From the Air Force Magazine website
After years of blocking the Air Force from retiring A-10 attack aircraft, the Senate Armed Services Committee will allow the service to proceed, but not with a new initiative to retire older F-22 Raptor air superiority jets. It also agreed to add seven more jets to USAF’s request for F-35 fighters, and overruled the service on its plan to trim the HH-60 Combat Search and Rescue Helicopter buy.
From the Federal Times website
When it comes to cost-of-living adjustments, not all government retirees are treated equal.
Anyone who is retired from federal service will eventually get COLAs, but how soon depends on which retirement system you fall into. And not everyone always gets the same amount.
The 199th Fighter Squadron converted to North American F-86 Sabre in 1954. It was more than aircraft conversion from the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt to the Sabres; it was a transition from props to jets. There were challenges for operations and maintenance.
In 1956, then-Lt Col John Giraudo arrived in Hawai‘i to be the Senior Air Force Adviser to the Territory of Hawai‘i Air National Guard. He came from Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, where he
served as the commander of the Fighter Weapons School.
Known as the “Big Kahuna”, he proved instrumental in the 199th Fighter Squadron movement into the jet age. His leadership and guidance were influential in organizational improvements. In 1957 was selected as the most operationally ready Air Guard fighter unit in the United States.
Several HIANG retirees from the 1950s say the Big Kahuna was the key to the high standards that 199 FS has in its flight operations for the following years.
Attached is an article written by Tai “Mynah” Hong about the Big Kahuna.
Major General John C. Giraudo’s Air Force biography
Webmaster Comment: another definite candidate for the Hawai‘i Air National Guard’s Hall of Honor.
This undated photograph shows Gerald Chung checking a missile upload on a McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom.
Note: the crew chief of this aircraft is TSgt Calvin Yoshimoto. Cal retired as a chief master sergeant in the F-15 Eagle era.
From the Frolic Hawaii website
If you ask me to name my favorite places to eat on O‘ahu, don’t expect a simple answer. Instead, you’ll receive a lengthy list organized by category and cross-referenced by time of day, price point and ambience—complete with a Venn diagram and a brief deck of slides. Totally casual. Having spent the bulk of my life working both in the front and back of house in restaurants, bars, hotels and nightclubs, to say that I’m obsessive about the details that surround dining would be an understatement. For me, it’s always been about the whole experience. So whether it’s a fine dining restaurant or a neighborhood haunt, I’m delighted by the nuances of joy, artistry and passion.
Lately I’ve been gravitating towards those places that exemplify craft and consistency. And since moments of comfort and time spent with friends are more precious than ever, for me this has translated into a heightened sentimentality towards eating. My favorite places are a mix of old-school nostalgia, some finer but no less comforting delicacies, sublime patio ambience, and the most beautiful smoked brisket I have ever seen.
Maria Kanai
Hawaii Air National Guard photographs – click to enlarge
The 199th Fighter Squadron flew the Republic F-47 Thunderbolt from 1947-1954. Originally known as the P-47 (P for Pursuit), the aircraft were redesignated F-47 shortly after the end of World War II. The F-47s were affectionately called “Jugs”.
Related Retiree News post: Check Six – 1941: First Flight: XP-47B Thunderbolt
The following article, written by TSgt Chris Vadnais, was featured in the Air Force Print News and reprinted in a 2006 issue of the Pūpūkahi.
SSgts Gabriel Coronado and Arthur Hamabata install the wings and fins on an AIM-7 Sparrow missile at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawai‘i. The Airman are from the Hawai‘i Air National Guard’s 154th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. US Air Force photograph
Hickam Air Force Base, Hawai‘i (AFNS) – Seven F-15 Eagle fighter jets assigned to the Hawai‘i Air National Guard fired AIM-7 Sparrow missiles at drones dropped from a Navy F-18 July 16. Pilots fired the missiles in the Pacific Missile Range Facility off the coast of Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i, as part of the 2006 Rim of the Pacific Exercise, known as RIMPAC.
RIMPAC brought friendly forces from the Pacific theater and the United Kingdom together to engage in air and sea war games.
The opportunity to fire live ordnance in Hawai‘i does not come often. Crews usually travel to Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida for firing practice. Even then the missiles they use are loaded with telemetry equipment rather than live ordnance.
