HWWA Annual Conference — October 15-17, 2025 — Registration is full and closed!
ʻAʻOHE ʻULU E LOAʻA I KA POKOLE O KA LOU No breadfruit can be reached when the picking stick is too short
ʻōlelo noʻeau
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.”
NOMINATION PERIOD
The nomination window for agencies was Tuesday, July 1, 2025 and Friday, August 15, 2025.
Mahalo to the esteemed list of recipients whose efforts reflect the spirt of 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
2020 to 2029
Congratulations to William Y. Thompson Award recipients from 2020 to 2029.
2020 — **
Agency: --- | Host Island: ---
2021 — **
Agency: --- | Host Island: ---
2022 — **
Agency: --- | Host Island: ---
2023 — Mike Matsuo
Agency: Honolulu Board of Water Supply | Host Island: Hawaiʻi
2024 — Keoki Pu‘u
Agency: Honolulu Board of Water Supply | Host Island: Kauaʻi
2025 — TBA on October 16, 2025
Agency: --- | Host Island: Oʻahu
* co-winners | ** conference not held
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