Launa ‘ole Awards

The Hawaii Air National Guard’s Launa ‘ole recognizes the outstanding performance of Hawaii Air National Guard (HIANG) Airmen. Launa ‘ole means “beyond comparison” or “without peer.”

2023

March 03, 2024

Launa ‘ole recognizes the outstanding performance of HIANG Airmen in 2023

	Full Time	Traditional
Airmen of the Year	SRA MITCHELL WAIKIKI of 201 IS	A1C ROBIN DIANA of 154 SFS
Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	TSGT CHRISTOPHER BRUN of 292 CBCS	TSGT KALEOLANI SOUZA of 298 SPTS
Senior Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	MSGT KELLY KRUEGER of 169 ADS	MSGT NATHANIEL CHRISTY of 199 WF
Company Grade Officer of Year	CAPT TINA KANATUS of 154 FSS	2ND LT BENJAMIN SUISO of 154 SFS
Field Grade Officer of Year	MAJ MICHAEL HANK of 154 OSS	MAJ ALLISON DELOS SANTOS of 154 SFS

First Sergeant of the Year	MSGT BRANDON OZAKI of 154 CES
Service Team Award	HIANG ROYAL GUARD
Winning Team Award	298 SPTS KOKE’E AF STATION TEAM
Outstanding Unit Award	203 ARS
Kaleo Nui (Spirit) Award	154 MDG
Honor Guard of the Year	TSGT REID SUZUKI of 154 CPTF

2022

March 05, 2023

Launa ‘ole recognizes the outstanding performance of HIANG Airmen in 2022

	Full Time	Traditional
Airmen of the Year	SRA ALEC AUZ of 154 OSS	A1C TAVAN LORENZO of 154 MXS
Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	TSGT LAWRENCE HWANG of 298 SS	SSGT MARCMASUNO of 298 SS
Senior Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	SMSGT BRANDON SARCEDA of 201 AOG	MSGT KEN HAYASHI of 169 ADS
Company Grade Officer of Year	CAPT ROBERT OTSUBO of 154 AMXS	1ST LT SHELDON LEE of 169 ADS
Field Grade Officer of Year	MAJ DANIEL DUNCAN of 199 FS	MAJ BRITTAIN CALDWELL

First Sergeant of the Year	MSGT KATELYN DAVIS of 154 MSG
Service Team Award	AIRFIELD MANAGEMENT TEAM
Winning Team Award	COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM 204 AS
Outstanding Unit Award	154 OSS
Kaleo Nui (Spirit) Award	154 OG
Honor Guard of the Year	MAJ NORMAN KALANI GUILLERMO of 169 ADS

2021

Launa ‘ole recognizes the outstanding performance of HIANG Airmen in 2021

	Full Time	Traditional
Airmen of the Year	SRA KEILAH KANAHELE of 169 ADS	SRA KASEY LAFITAGA-STEVENS of 201 COS
Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	TSGT KIMO NAKATA of 154 AMXS	TSGT ERIN MELLO of 201 IS
Senior Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	SMSGT MYSTY PARK of 201 COS	MSGT KATELYN DAVIS of 201 AMOS
Company Grade Officer of Year	MAJ CHARLES MORRIS of 199 FS	CAPT DAVID CHRISTOPHERSON of 204 AS
Field Grade Officer of Year	MAJ BRANDON CHANG of 204 AS	MAJ MYLES KIMURA of 203 ARS

First Sergeant of the Year	MSGT MOSES RANDLES of 169 ADS
Service Team Award	154 SFS
Winning Team Award	154 MSG / 291CBCS / 292CBCS
Outstanding Unit Award	199 FS
Kaleo Nui (Spirit) Award	298 ADG
Honor Guard of the Year	SMSGT RUSSELL MESINAS of 154 AMXS

