Hawaii Air National Guard Holds “Launa ‘Ole” Awards Ceremony

Posted on Apr 8, 2014 in In The News, News Release

Honolulu, Hawaii – The Hawaii Air National Guard (HIANG) today held its annual “Launa Ole” awards ceremony for outstanding achievement over the past year.  Launa ‘Ole means “beyond comparison” or “without peer.”  Airman nominated for the Hawaii Air National Guard “Launa’Ole” award are judged in the following categories, (1) Outstanding Airman of the Year (Traditional & Full-time) (2) Outstanding Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year (Traditional & Full-time).  (3) Outstanding Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year (Traditional & Full-time) (4) Outstanding Company Grade Officer of the Year (Traditional & Full-time) (5) Outstanding Field Grade Officer of the Year (Traditional & Full-time).

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The outstanding performers are (full-time winners are named first, followed respectively, by the traditional winner in each category):

 

OUTSTANDING AIRMAN OF THE YEAR

SrA Edward Siaosi, 154th Operations Support Squadron

SrA Ken Hayashi, 201st Intelligence Squadron

 

OUTSTANDING NON-COMMISIONED OFFICER OF THE YEAR

TSgt Melissa York, 109th Air Operations Group

TSgt Shane Gloor, 154th Security Forces Squadron

 

OUTSTANDING SENIOR NON-COMMISIONED OFFICER OF THE YEAR

MSgt Fred Gebauer, 109th Air Operations Group

MSgt Nicholas Marzan, 154th Security Forces Squadron

 

OUTSTANDING FIRST SERGEANT OF THE YEAR

MSgt John Kim, 109th Air Operations Group

 

OUTSTANDING COMPANY GRADE OFFICER OF THE YEAR

Capt Nicole Vazquez, 109th Air Operations Group

1Lt Jonathan Laurion, 201st Intelligence Squadron

 

 

OUTSTANDING FIELD GRADE OFFICER OF THE YEAR

Maj Matthew Masuyama, 154th Force Support Squadron

Maj Francis Shen, 109th Air Operations Group

 

The Hawaii Air National Guard has nearly 2,500 airmen, most of whom are ‘traditional’ meaning they have civilian careers in addition to their status as Guardsmen.  A traditional Guardsman will usually perform drills one weekend per month and 15 days of active duty training per year.  The HIANG has two major units: the 154th Wing and the 109th Air Operations Group.   The 154th Wing flies and maintains F-22, KC-135 and C-17 aircraft in partnership with the active duty Air Force’s 15th Wing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.