From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website
Millions of people in the U.S. have latent tuberculosis (TB) infection. Without treatment, they are at risk for developing #TB disease. Learn about TB symptoms, risk factors, and treatment:
Wilson Ching, 78, of Makawao, passed away on March 18, 2021 in Wailuku. Born on October 8, 1942 in Kula, Maui.
Wilson retired from the 292nd Combat Communications Squadron in late 1990s, where he served in the maintenance branch. In civilian life, he retired from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Survived by his wife Betty Tamano Ching; sons, Lance and Daryl (Jennifer); sisters Irene ching, Gertrude Ceballos, Joycelin Chong, brother Elliot Ching.
Private services will be held at a later date.
Retiree News extends heartfelt sympathy to his family and friends.
From the HANG 25 – History of the Hawaii Air National Guard booklet:
The 154th Fighter Group competed with six other Air Guard F-102 units in the September 1962 Ricks Trophy Event at Tyndall AFB, Florida. The HANG 27 man team, captained by Lt Col George R. Duncan, traveled to and from “America” in an Oklahoma ANG C-97. They first went to Webb AFB, Texas and borrowed some Deuces from the USAF 331st Fighter Interceptor Squadron. The team “peaked” the birds and held a pre-competition to determine the two pilots to represent the HANG. Capt. Harold Nagai and 1st Lt Richie K. Kunichika were selected. Scoring during the Rick meet was based on firing live missiles at a drone and an evaluation of the entire team. The HANG team placed third with Lt Kunichika found the “third hottest ANG F-102 interceptor pilot in the Nation.”
In this photograph are:
Back row: Steve Vada, Lloyd Seki, George “GK” Meyer, Randall Lum, Nelson “Nellie” Lee, Nicholas “Nick” Teves, Mamoru “Mamo” Minami, Andy Berard, Hiroshi Go, Sancho “Sandy” Espina, Ignacio “Gabe” Gabriel
Middle Row: Abraham Hiapo, Jose “Rivah” Rivera, Joseph “Joe” Domingo, Everett Rawlins, David Rodrigues, Allen Mizumoto, George Padilla, Larry Higa, Wallace “Wally” Whang
Front row: Jack Blanchard (Senior AF Advisor), Harold Mattos, Frank Fukui, Richie “Kuni” Kunichika, Jarret “Deke” Carr, George R. Duncan
Harold “Big Daddy” Nagai is not in this photograph
Additional comments:
David Rodririgues: I remember that trip well. When we left Webb to fly to Tyndall, Maj. Duncan did not close his canopy completely. When he got airborne, he realized what was happening, He grabbed on to the canopy, kept the stick between his legs, made a landing, secured the canopy and took off again. The rest of the flight was uneventful.
What really sticks in my mind is right after we returned home, the Cuban embargo went into effect and we were all placed on a high readiness status.
Edward Richardson: Frank Fukui was one of our most steady of our interceptor pilots and a great guy. He got hired in the mid 1960’s ’s by Pan American and transferred to the Fresno Guard. Unfortunately he passed away of cancer a few years later. His older brother was Richard Fukui, our lead recruiter for many years.
Andy Berard was a shining star for the radar maintenance. Hughes built and maintained the MG-10 Radar System and they hired him away from us as they did with Lloyd Seki and others. We had some very talented people working for us.
The Air National Guard’s annual award for best unit airmanship is called the Earl T. Ricks Award. The award, named for the first Air National Guard officer to head the National Guard Bureau, recognizes outstanding airmanship by Air National Guard aircrew and personnel.
Harold Mattos began his career in the enlisted ranks, became a warrant officer, and later received e direct commission to captain. He became the commander of the 154th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. He retired early because of medical challenges.
Richie “Kuni” Kunichika rose the ranks with his last assignment being the Deputy Commander for Operations in the 154th Composite Group’s tri-deputy organization.
Allan Mizumoto was commissioned and rose through the ranks. He became the Deputy Commander for Maintenance. His last assignment was as the Commander, Hawaii Air National Guard.
David Rodrigues was commissioned and served in several comm-electronics positions in the 201st Combat Communications Group and Hq, Hawaii Air National Guard. His last assignment was as the Commander, Hawaii Air National Guard.
The non-commissioned officers in the photograph were those who were the leaders in our F-102 Delta Daggar and F-4 Phantom eras.
Special thanks to Randall Lum, Edward Richardson, David Rodrigues, and Alan Mizumoto for identification help.
The Kūkā‘ilimoku is the official e-newsletter of the 154th Wing, Hawaii Air National Guard. The first issue came in September 1957 and continues as an e-newsletter today.
Today we feature the April 1990 Kūkā‘ilimoku issue. This issue includes the following stories:
* Maj Sydney Keliipuleole become 154th Civil Engineering Squaeron commander
* Gen Colin Powell, Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visits the 154th Composite Group
* Daniel Stone, Jr. sworned in by his father Lt Col Daniel Stone, Sr.