2020

February 21, 2021

Launa ‘ole recognizes the outstanding performance of HIANG Airmen in 2020

	Full Time	Traditional
Airmen of the Year	SRA AARON MORIYAMA of 154 OSS	SRA DANIELLE JORDAN DEMELLO of 154 MDG DET 1
Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	TSGT SHANE WILLIAMS of 203 ARS	TSGT MICHAEL HIGUCHI of 298 SS
Senior Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	MSGT DEREK WHEELER of 203 ARS	MSGT HARLASUN KANG of 204 AS
Company Grade Officer of Year	CAPT SHAUN KAWAKAMI of 154 FSS	CAPT BRUCE YAMAMOTO of 154 MDG DET 1
Field Grade Officer of Year	MAJ BRENT HOWARD of 201 COS	MAJ MICHAEL NAMOCOT of 204 AS

First Sergeant of the Year	MSGT KEHAULANI LOBETOS of 154 MDG
Service Team Award	HIANG HONOR GUARD TEAM
Winning Team Award	HAWAIIAN RAPTOR SCHEDULING TEAM
Outstanding Unit Award	204 AS
Kaleo Nui (Spirit) Award	298 ADG

2019

February 09, 2020

Launa ‘ole recognizes the outstanding performance of HIANG Airmen in 2019

	Full Time	Traditional
Airmen of the Year	SRA NATHAN BARBOSA of 154 CES	SRA NICHOLAS BAKOS of 292 CBCS
Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	TSGT SHARON PASION of HQ HIANG	SSGT JASON CAMARILLO of 169 ADS
Senior Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	SMSGT ANGEL UMIAMAKA of 298 SS	MSGT GARRETT NISHIDA of 292 CBCS
Company Grade Officer of Year	CAPT EVAN KUROSU of 204 AS	CAPT JACK MUNECHIKA
Field Grade Officer of Year	MAJ BRITTON KOMINE of 204 AS	MAJ KOANI LAU of 203 ARS

First Sergeant of the Year	SMSGT DANIEL HIYAMA of 154 WG
Service Team Award	154 FSS
Winning Team Award	HQ HIANG RECRUITING TEAM
Outstanding Unit Award	199 FS
Kaleo Nui (Spirit) Award	154 MDG

2018

February 10, 2019

Launa ‘ole recognizes the outstanding performance of HIANG Airmen in 2018

	Full Time	Traditional
Airmen of the Year	SRA REID SUZUKI of 154 CF	A1C NOEL TADEO of 169 ADS
Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	TSGT MICHAEL GUZMAN of 201 COS	SSGT TARA MACION of 201 IS
Senior Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	SMSGT ALFRED BRUNN of 154 CS	MSGT JAKE ROSS of 154 CS
Company Grade Officer of Year	1ST LT SY CULLEN of 169 ADS	CAPT JOSEPH KINA of 204 AS
Field Grade Officer of Year	MAJ GLEN HAYASE of 201 AOG	LT COL BLYTHEJEANNE ITOMAN of 204 AS

First Sergeant of the Year	MSGT JOHN KIM of 201 AOG
Service Team Award	154 MOF
Winning Team Award	297 ATCS
Outstanding Unit Award	154 CS
Kaleo Nui (Spirit) Award	154 MDG

Award recipients of the 2018 Launa’ole Awards are receive a round of applause Feb. 10, 2019, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The celebration is held annually to recognize their exceptional achievements of Airmen and units over the past year. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman John Linzmeier)

The Hawaii Air National Guard (HIANG) celebrated its 41st annual awards ceremony at the Officer’s club on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Feb. 10, 2019. The HIANG’s Launa’ole Award ceremony is held annually and recognizes airmen for their outstanding performance and professionalism throughout the year. Traditional and fulltime airmen competed in individual and team categories. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Allison Bruce-Maldonado)

