A Change of Command ceremony for the Hawaii Army National Guard was held at the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Readiness Center in Kalaeloa, Hawaii on October 6, 2019. In front of fellow Soldiers, family members and guests, Brigadier General Kenneth S. Hara relinquished command to Brigadier General Moses Kaoiwi Jr.
View the Change of Command photographs by Staff Sgt. Thomas Foster
BG Hara emailed the following comments to Retiree News:
It was such an honor for me and Moses to have retirees attend the event. There may have been more, but those that I did see were MG (R) Bob Lee, MG (R) Butch Correa, BG (R) Bruce Oliveira, COL (R) Alika Watts, LTC (R) Jason Matsumura , CW5 (R) Owen Takenaka, CSM (R) Wendell Hatami – who flew in from Hilo – and CSM (R) Vern Nakasone.
Governor David Ige administered the oath of office to Colonel Roy J. Macaraeg, who was promoted to brigadier general, today in a ceremony held at Washington Place. Maj. Gen. Arthur “Joe” Logan provided remarks. Macaraeg’s family and friends and current and retired military co-workers from the Guard and active duty attended the ceremony.
BG Macaraeg is believed to be the first Filipino Soldier to attain the rank of General Officer in the documented history of the Hawaiʻi Army National Guard (HIARNG).
Macaraeg enlisted in the HIARNG in 1990, and in 1993, he was the HIARNG Soldier of the Year. He commissioned as a Field Artillery Officer in 1996 upon graduation from the Hawaii Military Academy, Officer Candidate School (Distinguished Honor Graduate). During his 29-years of service, Macaraeg has held various positions, including posts at the Pentagon and deployments to Iraq, Kuwait and Kosovo. He has earned numerous awards and decorations.
Macaraeg is a graduate of Wallace Rider Farrington High School and holds an Associate Degree from Honolulu Community College, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of Hawaiʻi – Mānoa, a Master of Business Administration from Touro University, and a Master of Science in National Strategy from the prestigious National War College.
Macaraeg is married to his high school sweetheart, Bene and they have a beautiful 7-year-old daughter, Chloe Anne.
For some retirees who are on Medicare, the workforce ends up beckoning them back — and one result can be employer-sponsored health insurance.
While that coverage could mean you (and your spouse) are able to drop parts of Medicare and pick them back up again down the road without paying penalties, the move might come with snags.
“The process is straightforward, but there are a few consequences people should be aware of,” said Medicare expert Patricia Barry, author of “Medicare for Dummies.”
Hawaii Army National Guard Soldiers, alongside distinguished guest, family and friends, gathered to witness the change of command ceremony for the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Kapolei, Hawaii October 5, 2019. Brigadier General Roy J. Macaraeg transfers command to Colonel Michael A. Tougher III. The event was signified by the passing of the colors from one command to another symbolizing the transfer of responsibility for the accomplishments of the mission and the welfare of the brigade Soldiers.
View the Change of Command photographs by Sgt. Tinisha Mellein
Congratulations to Roy J. Macaraeg on his promotion to brigadier general. He is awaiting his pinning ceremony.
Off the Hawaii Air National Guard Facebook page
Congratulations to all past and present ‘Pueos’ from the 204th Airlift Squadron, who gathered in celebration of their 25th anniversary today!
Over the past quarter-century, it has taken more than just an excellent team to provide war-fighting and humanitarian-relief capabilities on a global scale. These airlift Airmen are have navigated their way to success through the guidance and mentorship from generations of past leaders and the unconditional support from their family members. We are honored to have such a dedicated and capable squadron on our team!
On October 8, 1934, Inter-Island Airways made the first official US airmail flight in Hawai‘i from John Rodgers Airport. (hawaii-gov) Shortly after, on April 17, 1935, Pan American landed a survey flight crew to look at air mail service from California to Hawai‘i and on to Midway, Wake and Guam. On November 22, 1935, Postmaster General James A Farley and Mr Juan Trippe ordered Pilot Musick, commanding Pan Am’s China Clipper, to take off on the first airmail flight, by way of Hawai‘i and the other islands, on to its Manila destination.
Duncan B.K. Chang, 85, of Pearl City, died in Pearl City on September 17, 2019. He was born in China.
Visitation: 10:30am; Services: 11:30am on Monday, October 14, 2019 at Borthwick Mortuary Maunakea Chapel, Honolulu.
Retiree News extends heartfelt sympathy to his family and friends.
