Laughter and tears blessed the 2013 Aloha Spirit Awards

This community-supported competition was based on ballots that ran in For Kauai over the past few months. There were winners in 20 categories and a Las Vegas trip give-away awarded. A gracious crowd of hundreds gathered at the Kaua’i Veterans Center and Museum January 25 to celebrate what aloha means for Hawaiians and Kauaians. The night was enriched by the grace of Kaua’i kupuna and war Veterans; and the spunk of inspired teens and community leaders.

Kaua’i Made category winner, Loya Whitmer, of Angels Sand Crafts and Art, with Joseph Lee, honorable mention, Military Veteran category

Charlene Navarro and Debbie Lindsey, Educator category recipients

Family Owned Business category, Sharron and Laurie Weber of Tire Warehouse with Laura Cristobal Andersland of Calm, Inc.

Las Vegas drawing winner, Aurora Oligo with Cheryl Michioka, Barbara Bennett and Melinda Uohara

Sports Youth Advocate award to Pono Tokioka and Kevin Hanano

Youth Leadership award to Benjie Baclig

Doric Yaris, Kupuna Kane, honorable mention; with Renee Takahashi, Bricille Dawkins and Pat Nitta

Kaua’i High School Key Club, Youth Program winner

Joshua Nations of Kaua’i Athletic Club and Morris Wise, of Hula Babt Biscotti; Entrepeneur category

Green Category winners, Malama Kaua’i and KIUC, received by Keone Kealoha and Shelley Paik

Barbara Bennett

Agriculture recognition Jerry Ornellas and Melissa McFerrin

WINNERS AND HONORABLE MENTIONS OF THE ALOHA SPIRIT AWARDS

WINNERS

AGRICULTURE

KAUA`I FARM BUREAU, KAUA`I GROWN

ART & CULTURE

KAUA`I MUSEUM

BUSINESS LEADERSHIP

MARYNEL VALENZUELA

COMMUNITY SERVICE

KELVIN MONIZ

 EDUCATOR

DEBBIE LINDSEY

ENTREPRENEUR

JOSHUA NATIONS – KAC

FAMILY OWNED 

TIRE WAREHOUSE

GREEN 

MALAMA KAUAI

KAUA’I MADE

ANGELS SAND CRAFTS & ART

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

FRECKLES SMITH, II

LIVING TREASURE

MARY K. THRONAS

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

KAUA`I HOSPICE

KUPUNA, KANE

MAKA HERROD

KUPUNA, WAHINE

STELLA BURGESS

TRAVEL LIAISON

CHERYL MICHIOKA

YOUTH LEADERSHIP

BRYSON CAYABAN

YOUTH PROGRAM

KAUA`I H. S. KEY CLUB

SPORTS YOUTH ADVOCATE

KEVEN HANAO

MILITARY VETERAN

ED KAWAMURA SR.

ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE

PHILLIP KAMAKEA

HONORABLE RECOGNITION: 

AGRICULTURE

JERRY ONELLAS

ART & CULTURE

ARNOLD MEISTER

BUSINESS LEADERSHIP

TAD MIURA, JR.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

ROTARY CLUB OF KAPAA

EDUCATOR

CHARLENE NAVARRO

ENTREPRENEUR

MORRIS WISE – HULA BABY BISCOTTI

FAMILY OWNED

CALM, INC.

GREEN

KIUC

KAUAI MADE

JEANI’S GREEN MAX PRO

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

TOM SHIGEMOTO

LIVING TREASURE

TAD MIURA, SR.

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

HAWAIIAN COMMUNITY ASSETS

KUPUNA, KANE

DORIC YARIS

KUPUNA, WAHINE

KEALA SENKUS

TRAVEL LIAISON

JANICE ISHIHARA

YOUTH LEADERSHIP

BENJIE BACLIG

YOUTH PROGRAM

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS

SPORTS YOUTH ADVOCATE

PONO TOKIOKA

MILITARY VETERAN

JOSEPH LEE

ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE

MAKAIWA GUNN