2017

February 11, 2018

Launa ‘ole recognizes the outstanding performance of HIANG Airmen in 2017

	Full Time	Traditional
Airmen of the Year	A1C JAKE NAKAMURA of 169ADS	SRA ROBERT BACHSTEIN of 154 AMXS
Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	TSGT RIZAL DACQUIG of 154 SFS	SSGT RANDY FERRIMAN of 201 IS
Senior Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	MSGT JEFFREY YOKONO of 154 MOF	MSGT BRANDON SARCEDA of 204AS
Company Grade Officer of Year	CAPT JOSHUA ISHIKI of 154WG	CAPT COLLIN ADACHI of 292 CCS
Field Grade Officer of Year	MAJ MARIKO BOONE of 154 CS	MAJ JONATHAN HOUGH of 199 FS

First Sergeant of the Year	MSGT DANIEL HIYAMA
Service Team Award	154 FSS JUNIOR ENLISTED COUNCIL
Winning Team Award	201 COMBAT OPERATIONS SQ COMMUNICATIONS TEAM
Outstanding Unit Award	203 ARS

2016

February 12, 2017

Launa ‘ole recognizes the outstanding performance of HIANG Airmen in 2016

	Full Time	Traditional
Airmen of the Year	SRA CYNTHIA RUBIO-SEGOVIA of 154 OSS	SSGT RANDY FERRIMAN of 201 IS
Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	TSGT KEITH KAMAKELE-CORDEIRO of 169 ADS	TSGT MELIKA SOUZA of 201 AOG
Senior Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	MSGT GREG RAMOS of 154 LRS	MSGT LEE UYEDA of 154 LRS
Company Grade Officer of Year	CAPT NICHOLAS DANIELSON of 199 FS	1ST LT ROBIN CASABAR of 154 MXS
Field Grade Officer of Year	MAJ KEVIN HORTON of 199 FS

Airmen of the Year SRA CYNTHIA RUBIO-SEGOVIA of 154 OSS

Airmen of the Year SSGT RANDY FERRIMAN of 201 IS

Non Commissioned Officer of the Year TSGT MELIKA SOUZA of 201 AOG

*Senior* *Non Commissioned Officer of the Year* MSGT GREG RAMOS of 154 LRS

*Senior* *Non Commissioned Officer of the Year* MSGT LEE UYEDA of 154 LRS

*Company Grade Officer of Year* 1ST LT ROBIN CASABAR of 154 MXS

Winning Team Award	HQ 154 MDG DET 1
Outstanding Unit Award	199 FS
Honor Guard of the Year	CAPT NORMAN KALANI GUILLERMO of 169 ADS

2015

April 03, 2016

Launa ‘ole recognizes the outstanding performance of HIANG Airmen in 2015

	Full Time	Traditional
Airmen of the Year	SRA ERIC BROWN of 291 CBCS	SRA MARCO MENDEZ of 154 FSS
Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	TSGT SHARON PASION of HQ HIANG	TSGT VISCONTI CHRISTMAN of 109 AOG
Senior Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	SMSGT JERMAINE SPEED of 201 IS
Company Grade Officer of Year	1ST LT GORDON KAI of 169 ADS	CAPT TIMOTHY HIURA of 154 MDG
Field Grade Officer of Year	MAJ IVAN AGUIRRE of 154 CES	MAJ KAIALII KAHELE of 109 AOG

Airmen of the Year SRA ERIC BROWN of 291 CBCS

Airmen of the Year SRA MARCO MENDEZ of 154 FSS

Non Commissioned Officer of the Year TSGT SHARON PASION of HQ HIANG

Non Commissioned Officer of the Year TSGT VISCONTI CHRISTMAN of 109 AOG

Company Grade Officer of Year 1ST LT GORDON KAI of 169 ADS

Company Grade Officer of Year CAPT TIMOTHY HIURA of 154 MDG

Field Grade Officer of Year MAJ IVAN AGUIRRE of 154 CES

Field Grade Officer of Year MAJ KAIALII KAHELE of 109 AOG

First Sergeant of the Year	MSGT LANE MARTIN of 297 ATCS
Service Team Award	154 WG SAPR Team
Winning Team Award	C-17 AMXS Production Team
Outstanding Unit Award	169 ADS
Honor Guard of the Year	MSGT LAWRENCE LEE of 201 COS

