Salutes

Advertiser Staff

The U.S. Department of Commerce has awarded its highest award to Paul A. Jendrowski, science and operations officer at the Honolulu Forecast Office. Jendrowski was recognized for developing a flash-flood detection and diagnostic system that is being implemented nationally by the National Weather Service.

The new system will help forecasters give earlier warnings for site-specific locations of flooding and thus reduce deaths and economic losses caused by flooding. Flash flooding can occur in Hawai'i within 30 minutes of the onset of heavy rainfall because of the Islands' steep terrain.

The system is called AMBER, which stands for Areal Mean Basin Estimated Rainfall. It computes rainfall estimates from Doppler radar specifically for small stream areas.

Two Chevron Hawai'i truck drivers have placed in the U.S. Professional Truck Driver Championships in Milwaukee. They are John Akana of Hilo Terminal, who placed fifth in the Tank Truck class and Manny Ramalho of Honolulu Terminal, who was named champion in the four-axle class and scored 607 out of 800 points to place second overall.

Both have had an accident free year and placed first in the state competition: Akana in the five-axle tank trailer class and Ramalho in the four-axle flatbed class.

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada has awarded a Certificate of Achievement to the City & County of Honolulu for Excellence in Financial Reporting. The award represents the highest form of recognition in government accounting and financial reporting.

An impartial panel determined that the city's comprehensive annual financial report met the organization's highest standards, including demonstrating a constructive "spirit of full disclosure" to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate the public and others to read the annual financial report.

The association is a nonprofit professional association serving 14,000 government finance professionals. It has offices in Chicago and Washington, D.C.

The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association has selected Dennis Chai as its 2001 SGMA HEROES Awards winner for his dedication to youth basketball. A Kane'ohe resident and professor of physical-health education at the University of Hawai'i, Chai is a volunteer junior varsity basketball coach at a local high school.

Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon has presented awards to Hawai'i State Judiciary employees who have made outstanding contributions to the state court system.

The Meritorious Service Award was presented to Haruo Higuchi, Susan Kitsu and Florita Querubin and group recipients, Legal Research and Adoption Records and Team Restorative Justice.

Spirit of the Judiciary Awards went to Renee Catalan, Jean Kikumoto, Sondra Onaka, Marilyn Siaw and Jill Sakamoto.

Certificates of Commendation were presented to Gaye Flores, Glori-Jean Kamealoha and Robert Soto and group recipients, Adult Probation Division and Fiscal and Support Services Office.