City names employees of the year
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser City Hall Writer
An award-winning undercover police detective and the city's equal opportunity officer were honored yesterday as the city Employee of the Year and Manager of the Year in a ceremony at Honolulu Hale.
Jan TenBruggencate • The Honolulu Advertiser
HPD Detective Earl Koanui is a 17-year veteran who distinguished himself during an undercover gambling investigation involving organized crime that put him at risk for nearly three years. Officials said he was crucial to a federal grand jury indicting 32 people in May 2000 for gambling and money-laundering offenses.
Denise Tsukayama, an equal opportunity officer for the Department of Human Resources, was named manager of the year.
The investigation led to seizure of nearly $500,000 in cash and forfeiture of more than $2.6 million worth of property in Honolulu and Hilo. Koanui is a single father of three daughters.
The manager of the year, Denise Tsukayama, works for the city Department of Human Resources as equal opportunity officer. She has won praise for her handling of those issues as well as those dealing with access for the disabled.
Tsukayama also was credited for leading a comprehensive training program for city managers and for reducing the city's liability through her approach to equal-opportunity programs and disabled access issues.
A separate Valor Award was presented to Franklin Baker, a city lifeguard who rescued a surfer stranded in 10 to 15 foot surf last November at Sunset Beach.
The employee awards are given annually to outstanding city workers. The other three finalists for manager were: Larry Leopoldi of Facility Maintenance, police assistant chief Boisse Correa and Melvin Lee of Planning and Permitting.
Mayor Jeremy Harris presented the awards.
"Our employees and managers are the heart and soul of our government, and we depend on their talents and dedication in service the public," he said.
