The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations recently issued the 2011 Annual Report. Section 371-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes requires the Department to submit a written report to the Governor at least annually.
This year's report cover has this photo from the 2011 Incentive and Service Award Ceremony of the nominated individuals for 2011 Employee of the Year and the administrators that nominated them. From right to left, Clyde Imada, DCD Acting Administrator; Linda Uesato, UI Administrator; En Young, OCS; Bill Hoshijo, HCRC Executive Director; Kendell Kuhn, HCRC; Jim Nicholson, HLRB Chair; George Smith, HIOSH-Hilo; Audrey Hidano, Deputy Director (in front); Julius Dacanay, HIOSH (in back); Marla Kalamau, HIOSH; Norman Ahu, ASO Business Manager; Richard Surrell, UI; Casey Cho, ASO (in back); Cindy Terao, DCD and 2011 DLIR Employee of the Year; Elaine Young, WDD Administrator (in back); Nora Ebata, HLRB; Joni Heatherly, WDD (in back); Alan Yamamoto, HIOSH; Mel Arai, WDD-Hilo; Jennifer Shishido, HIOSH Administrator; Karen Akamine, LIRAB; Dwight Takamine, Director; Roland Thom, LIRAB Chair. (Nominees not pictured: Lori Hamada, WSD-Hilo; and Adele Manera, WDD-Kauai).
It is always difficult to select individuals for these awards as so many dedicated people work in the DLIR and do their jobs with the grace, expertise, and creativity worthy of this reward. To have this special group of people on the cover reminds us to celebrate the achievements accomplished so we are re-energized to return to our daily routines of "Improving the Lives of Hawaii's Working Families". The 2011 Annual Report shows how we did that and what's in store for the future. Comments are always appreciated.
