratory event hosted by Chancellor Bonnie Irwin, honorees include award recipients for extraordinary contributions to campus, last year’s retirees, and those celebrating milestone years of service.

Group photo of awardees and admin. All in lei. Indoor setting.
From left, Chancellor Bonnie Irwin; award recipients Associate Professor of Nursing Luzviminda Miguel, Associate Professor of Hawaiian Studies and Hawaiian Language Kekoa Harman, Instructor of Nursing Adriane Lewandowski, Assistant Professor of Geology Lis Gallant, and Information Technology Specialist Kathy Hughes; and UH Regent Mike Miyahara. (Photo: Carson West/University Relations/UH Hilo)

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin hosted the annual Awards and Recognition Celebration on May 13, 2026. The event honors faculty and staff with awards given out annually for extraordinary contributions to the campus, those who retired during the previous year, and those recognized for milestone years of service.

“It was a joyous afternoon, and it was wonderful to mahalo the many employees who were in attendance, for their years of service and their accomplishments,” says Chancellor Irwin. “It has truly been a great year for UH Hilo, and that greatness comes from all the contributions of our campus ʻohana.”

UH System Awards

  • Board of Regents Excellence in Teaching Award: Kekoa Harman, Associate Professor of Hawaiian Studies and Hawaiian Language. This award is a tribute to faculty members who exhibit an extraordinary level of subject mastery and scholarship, teaching effectiveness and creativity, and personal values that benefit students.
  • Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching: Elisabeth Gallant, Assistant Professor of Geology. A memorial to the late Frances Davis, this award recognizes recipients for their dedication to teaching, for their demonstrated excellence as teachers and for their attention to undergraduate students.

UH Hilo Awards

  • Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching: Adriane Lewandowski, Instructor of Nursing. This award honors excellence in teaching by a lecturer or instructor, and recognizes recipients for their teaching effectiveness, personal values beneficial to students, effectiveness as an academic advisor and subject mastery and creativity.
  • Koichi and Taniyo Taniguchi Award for Excellence and Innovation: Luzviminda Miguel, Associate Professor of Nursing. This award recognizes creativity in teaching, scholarship and artistic production at UH Hilo.

UH Hilo Biennial Awards

  • Excellence in Building and Grounds Maintenance Award: Hollind Paiva, Janitor. Presented to a building or ground maintenance employee who has made significant contributions to UH Hilo.
  • Excellence in Service: Kathleen Hughes, Information Technology Specialist. This award is presented to a UH Hilo tenure-track or full-time BOR-classified professional staff member who provides service related professional skills to UH Hilo and their community.
  • Pūlama ʻIke Award: Kekoa Harman. This award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to developing and promoting the mission and spirit of UH Hilo.
Hollind in plenty lei smiles and reaches out to shake hand.
Hollind Paiva (right) receives the Excellence in Building and Grounds Maintenance Award. (Photo: Carson West/University Relations/UH Hilo)

RECOGNITIONS

Retirees

(as of December 31, 2025)

  • John Coney, Educational Specialist, Physics and Astronomy, College of Natural and Health Sciences, 35 years.
  • Walter Dudoit, Public Information Specialist, ʻImiloa Astronomy Center, 32 years.
  • Kyle Fujiyoshi, Operations Coordinator, Housing, 33 years.
  • Lois Fujiyoshi, Budget Manager, Business Management, 39 years.
  • Lori Hu, Private Secretary II, Office of the Chancellor, 21 years.
  • Christine Iha, Administrative Assistant III, Dean’s Office, Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, 31 years.
  • Ken Ikeda, Environmental Health and Safety Specialist, Environmental Health & Safety, 35 years.
  • Susan Jarvi, Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, 25 years.
  • Sharon Kessinger, Office Assistant III, Student Health and Wellness Services, 27 years.
  • Jene Michaud, Professor, Geology and Geophysics, College of Natural and Health Sciences, 30 years.
  • Kallen Miyataki, UH Head Baseball Coach, Intercollegiate Athletics, 37 years.
  • Cindy Mohandie, Library Assistant IV, Mookini Library, 17 years.
  • Susan Oldfather, Instructor, English, College of Arts and Sciences, 24 years.
  • Sherrie Padilla, Director of Financial Aid, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor, Division of Student Affairs, 10 years.
  • Amy Saxton, Librarian IV, Reference, Instruction and Special Services, Mookini Library, 19 years.
  • Susan Shirachi, Director of Disability Services, Student Counseling, 25 years.
  • Glenn Kalena Silva, Professor, Mokuna Papahana Kālaiʻike, Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language, 41 years.
  • Charles Simmons, Associate Professor, Chemistry, College of Natural and Health Sciences, 26 years.
  • Ghee Tan, Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, 18 years.
  • Jerry Watanabe, Registered Architect, Facilities Planning, 8 years.

