Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 4, 1 April 2012 — ʻŌʻŌ Awards to honor pioneers in health, veterans affairs [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ʻŌʻŌ Awards to honor pioneers in health, veterans affairs

By Garett Kamemoto Two Native Hawaiian pioneers are being honored by the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce with prestigious 'Ō'Ō Awards, the organization's highest honor presented to Native Hawaiians who have made significant contributions to improve their eommunities. Claire Ku'uleilani Hughes, Ph.D., and Brig. Gen. Irwin Kalauonona Cockett Jr. will be honored at the chamber's annual 'Ō'Ō Awards dinner at the Hihon Hawaiian Village on April 19. The dinner is the organization's primary fundraiser and proceeds will support its college-scholarship, businessmentoring and student-internship programs. Native Hawaiian Chamber of

Commerce president Dirk Soma said Hughes and Cockett "show how successful Native Hawaiians ean be in the business arena." "As we build a nation, we're going to need an eeonomie engine," he said. "People like these who are tremendous role models ean help set that course for the future." Cockett is a retired Army and National Guard brigadier general who was honored for his heroic acts during the Korean and Vietnam wars. He served as the director of the Hawai'i State Office of Veterans Services. Under his leadership, the Paeihe American Foundation strengthened its position as a leader in culture and place-based education. He has been honored with the David Malo Award. Hughes became the first Native Hawaiian registered dietitian in

1959 and was the chief of the Nutrition Branch of the state Department of Heahh. She is recognized for drawing attention to the benefits of returning to a more traditional Hawaiian diet and for her advocacy for heahh programs on behalf of the Native Hawaiian community. Last year, she was named one of the Living Treasures of Hawai'i by the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai'i. The 'Ō'ō Awards dinner takes plaee at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 19 at the Hihon Hawaiian Village, with a silent auction featuring unique items fromNative Hawaiian craftsmen, artists and businesses followed by a Hawaiian-themed dinner at 7. Reservations may be made by contacting Dana Hauanio at 2012OoRSVP@gmail.com or (808) 956-2498. ■

Claire Ku'uleilani Hughes, Ph.D., and Brig. Gen. Irwin Kalauonona Cockeft Jr. will be honored at the chamber's annual 'Ō'Ō Awards dinner at the Hilton Hawaiian Village on April 19 .-ClaireHughesphoto:JohnDeMello;lrwinCockettk courtesy photo