Hawai‘i County honors hard work, dedication of employees during 56th annual Employee Recognition Awards Ceremony

Hawai‘i County is incredibly proud to have a hard working and dedicated ‘ohana of employees throughout every one of its departments, agencies and offices.

It honored the commitment of the people who keep the county running last week during the 56th annual Hawai‘i County Employee Recognition Awards Ceremony, during which it named the 2024 Employee of the Year, Manager of the Year and Supervisor of the Year.

“Our employees work tirelessly to meet the needs of our community, and we are deeply grateful to each one of them,” said Hawai‘i County Mayor Mitch Roth. “A special congratulations goes out to all of our winners, nominees and their families for their unwavering commitment to excellence and their aloha for our island home.”

The 2024 Employee of the Year is Alex Kuklenko, a building maintenance worker with the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Lindsey Iyo, recreation director at the Department of Parks and Recreation, was named the 2024 Manager of the Year.

Claiming the 2024 Supervisor of the Year title was Craig Kawaguchi, recycling coordinator for the Department of Environmental Management.

A total of 29 employees were nominated for all three awards.

The other nominees for 2024 Manager of the Year were:

• Tara Benevides, victim witness director, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.
• Melanie Demello, civil engineer, Department of Public Works.
• Kurt Inaba, civil engineer, Department of Water Supply.
• Joel Rathje, planning program manager, Planning Department.
• Chad Toyomura, battalion chief, Hawaiʻi Fire Department.

The other nominees for 2024 Supervisor of the Year were:

• Melissa Dacayanan-Salvador, secretary to boards and commissions, Planning Department.
• Jaye Dempsey, parks district superintendent, Department of Parks and Recreation.
• Kelly Ann Fujii, accountant, Mass Transit Agency.
• Ivan Higashi, fire equipment operator, Hawaiʻi Fire Department.
• Torey Keltner, traffic services program manager, Hawaiʻi Police Department.
• Kaiulani Matsumoto, private secretary, Department of Water Supply.
• Diana Mellon-Lacey, deputy corporation council, section chief, Office of the Corporation Council.
• L’oreal Simmons, administrative services assistant, Animal Control and Protection Agency.
• Andrew Son, deputy prosecuting attorney, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.

The other nominees for 2024 Employee of the Year were:

• Chang Aiona V, equipment operator, Department of Environmental Management.
• Wendy Baez, Office of the County Clerk.
• Alice Bratton, aging and disability specialist, Office of Aging.
• Karen Cacho, program support technician, Department of Public Works.
• Sarah Freeman, food access coordinator, Department of Research and Development.
• Wesley Ignacio, waterworks helper, Department of Water Supply.
• Stacie Okuda, administrative services assistant, Office of the Corporation Council.
• Patti Pinto, recovery and redevelopment assistant, Planning Department.
• Haylee Roush, criminalist, Hawaiʻi Police Department.
• Kody Sakihara, legal clerk, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.
• Jonnette Soares-Padilla, clerical services assistant, Office of Management.
• Kevin Yamauchi, firefighter, Hawaiʻi Fire Department.

Be sure to congratulate all of the winners and nominees the next time you see them and thank every county employee for serving the Big Island we all call home.