“We had the option to either destroy or shoot 14 missiles,” said Maj. John Traettino, an F-15 pilot with the Hawai‘i Air National Guard’s 199th Fighter Squadron. “It’s actually less expensive to shoot the missiles as opposed to destroying them. It’s excellent training for us as [o;pts and controllers. It’s a fantastic opportunity for the Hawai‘i Air National Guard.”
These days a training exercise that saves money is like gold. The Air Force’s Smart Operations 21 strategy challenges Airmen at all levels to look for value-added opportunities just like this.
But saving money while getting valuable wartime training is just part of the benefit of these sorties. This mission also demonstrated the Total Force concept the Air Force is perfecting – Air National Guard operation seamlessly integrating into active duy missions. The Pacific Command’s RIMPAC exercise provided the framework to showcase that cooperation.
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RIMPAC 2022 will provide another challenging training opportunity for the Hawai‘i Air National Guard.
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 June 1963 Kūkā‘ilimoku issue. This issue includes the following stories:
* Consolidate Base Personnel Office (CBPO) established
* Robert Choi – first Chief Master Sergeant in the Hawaii Air National Guard
* Promotions: including George Sato, Herbert Okamoto, Herbert Takeuchi
* 1963 Summer Camp daily schedule
* Extension Course Institute (ECI) competitions
This undated photograph shows Kenneth “Kenny” Camara (L) and two unidentified maintenance mechanics. They are standing in front of a North American Aviation F-86 Sabre; a fighter jet the 199th Fighter Squadron flew from 1954 through 1961.
Kenny was a mainstay through the Convair F-102 Delta Dagger and McDonnell Douglas F-4C II Phantom eras. Kenny rose through the ranks and retired as a chief master sergeant with 42 years of Military service with 154th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.
Off the Hawaii Air National Guard Facebook page
Exercise Ho‘oikaika is all about strengthening and encouraging Airmen as they venture out to test their deployment readiness.
This most recent phase of the exercise was all about validating that Total-Force personnel are ready to pick up their ‘go bags’ and venture out into a deployed environment within a short notice.
In order to out-process a world class and fully capable force, members are all seen by various support specialists in a Processing Deployment Function, or what we call a ‘PDF line.’
Professionals who specialize in Medical, Legal, Family Reediness, Spiritual and many other career fields spend face-to-face time with each deploying Airmen to ensure everyone is ready to focus on the mission at hand and make an impact on their endeavors.
Senior Airman Brandon Mancini, from the 154th Force Support Squadron, gives us a glimpse of what it’s like to ‘get out the door’ during the latest round of Ho‘oikaika.
Off the Hawaii Air National Guard Facebook page
Hawaii Air National Guard Key Ohana Spouse, Lucy M. Morris, is named the Air National Guard’s recipient of the 2021 Joan Orr Spouse Award
For several years Morris, spouse of Maj. “Mac” Morris, 199th Fighter Squadron, has devoted time and energy as a key spouse to members and families in the squadron. But as the pandemic hit, she realized that the extra time spent went a long way. Her gracious attitude and selfless efforts did not go unnoticed, as her local efforts were recognized at the national level as she became the recipient of the Air National Guard’s 2021 Joan Orr Spouse of the Year.
“I have always enjoyed volunteering and being a social connector,” Morris said. “My goal is to encourage more units around the country to instill a strong Key Spouse program, I really hope this program will continue to grow stronger.”
Thank you to all the spouses, family members, and Airmen that continuously support our service members and their Ohana.
From the Wired Magazine website
When it comes to word processing, most people—and most businesses—still think of Microsoft Word. Whether it’s a résumé or an essay, it’s most likely to come as a .docx file, the universally recognized default file format used by Word, and whomever you’re working with probably wants one in return.
The Kūkā‘ilimoku is the official e-newsletter of the 154th Wing, Hawai’i Air National Guard. The first issue came in September 1957 and continues as a monthly newsletter today.
Today we feature the June 1979 Kūkā‘ilimoku issue. This issue includes the following stories:
* Hawaii Air Guard Heads West on First Major Deployment
* “A Tribute to the Deserving”
* Adam Aki and Thomas Lapera retire
* AB Anthony Querubin returns from tech training
* Russell Jones appointed the the USAF Academy
Retiree News 
