Story by USARPAC Public Affairs
Photos by By Sgt. 1st Class Jason Shepherd
U.S. Army, Pacific, Public Affairs Office

FORT SHAFTER, HI--Almost 800 Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets from 26 Hawaii high schools were honored during the 26th Annual Governor’s JROTC Review and Awards Ceremony here on historic Palm Circle May 1.

Top cadets from high schools on Hawaii, Kauai, Maui and Oahu were presented the JROTC Kina’ole (flawlessness) awards by Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle and congratulated by the ceremony host, Lt. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon, Commanding General, U.S. Army, Pacific.

"I would like to applaud the cadets on the field, not for what you’ve done today, but what you will accomplish in the future," Mixon said. "As cadets, you are participating in an organization that is greater than yourself and you are learning valuable leadership skills."

"As the governor of Hawaii, I have many privileges," Lingle added. "But this is among the ones I cherish the most. Anytime that I’m here in the state and it’s time for the annual review of the JROTC, I want to be here on the field with all of you. This truly is the future of our State and our Nation."

Cadet Commander Kayle McNulty, a senior from Campbell High School, said that receiving the Kina’ole Award is a great achievement. "I’m so happy to be honored," he said. "To be selected over all my peers by the instructors is a great accomplishment."

 McNulty said he will use the skills he learned during JROTC when he attends the New Mexico Military Academy next year.

Some cadets, like Cadet Lt. Col. Dionare Navasca, a senior from Farrington High School, were overwhelmed after being selected for the Kina’ole Award. "I never expected to win this award," she said. "Now the pressure is on to maintain this accomplishment and justify to my instructors that they were right when they picked me as the best cadet."

"We are very proud," said Dioniso Navasca, Dionare’s father. "It shows that every time we had to force her out of bed in the morning to go to school really is paying off."

The ceremony also provided the schools’ JROTC units a chance to demonstrate their parade skills during a "pass in review" in honor of their distinguished guests. While marching to the music of the 25th Infantry Division’s Tropic Lightning Band, they were judged for best marching unit awards. Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Zettlemoyer, Command Sergeant Major, USARPAC, awarded Leilehua High School with the first place trophy. Punahou and Kahuku finished second and third respectively.

"This is the highlight event for all the JROTC programs in Hawaii," said retired Army Lt. Col. Antoinette Correia, JROTC program manager for the Hawaii Department of Education. "It’s a wonderful opportunity to publicly applaud our outstanding cadets and the hard work they’ve accomplished during the school year."

The 2008 Outstanding Cadet awardees are:

Cadet Maj. Samantha J. Burns Aiea High School
Cadet Lt. Col. Tawnie Belongie Baldwin High School
Cadet Cmdr. Kayle R. McNulty Campbell High School
Cadet 1st Lt. Alton J. Hudgins Castle High School
Cadet Lt Col. Dionare D. Navasca Farrington High School
Cadet Lt. Col. Hailialoha D. Jensen Hilo High School
Cadet Lt. Col. Sharmaine Palama Kahuku High School
Cadet Lt. Col. Roland Pendleton Kailua High School
Cadet Command Sgt. Maj.Traci Oya Kaimuki High School
Cadet Lt. Col. Carmen Yung Kaiser High School
Cadet Lt. Cdr. Justin Parker Kalaheo High School
Cadet Lt. Col. Jonathan Ganir Kapaa High School
Cadet Lt. Col. Chuchen Wang Kealakehe High School
Cadet Lt. Col. Collin Carlos Konawaena High School
Cadet Col. Ryan Benito Leilehua High School
Cadet Lt. Col. David Dinh McKinley High School
Cadet Col. Stephen James Rodriguez Moanalua High School
Cadet Lt. Col. Sarah Iokepa Nanakuli High School
Cadet Col. Hana Lee Punahou High School
Cadet Ensign Caydee Ensey Radford High School
Cadet Capt. Perry A. Hung Roosevelt High School
Cadet Maj. Shay K. Yonamine St Louis High School
Cadet Lt. Jonathan Carvalho Waiakea High School
Cadet Cpt. Leeana Raymond Waianae High School
Cadet Lt. Col. Mark A. Guirao Waimea High School
Cadet Maj. Ralph Rodriguez Waipahu High School