Waha Nui – 8/6/14

Congratulations to East Oahu’s Carlene Lau, just pro moted to Lt. Lau in HPD’s traffic division, where she now is the first woman to lead the Vehicular Homicide Section. Way to go, Cuz! … Hawaii Kai actress Joanna Sotomura recently landed roles on TNT’s Rizzoli & Isles, and two Web series, Emma Approved (title role) and Video Game High School, plus some indie films, in a blossoming career …

eo-080614-waha-joanna-sotomura

Image 2 of 3

Joanna Sotomura

A memoir, Judge Arthur S.K. Fong: Living A Life that Matters by Jerry Burris, is out now from Legacy Isle Publishing, weaving together the Aina Haina man’s legacy in court, family life and as role as confidant to three governors … Niu Valley’s Elisia Flores is now chief financial officer for her dad’s L & L Franchise Inc. Elisia has USC and UCLA finance degrees and worked in corporate leadership on the Mainland before coming home for the barbecue action …

Speaking of food, KCC pastry instructor Gale O’Malley won the 2014 Joseph Amendola Award from American Academy of Chefs, which honors a dedicated pastry chef or master baker who mentors others. A first for Hawaii, the award caps his long career in restaurants and the classroom … Navy Lt. Max Suyderhoud of Hawaii Kai flies with Training Squadron 22 in Texas, but come Oct. 17-18, 2015, he’ll be high above Kaneohe Marine base with the Blue Angels. Pilot seats on the revered Navy Demonstration Squadron are highly competitive, and Max is overjoyed he made the cut …

Kaimuki High principal Wade Araki was a good choice for the new Deputy Superintendent’s Principal Roundtable, a hand-picked panel meeting to guide and nurture effective school leaders statewide. Wade also won $2,000 as a semifinalist for the 2014 Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award … East Oahu’s Valerie Chang, champion of Hawaii COPD Coalition, presents COPD Education Day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 13 at Queen’s Conference Center, with demos, talks and exhibits for the breathing-impaired (699-9839) & & & cchang@midweek.com