The two winners of the inaugural ʻAiea and Pearl City Community Heroes Award were announced today by the grassroots organization Kanu Hawaiʻi and the Office of Senator Bennette E. Misalucha of Senate District 16. The joint announcement was made in conjunction with Volunteer Week Hawaiʻi - a weeklong celebration that coincides with National Volunteer Week which occurs every year by Presidential Proclamation since 1974.
The winners are Claire Tamamoto of ʻAiea and Elizabeth Vann of Pearl City. Tamemoto has been a community volunteer leader in ʻAiea for more than 20 years. She currently serves as president for several community organizations including ʻAiea Community Association and ʻAiea Pony Baseball League. She has been instrumental in leading efforts to have affordable kupuna housing to be built on land where the former ʻAiea Sugar Mill was located. Governor David Ige once referred to her as “ʻAiea Bulldog’” for her tenacious volunteer efforts to preserve the character and historical roots of ʻAiea.
Vann has been a resident of Pearl City for nearly 50 years. She is committed and dedicated to not only helping Pearl City High School raise funds for its sports programs including uniforms, but also for her compassionate volunteer work at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery. Continuously plagued by crime, theft, and desecration, the grounds of Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery are maintained solely by community volunteers like Maka. She empathizes and helps grieving families who have loved ones interred at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery. She regularly coordinates the Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery cleanup project including bagging, trashing of more than 200 bags of debris from Sunset Memorial to the Waipahu City Bulk Depot and donating lunch bentos for her team of volunteers.
Tamamoto and Vann will both be recognized in a virtual awards ceremony on Saturday, April 24, 2021. Each will be presented with $500, which will be donated in their name to a non-profit, charitable organization of their choice.
Kanu Hawaii also received entries from other nominees, praised for their lifelong passion for community service: Dexter Aoki, Jeoffrey Cudiamat, Johnelle Chon, Kelsey Poaha, Ken Suenaga, Mark Englar, and the Pearl City Mana Loa Nimitz Lions Club.
Kanu Hawaii administered the selection process and chose the panel of esteemed judges to delve into the entry nomination forms. The panel included founding member of Kanu Hawaii James Koshiba, KHON-TV’s Kamaka Pili, and Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner Malia Gibson, who all volunteered their time to read the entries. Judging was based on a set of criteria including the effectiveness, scope, and amount of time dedicated to their volunteer efforts.
“There were many worthy nominees that the judges reviewed, making the decision a difficult one, and I congratulate both winners whole-heartedly,” said Senator Bennette Misalucha (District 16 - Pearl City, Momilani, Pearlridge, ‘Aiea, Royal Summit, ‘Aiea Heights, Newtown, Waimalu, Hālawa and Pearl Harbor). “Both women were chosen as unsung heroines and demonstrated their dedication and commitment to the betterment of their community.”
Plans are underway to plan the 2022 ʻAiea and Pearl City Community Heroes Award after the success of this year’s inaugural project.
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