O'ahu briefs

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HONOLULU

Custodian is top employee

Raymond Belaski, Jr., a custodian at Manana Elementary School, has been named the Department of Education's employee of the year.

Belaski, a 10-year state employee, received $200 and is the DOE's nominee for the governor's award for distinguished state service.

The DOE has also honored five other employees with a sustained superior performance award: Marian Delapenia, a custodian at King Kaumuali'i Elementary; Iris Ha, administrative services assistant at Kahala Elementary; Rosalinda Ranne, Hawai'i district parent/community networking center assistant; Rebecca Rosenberg, Windward District resource teacher for special education; and Karen Tsutomi, secretary in the central district's student support services office.

Certificates of achievement went to Allison Colby, social worker at Farrington High; Iris Fujimoto, food services manager at Anuenue School; and William Von Arnswaldt, athletic director at Kaiser High.

Board chairman wins re-election

At its monthly meeting Tuesday, the Ala Moana/Ka-ka'ako Neighborhood Board re-elected John Breinich chairman for the 2002-2003 term.

Joyce Kurtz was elected vice chairwoman, Dyane Sih secretary and Betty Carter treasurer.

EAST HONOLULU

Wai'alae board leaders chosen

Richard Turbin was re-elected chairman of the Wai'alae-Kahala Neighborhood Board at its last meeting.

Lester Fukuda was elected vice-chairman, Lucinda Pyles secretary and Mark Storfer treasurer.

WINDWARD

Canoe builder recognized

As 333 graduates received bachelor's degrees at Brigham Young University-Hawai'i's spring commencement ceremonies Saturday at the Cannon Activities Center, a canoe builder was also singled out for honor.

Sione Tui'one Pulotu, who carved the 57-foot double-hulled sailing canoe Iosepa that was launched last year, and who also has assisted with construction projects at the Polynesian Cultural Center and many other buildings on the BYU-Hawai'i campus, was awarded the Presidential Citation from school president Eric B. Shumway.

"The Hawaiian sailing canoe Iosepa is imbued with grace, elegance and a wonderful spirit which embraces spiritual significance and the humility of its carvers," Shumway said.

Of the graduates, 42 are from O'ahu, four from Kaua'i, four from Maui and six from the Big Island.

Jennifer Kajiyama, a political-science major who grew up in Lai'e and graduated from Kahuku High School, was class valedictorian. During her speech, she spoke of how peaceful cooperation among nations was possible, but peace must first come from within.