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Lane Martin, 297th Air Traffic Control Squadron. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Robert Cabuco)

Winning Team Award C-17 AMXS Production Team

The Hawaii Air National Guard recognize outstanding Airmen during the 2016 Launa ‘Ole Awards ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, April 4, 2016. This year marks the 15th year anniversary of the Launa ‘Ole Awards. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Robert Cabuco)

2014

March 08, 2015

Launa ‘ole recognizes the outstanding performance of HIANG Airmen in 2014

	Full Time	Traditional
Airmen of the Year	SRA MARIA HAKAU of 154 FSS	SRA KENNETH HAYASHI of 201 IS
Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	TSGT BLESMAY BELMONTE of 199 FS	TSGT AMY GERARD of 154 MDG
Senior Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	MSGT RICHARD PACHECO of 292 CBCS	MSGT CHRISTOPHER HOX of 201 AMOS
Company Grade Officer of Year	CAPT KRISTIN WOLFFORD of 150 AOS	CAPT KIMBERLY GUSHIKUMA of 201 COS
Field Grade Officer of Year	MAJ FRANCIS SHEN	LT COL WILLIAM TAKESHIMA of 199 FS

Senior Airman Mariah Akau, 154th Force Support Squadron, wins the Airman of the Year Award in the Full Time category. Akau was a key contributor to the reenlistment and extension program by processing over 400 applications. In her spare time, she helped to raise over $1,400 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the American Cancer Society.

Senior Airman Ken Hayashi, 201st Intelligence Squadron, wins the Airman of the Year Award for the Traditional category. Airman Hayashi aided the Joint Special Operations Task Force, Combat Ops Team by flying 92 combat missions totaling 452 hours. He also organized support for the Lanakila Meals on Wheels Program, delivering meals to elderly on Thanksgiving Day.

Tech. Sgt. Amy Gerard, 154th Medical Group, wins the Traditional Non Commissioned Officer of the Year Award. Gerard helped organize and streamline the Optometry section, enabling an efficient process in servicing over 2500 members of the HIANG and also tracks and coordinates all the education and training for J1 personnel within PACOM’s Special Ops Command.

Master Sgt. Richard Pacheco, 291st Combat Communications Squadron, wins the Full-time Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Award. Pacheco managed C2 network services in support of Operation Puna Lava Flow ensuring 24/7 security presence in East-Hawaii, adapting to civil emergency converting exercise mission to real-world in three days vice 90 day norm resulting in TF TOC operational. In his spare time, he upgraded the Hawaii Youth Challenge IT’s infrastructure installing router upgrades.

Capt. Kristin Wolfford, 150th Air Operations Squadron, wins the Full Time Company Grade Officer of the Year Award.

Capt. Kimberly Gushikuma, 150th Air Operations Squadron, wins the Traditional Company Grade Officer of the Year Award.

Lt. Col. William Takashima, 199th Fighter Squadron, wins the Outstanding Field Grade Officer Award.

First Sergeant of the Year	MSGT JEFFREY ROMUALDO of 154 MDG
Outstanding Unit Award	204 AS
Honor Guard of the Year	MSGT DARRELL BACTAD of 154 LRS

Master Sgt. Jeffery Romualdo, 154th Medical Group, wins the First Sergeant of the Year Award. Romualdo managed complicated issues revolving around the health and welfare of the enlisted and professional medical members of the 154th Wing and 109th Air Operations Group. Romualdo deployed to Alaska in support of exercise Vigilant Guard, where he served as the chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosives, enhanced response force package first sergeant.