* Promotions: including Ian D.K. Kailaina, Cesar Pudiquet, Alfredo Canopin, Linda Canon, Edward Oga
* CAMS News & Views: many familiar names
* Sports News
If you’re like most people, you probably started off 2021 with lofty goals and ambitious New Year’s resolutions that by now have long since been abandoned. Take heart. There’s one resolution that’s easy to keep because it’s typically a once-a-year commitment.
Like an annual physical, an annual financial review can keep your finances healthy. “We all go on this health checkup every year, but your wealth checkup could be even more important for your long-term well-being,” says Daniel Hill, a certified financial planner and president of Hill Wealth Strategies in Richmond, Va. A review is worth doing even if it seems like nothing has changed. (Financial planners usually recommend that you review your finances after major life events or whenever your goals need adjusting.) Best of all, once you get this job over with, you can generally forget about it for the next 12 months.
From the Frolic Hawaii website
Get out those stretchy pants—the first-ever Food-A-Go-Go Restaurant Week is coming April 5 to 12. Restaurants across Hawai‘i are featuring special dishes or prix fixe menus and donating auction items for two reasons: to support local eateries and raise money for agricultural education in our public schools.
The whole thing is being organized by the Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation, which introduces farming to elementary school kids and aquaponics to middle and high school students, who also get to visit local farms. The hope is to increase support for buying local produce, and maybe even inspire future farmers.
Restaurants participating in Food-A-Go-Go’s Restaurant Week will feature their dishes or course menus for dine-in or takeout (some are running these specials for two weeks until April 19). Diners who post a photo of their dish using #FoodagogoWeek on Instagram between April 5 and 19 have a chance to win a grand prize of 100,000 HawaiianMiles. For more info, visit the Food-A-Go-Go website.
That’s also where, starting Monday, you can also find out what restaurants are offering for the “Bid It to Win It for Ag Education” online silent auction, which runs from April 5 to 30. Proceeds from the auction will benefit HAF’s kindergarten through 12th grade agriculture education programs.
Here’s a list of restaurants serving special dishes for Food-A-Go-Go Restaurant Week:
It would be normal to want to spend a minimal amount of time planning for your own death.
Yet there’s a key aspect of creating an estate plan that experts say you shouldn’t gloss over. For instance, choosing who would carry out the wishes outlined in your will and make important decisions on your behalf if you are incapacitated at any point before you die.
“These designations are important and should be considered very carefully, no matter the size of the estate,” said Samantha Weyrauch Davis, an estate planning attorney and director with the law firm Hall Estill in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Off the Hawaii Medical Detachment Facebook page
Colonel Walter Ross, Commander of the HIARNG Medical Detachment, cordially invites you to attend a “VIRTUAL” Change of Command Ceremony at which Major Ryan Jason K. Ruiz will relinquish command of Headquarters, Medical Detachment to Major John P. Alamodin on Sunday, the eleventh of April, two thousand and twenty-one at three o’clock in the afternoon.
From the Wired Magazine website
Sometime soon, you might arrive at an airport or a stadium or a restaurant, open an app or flash a card, and be admitted to a place or experience that was denied you during the pandemic. You will have just deployed a vaccine passport, a certification of either vaccination status or immunity following a natural infection that confirms you no longer pose a risk to others.
From the Honolulu Magazine website
O‘ahu sure knows how to pack a lunch: Paper-thin salami, juicy roast beef, tasty tonkatsu, sumptuous smoked brisket, hefty lumps of crab, fresh fish and everything else that’s best between bread.
More than a dozen states are opening COVID-19 vaccinations to all adults this week, which means more Americans could soon be getting some form of a vaccination card — and wondering where they should keep it.
You see, the three-by-four-inch paper vaccination card designed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is too big for most wallets, let alone the standard credit card pockets sewn into wallets and purses. So questions about how to keep your vaccination card safe, and whether you should laminate it, have been popping up online.
Off the Hawaii National Guard Command Senior Enlisted Leader Facebook page
There will be a Change of Responsibility ceremony from CSM Bret Moore to CSM Tyrone Redding. This event will also include CSM Moore’s retirement ceremony.
The virtual ceremony will take place on Sunday, April 11, 2021, starting at 10 am.
From the Medical News Today website
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system. It affects a person’s movement and mental ability, with the symptoms getting worse over time.
Today, most people with Parkinson’s disease will live as long, or almost as long, as those without the disease. Medications and other treatments can help make the symptoms manageable and improve a person’s quality of life.
This photograph shows then-Lt Cols Suzanne and Courtney Vares-Lum. They were attending the 2009 Asia-Pacific Homeland Security Summit & Exposition.
The Hawaii State Department of Defense hosted the conference on November 9th and 10th, at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. In attendance were top government leaders, senior business executives, and security, technology and anti-terrorism experts.
The conference theme was Securing Population Centers and focused on present and future capabilities necessary to protect population centers.
Now a major general, Suzanne Vares-Lum serves as the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, United States Indo-Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii.
Courtney Vares-Lum retired several years ago.
Retiree News 