Years of Service

(Total Years of Service in UH System)

10 Years

  • Jeanette Ayers-Kawakami, Professor, School of Nursing, College of Natural and Health Sciences.
  • Blaine Bautista, Information Technology Specialist, Computing Center.
  • Jason Cadaoas, Building and Grounds Custodian III, ʻImiloa Astronomy Center.
  • Krystal Carles, Administrative Assistant II, CNHS Dean’s Office, College of Natural and Health Sciences.
  • Rusty Demotta, Tractor Operator, Auxiliary Services.
  • Patrick Guillen, Director of Athletics.
  • Iris Hirayama, Fiscal Specialist, Educational Assistance Center.
  • Tobias Irish, Associate Professor, Education, College of Arts and Sciences.
  • Clayton Kenui, Janitor II, Auxiliary Services.
  • Michelle Kim, Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice, Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy.
  • Oscar Larican Jr., Administrative Support Specialist, Security.
  • Justina Mattos, Associate Professor, Music, College of Arts and Sciences.
  • Marisa Miyashiro, Program Specialist, College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resource Management.
  • Stan Nakanishi, Associate Professor, Biology, College of Natural and Health Sciences.
  • Neva Supe-Roque, Instructional Designer for Lamakū, Center for Community Engagement.
  • Jonathan Tehero, Janitor II, Auxiliary Services.
  • Diane Wissing, Athletics Compliance Specialist, Athletics.
  • Michael Yaplag, Building and Grounds Custodian III, ʻImiloa Astronomy Center.

20 Years

  • Maria Andaya, Student Services Specialist, Educational Assistance Center.
  • Kimberly Kainoa Ariola-Sukisaki, Director, UH Hilo Advising Center.
  • Lari-Anne Au, Librarian IV, Library Services, Mookini Library.
  • Kathryn Besio, Professor, Geography, College of Arts and Sciences.
  • Kristi Doran, Information Technology Support Technician, Computing Center.
  • Kristy Fujii, Fiscal Specialist, Academic Affairs.
  • Patrick Hart, Professor, Biology, College of Natural and Health Sciences.
  • Steven Herman, Associate Professor, Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences.
  • Randy Hirokawa, Professor, Communication, College of Arts and Sciences.
  • Kerri Inglis, Professor, History, College of Arts and Sciences.
  • Rayna Morel, Associate Professor, Communication, College of Arts and Sciences.
  • Grant Okazaki, Fiscal Specialist, Business Office.
  • Kyle Tsuda, Painter I, Auxiliary Services.
  • Jason Turner, Associate Professor, Marine Science, College of Natural and Health Sciences.
  • Judy Yoshida, Office Assistant IV, Auxiliary Services.
  • Errol Yudko, Associate Professor, Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences.

30 Years

  • Sunny Walker, Web Developer, University Relations.

RCUH Years of Service

(Research Corporation of the University of Hawaiʻi)

10 Years

  • Kekaianiani Irwin, Curriculum Project Design and Development Manager, Hale Kuamoʻo, Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language.
  • Ann Johnson, LOHE Field and Lab Technician, Biology, College of Natural and Health Sciences.
  • Wayne Wong, SBDC Center Director, Hawaiʻi Business Development Center.
  • Marybeth Young, MKSS Administrative Manager, Maunakea Support Services.
  • Aaron Zimmer, Road and General Maintenance Worker & Truck Driver, Maunakea Support Services.

15 Years

  • Scott Waiau, ʻImiloa Senior Guest Services Associate, ʻImiloa Astronomy Center.

20 Years

  • Dawn Namahoe Sidman, Research Administrative / Fiscal Specialist, Research Office.

40 Years

  • Tracy Miyashiro, Heavy Equipment & General Maintenance Technician, Maunakea Support Services.
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