Senior Airman Mariah Akau with the 154th FSS is recognized as the Airman of the Year at this year’s Launa ‘ole awards. The Hawaii Air National Guard’s Launa ‘ole awards recognize the top individual and team performers for the past year. The 2014 winners were announced during a March 8, 2015 ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Orlando Corpuz)

2013

Launa ‘ole recognizes the outstanding performance of HIANG Airmen in 2013

	Full Time	Traditional
Airmen of the Year	SRA EDWARD SIAOSI of 154 OSS	SRA KEN HAYASHI of 201 IS
Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	TSGT MELISSA YORK of 109 AOG	TSGT SHANE GLOOR of 154 SFS
Senior Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	MSGT FRED GEBAUER of 109 AOG	MSGT NICHOLAS MARZAN of 154 FSS
Company Grade Officer of Year	1ST LT JONATHAN LAURION of 201 IS	CAPT KIMBERLY VAZQUEZ of 201 COS
Field Grade Officer of Year	MAJ MATTHEW MASUYAMA of 154 FSS	MAJ FRANCIS SHEN of 109 AOG

First Sergeant of the Year	MSGT JOHN KIM of 109 AOG
Service Team Award	AIRMAN COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY EXCELLENCE TEAM
Winning Team Award	TFI WG PLANNING CELL
Outstanding Unit Award	203 ARS
Honor Guard of the Year	TSGT MARK CRABBE of 204 AS

2012

Launa ‘ole recognizes the outstanding performance of HIANG Airmen in 2012

	Full Time	Traditional
Airmen of the Year	SRA TARA BROAD of 154 CES	A1C KYLE BRISLAN 109 AOG
Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	TSGT JASON LABRA of 109 AOG	SSGT CHRISTOPHER ULU of 154 SFS
Senior Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	MSGT SANDRA SERRANO of 201 IS	MSGT CLIFFORD RAMSON of 154 SFS
Company Grade Officer of Year	CAPT LARIN WONG of 109 AOG	1ST LT JONATHAN LAURION of 201 IS
Field Grade Officer of Year	MAJ CYRUS LUNG of 154 CES	MAJ JAMES LOWE of HQ WG

First Sergeant of the Year	MSGT ANTHONY COLON of 154 MSG
Service Team Award	154 CF
Outstanding Unit Award	154 LRS
Honor Guard of the Year	MSGT DARRELL BACTAD of 154 LRS

2011

Launa ‘ole recognizes the outstanding performance of HIANG Airmen in 2011

	Full Time	Traditional
Airmen of the Year	SRA UYEN TRAN of 154 LRS	A1C MOSE MATILA of 154 SFS
Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	TSGT YVONNE REYES of 154 AMXS	SSGT MELISSA SOUZA of 201 IS
Senior Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	MSGT RYAN SCHREINER of 154 SFS	MSGT JOHN KIM of 109 AOG
Company Grade Officer of Year
Field Grade Officer of Year	MAJ TROY CULLEN of 154 WG	LT COL KYLE MITSUMORI of 109 AOG

First Sergeant of the Year	SMSGT KRISTEN STANLEY of 154 MXS
Service Team Award	154 SFS
Winning Team Award	LOW OBSERVABLE STRUCTURAL
Outstanding Unit Award	109 AOG
Honor Guard of the Year	TSGT MARCUS DELLASALA of 201 IS

2010

Launa ‘ole recognizes the outstanding performance of HIANG Airmen in 2010

	Full Time	Traditional
Airmen of the Year	SRA EVAN KUROSU of 154 AMXS	SRA MARYROCHELLE SMALL of 154 LRS
Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	SSGT FRED OKURA 154 LRS	SSGT JEREMY POWELL of 201 IS
Senior Non Commissioned Officer of the Year	MSGT RICARDO NAMOCA of 154 SFS	MSGT DAWN TAFAOA 154 SFS
Company Grade Officer of Year	1ST LT RICHARD CLINE of 154 LRS	CAPT MATTHEW MASUYAMA of 154 FSS
Field Grade Officer of Year	LT COL KYLE YANAGISAWA of 150 AOS	MAJ ERIK MARS of 203 ARS

First Sergeant of the Year	MSGT MARCUS DELLASALA of 201 IS
Service Team Award	MEDICAL INNOVATIVE READINESS TEAM
Outstanding Unit Award	203 ARS
Honor Guard of the Year	TSGT RUSSELL MESINAS of 154 AMXS

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