Salutes

Advertiser Staff

The Hawai'i Democrats' O'ahu Women's Caucus recently honored nine women educators from all levels of public and private education. They are:

• Shannon Ajifu, Board of Education member and school administrator.

• Doris Ching, University of Hawai'i vice president of student affairs.

• Karen Ginoza, president of the Hawai'i State Teachers Association and Department of Education veteran.

• Joan Lewis, civics teacher and HSTA vice president.

• Marilyn Moniz-Kahoohanohano, University of Hawai'i associate athletic director.

• Karen Muronaka, retired president of HSTA.

• Joyce Tsunoda, University of Hawai'i senior vice president and chancellor for community colleges.

• Sue Wesselkamper, president of Chaminade University of Honolulu.

• Jackie Young, first woman vice speaker of the Hawai'i House of Representatives.

The Astronomical Society of the Pacific recently announced three new members of its board of directors. They are Karen Meech, David Levy and Leif Robinson.

Meech is a planetary astronomer with University of Hawai'i-Manoa's Institute for Astronomy. Her research interests include the study of distant comets and their relationship to the early solar system and bioastronomy, the potential for life in space.

Levy is author and editor of 29 books on astronomy as well as science editor of Parade magazine.

Robinson recently retired from the editorial staff of "Sky and Telescope" magazine. Twenty of his 40 years there were spent as editor-in-chief.

The Alzheimer's Association, Aloha Chapter, has awarded its Kako'o Awards for Distinguished and Compassionate Service for 2001 to the following para-professional caregivers:

• Helen Agustin of Maunalani Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

•Verna Ishinaga of Franciscan Adult Day Center.

• Lorie Ann Morton, SECOH Senior Center.

• Ruby Stephens, Hale Ho Aloha.

The caregivers who receive this award are often the unsung heroes who interact daily not only with the person struggling with Alzheimer's, but also with the families and co-workers who are coping with the challenges of this disease.

Servco Pacific Inc. has recognized five employees for outstanding volunteer activities. They are:

• Regina Sugui, 2001 Outstanding Volunteer, acting president of Hawai'i's Homeless Women & Children Crisis Intervention agency.

• Ken Alagan, a volunteer with Ready To Learn, which provides new school supplies to disadvantaged children.

• Julian "Kaipo" Pereza, who volunteers with Kane'ohe Seventh-day Adventist Church's Community Action Network Food Pantry and cooks and serves meals for the homeless.

• Dexter Kakazu, a volunteer with the Optimist Club; and Luana Kaio, a volunteer with the Ko'olau Bobby Sox, who both help to collect donations for children whose families cannot afford to contribute monetarily to their participation.

In addition to money given to their individual organizations, winning employees receive gift certificates to local restaurants.

Marqueze Lutz of Pearl Harbor was selected as the local Youth Ambassador of the Hawai'i Office of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. He participated in Light the Night festivities recently. Light the Night is the society's nationwide walk to commemorate lives touched by cancer. Participants carry balloons along a two- to three-mile community.

Tom Franson of Honolulu was among nearly 400 runners who participated in the 12th annual Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge. The DFMC team ran in the 105th Boston Marathon this year and raised a record $2.85 million for cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Franson and his team members raised a minimum $1,500 to run on the DFMC team.

Dr. Gordon H. Sasaki has been recognized by The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and by The Aesthetic Society Education and Research Foundation for his outstanding contributions in education, commitment to excellence and for professional development in aesthetic surgery. Sasaki has been honored with the Jerome R. Klingbeil Award for Teaching Excellence.

He attended Punahou School and Iolani High School and is a Clinical Associate Professor at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, Calif. He has a private practice in Pasadena.