Thanks to Stephen Lum for emailing Retiree News about this obituary and providing the comments below.
As a fulltime public affairs staffer, Chief Warrant Officer Chang wrote the Hawaii Guardsman magazine column “Duncan Speaks.” HIANG Maj Eddie Anderson was the State Public Information Officer and MG Robert L. Stevenson was the Adjutant General.
He was air defense Nike Hercules technician with the 298th Air Defense Group in the 1960s.
With the new shorter obituaries in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser like this one, we depend on additional confirmation from other Guardmembers before we post.. Please let Retiree News when a Hawaii Guardmember passes away. Email information to retireenews@gmail.com.
The Kūkā‘ilimoku is the official e-newsletter of the 154th Wing, Hawaii Air National Guard. This 24-page issue includes the following stories:
* 154th Wing Change of Command
* Sentry Aloha 19-2
* Raptors on Maui
* FARP with Special Ops
Review the entire October issue here: October 2019 of the Kūkā‘ilimoku
The 154th Wing Public Affairs Office staff continues to produce a world-class publication. The staff includes:
Capt Justin Leong, Public Affairs Officer
MSgt Misti Bicoy
TSgt Alison Bruce-Maldonado
TSgt Tabitha Hurst
SSgt James Ro
SrA Orlando Corpuz
SrA Robert Kabuki
SrA John Linzmeier
154th Wing Public Affairs Office
360 Mamala Bay Drive
JBPHH, Hawaii 96853
Phone: (808) 789-0419
Email: 154wg.pa@us.af.mil
Papa John’s Pizza offers Military Monday – 50% off all Regular Menu Price Pizzas. Please use one of the following promo codes and portion of the proceeds will go back to MWR.
AIRFORCE | ARMY | COASTGUARD |MARINES | NAVY
Offer available Online Only – https://www.papajohns.com
Current offer expires on October 15, 2019
Check out their site – sometimes there are cheaper online offers.
Prescription drug costs for Tricare users are set to rise January 1, some by as much as 42%.
Effective January 1, 2020, a 90-day supply of generic drugs received through the program’s Express Scripts mail-order pharmacy will increase from $7 to $10. Co-pays on brand-name drugs received through the mail will go from $24 to $29; the price rises from $53 to $60 for non-formulary drugs.
Thanks to Gordon Lau for another submittal, and his continuing contributions to Retiree News.
Ronald Almeida Diaz, age 82, of Honolulu passed away on August 27, 2019 at St. Francis Hospice. He was born in Honolulu and was a graduate of McKinley High School, Class of 1956. He was a retired State Welfare Fraud Investigator, former Honolulu Police Department officer and detective and a veteran of the National Guard of Hawaii.
Ronald is survived by his wife Eleanor; children Ronald (Kapiolani) Jr, Suzanne (Karl) Downey, Jon Richard (Debra), Fred and Kapiolani Dias and five grandchildren.
Visitation 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at Nuuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary – East chapel, service 6 p.m.
Also, visitation 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at St. Elizabeth catholic church in Aiea, eulogy 10:30 a.m., mass 11 a.m., entombment 12:45 p.m. at Nuuanu Memorial Park.
There has never been a better time to eat in Honolulu. “In the last few years, Honolulu’s dining scene has been changing rapidly,” says Honolulu-based writer and editor Martha Cheng. “A unique food landscape has emerged as chefs are combining a mindfulness towards Hawai‘i’s history and culture with modern global influences.
And perhaps because of its location, smack in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Honolulu is simultaneously fiercely protective, where diners are as loyal as ever to decades-old institutions, but also open and vulnerable to the visitors and immigrants shaping new culinary destinations.”
From the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website
Each person experiences grief differently when a loved one passes, but survivors should not feel confused about what to do next. The Survivors Quick Start Guide provides Veteran family members and caregivers a reference guide for what to do next.
Part of VA’s Welcome Kit, the Survivors quick start guide begins with a step by step checklist for preparing, applying for, and following up on the available benefits. Each step spells out in plain language what to do, what forms to fill out, and who to call if you need help.
The guide also helps families identify VA Survivor benefits and services they may be eligible for.
Social Security is one of the most common topics among my clients approaching their retirement years. With more than 2,700 separate rules governing Social Security, it’s no surprise that many people nearing retirement are often confused and overwhelmed by the decision of when to take the leap and claim their benefits.
Retiree News 