February 2016

Maj Kaialii “Kai” Kahele received the Headquarters Pacific Air Forces Guard Officer of the Year Award.  On his Twitter site #kaikahele, Kai said, "he was honored & humbled to receive the HQ Pacific Air Forces Guard Officer of the year award...

Rudolph "Rudy" Quezon Luat, 84, of Pearl City, a retired Air Force Master Sergeant, passed away at home on February 2, 2016. Rudy was born in Honolulu on July 16, 1931. He graduated from Farrington High School, then went on...

This photograph shows Lt Col Valentine Siefermann presenting Lt Stephen Oka his controller certification at the 150th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (150 ACWS) luau.  The photograph is dated 1965. Siefermann became the first Commander of the Hawaii Air National Guard in 1953. In 1973,...

The following is part of an email Retiree News received from Gordon Kim, a former member of the 201st Combat Communications Group. I work as an Army Civilian at Fort Belvoir as a Cyber Exercise Planner (4 years+), Gina is...

This photograph was posted on February 16, asking if anyone knew what coastline Vern Nakasone emailed: “Looks like Pepeekeo on the Big Isle. Only the east side of the Big Isle has trees along the coastline as in the upper...

Alan Bergeson has passed away. He was 48 years old. The cause had not been determined. The Chief retired on January 18, 2013 after a long Hawai‘i Air National Guard career.  He worked with the Drug Interdiction Program for many years. ...

Hawaii Air National Guard photo Lt. Col. Ryan Endo, Lt. Col. James Faumina, Lt. Col. Jamie Jicha and Lt. Col. Stuart Thompson from the 154th Medical Group pose together during their joint promotion and pinning ceremony, January 10, 2016, Joint...

Herbert Takao “Taka” Ota, 86, of Kaneohe, a retired certified welder for Industrial Welding Inc. and a Hawaii National Guard veteran, passed away on January 28, 2016 in Honolulu. He was born in Waipouli, Kauai. He is survived by wife...

Steve Lum shared this photograph with Retiree News, but had no information about the date and location. Aaron Pollick offered these comments, “the aviation photograph looks like Kauai or Big Island about the 80’s because of the helmet style.  I’m...

Gail Thongkham, 44, of Hauula, a farmer and an Army National Guard veteran, passed away on February 1, 2016. She was born in Laos. She is survived by husband Kesa; son Kenneth; stepson Mason; stepdaughter Summer; mother Thip Saysiry; brothers...