William Y. Thompson Award

WILLIAM Y. THOMPSON AWARD

About the Award

In 1993, the HWWA honored William Y. Thompson with an award created in his name. At each annual conference, the William Y. Thompson Award is given to individual(s) selected “for dedication, superior work performance, outstanding service to the water industry, and love for the people of Hawaiʻi.”

Mahalo to the esteemed list of recipients, listed below, whose efforts reflect the spirt of William Y. Thompson.

Member agencies may submit their nominations starting Tuesday, July 1, 2025 until Friday, August 15, 2025.

About William Y. Thompson

Past Recipients

1994 to 1999

Congratulations to William Y. Thompson Award recipients from 1994 to 1999.

1994 — Jerry Martin

Agency: Honolulu Board of Water Supply | Host Island: Kauaʻi

1995 — Joy Kawakami

Agency: Hawaiʻi Department of Water Supply | Host Island: Oʻahu

1996 — Abel Kahoohanohano

Agency: Maui Department of Water Supply | Host Island: Maui

1997 — Clifford Bajcar

Agency: Honolulu Board of Water Supply | Host Island: Hawaiʻi

1998 — Stanley Sarmiento

Agency: Kauaʻi Department of Water Supply | Host Island: Kauaʻi

1999 — Kurt Inaba

Agency: Hawaiʻi Department of Water Supply | Host Island: Oʻahu

2000-2009

Congratulations to William Y. Thompson Award recipients from 2000 to 2009.

2000 — Gordon Okazaki

Agency: Maui Department of Water Supply | Host Island: Maui

2001 — Wanda Kapahu

Agency: Hawaiʻi Department of Water Supply | Host Island: Hawaiʻi

2002 — William Yamamoto

Agency: Hawaiʻi Department of Water Supply | Host Island: Kauaʻi

2003 — Jacalyn Takakura

Agency: Maui Department of Water Supply | Host Island: Oʻahu

2004 — Daryl Hiromoto

Agency: Honolulu Board of Water Supply | Host Island: Maui

2005 — Gwen Sugahara*

Agency: Hawaiʻi Department of Water Supply | Host Island: Hawaiʻi

2005 — Thelma Kimura*

Agency: Honolulu Board of Water Supply | Host Island: Hawaiʻi

2006 — Daniel “Gundi” Dancil

Agency: Maui Department of Water Supply | Host Island: Kauaʻi

2007 — Cyrus Sumida

Agency: Hawaiʻi Department of Water Supply | Host Island: Oʻahu

2008 — Norris Gonsalves

Agency: Hawaiʻi Department of Water Supply | Host Island: Maui

2009 — Amy Tsuneyoshi

Agency: Honolulu Board of Water Supply | Host Island: Hawaiʻi

2010 to 2019

Congratulations to William Y. Thompson Award recipients from 2010 to 2019.

2010 — Kanani Aton Keliikoa

Agency: Hawaiʻi Department of Water Supply | Host Island: Kauaʻi

2011 — Leslie Yoshioka

Agency: Kauaʻi Department of Water Supply | Host Island: Hawaiʻi

2012 — Crestita Hudman

Agency: Hawaiʻi Department of Water Supply | Host Island: Oʻahu

2013 — Andrew Higa

Agency: Hawaiʻi Department of Water Supply | Host Island: Maui

2014 — Paul Silva

Agency: Maui Department of Water Supply | Host Island: Kauaʻi

2015 — Chris Pacheco

Agency: Hawaiʻi Department of Water Supply | Host Island: Oʻahu

2016 — Calvin Uemura

Agency: Hawaiʻi Department of Water Supply | Host Island: Maui

2017 — Marc Chun

Agency: Honolulu Board of Water Supply | Host Island: Hawaiʻi

2018 — Cullen Falces

Agency: Maui Department of Water Supply | Host Island: Kauaʻi

2019 — Jonell Kaohelauli‘i

Agency: Kauaʻi Department of Water Supply | Host Island: Oʻahu

* co-winners | ** conference not held

ʻAʻOHE ʻULU E LOAʻA I KA POKOLE O KA LOU No breadfruit can be reached when the picking stick is too short