Story and photo by
Karen S. Spangler
Managing Editor

It’s the end of an era – with this edition, Hawaii Navy News takes its final bow.

Hawaii Navy News had its beginnings in December 1973 when Frank DeSilva, the public affairs officer for Naval Station Pearl Harbor, was asked to establish a civilian enterprise newspaper for the Pearl Harbor community.

Story and photo by
MC2 (SW) Mark Logico
Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs

Military members and civilians commemorated a public celebration of life for victims of the West Loch disaster at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at the Puowaina (Punchbowl) Crater on May 21.

Hosted by the African-American Diversity Cultural Center Hawaii (AADCCH), the celebration honored the service members who lost their lives at the West Loch disaster 66 years ago on May 21, 1944.

Story and photo by
Senior Airman Nathan Allen
15th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Navy and Air Force leaders joined forces to participate in an orientation flight May 24 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam as Air Force pilots and loadmasters showed off the C-17's combat airlift capabilities.

The orientation flight was an opportunity for Air Force, Navy and Air National Guard leaders to get a better understanding of each other's needs and capabilities.

Rear Adm. Dixon Smith, commander of Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, said learning about other services is the key to providing support.

Story and photo by
Blair Martin
Contributing Writer

On Dec. 10, 2008, the family of Information Systems Technician Seaman Jonathon Mayen-Krogstad got the surprise of their life when their 20-year-old suddenly announced he was joining the U.S. Navy.

"At first my mom was really mad at me; she just couldn't believe I had joined," said Mayen-Krogstad, the oldest son of four children. "But as the time came closer for me to leave, she realized I was serious about this and how big a decision this was."

Story and photo by
MC2 (SW) Mark Logico
Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs

More than a thousand military service members paraded the length of Waikiki's Kalakaua Avene on May 22 at the highlighted event of this year's Military Appreciation Month.

Themed "Aloha to Our Military Ohana – Then and Now," the event was hosted by the United Services Organizations (USO) Hawaii, BAE Systems, TriWest Health Care Alliance and the City and County of Honolulu to honor all military active duty service members, Reservists, wounded warriors, military retirees and veterans.

Story and photo by
Karen S. Spangler
Managing Editor

It's the end of an era – with this edition, Hawaii Navy News takes its final bow.

Hawaii Navy News had its beginnings in December 1973 when Frank DeSilva, the public affairs officer for Naval Station Pearl Harbor, was asked to establish a civilian enterprise newspaper for the Pearl Harbor community.

Story and photo by
Blair Martin
Contributing Writer

A memorial ceremony was held May 24 for 79-year-old Marine Corps veteran Paul Phillips, one of the "Chosin Few" who survived the Battle at Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War. Phillips was remembered aboard the USS Chosin (CG 65), moored at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

Story and photo by
Ensign Daron Weber
USS Chosin (CG 65) Public Affairs Officer

A group of educators from Los Angeles recently visited USS Chosin (CG 65) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to discover what the surface Navy is all about. They came away with the educational experience of their own.

"What's really impressive is the amount of responsibility these Sailors have at such a young age," said Kimberly Kirkwood, a guidance

Story and photo by
MC2 (SW) Mark Logico
Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs

It was an afternoon packed with fun and excitement for Sailors and their families as Navy Region Hawaii's Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) hosted a fitness and wellness fair at Ward Field on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) on May 19.

Story and photo by
Seaman (SW) Rachel Swiatnicki
Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs

Sailors from various commands in Hawaii brought cleaning supplies and participated in the cleanup at the Navy veterans' cemetery section of Oahu Cemetery in Honolulu on May 21.

The event was hosted by the Surface Navy Association (SNA) and led by Chief Operations Specialist (SW/AW) Wayne Babauta, assigned to USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60). Babauta gathered 40 volunteers to participate in the event in preparation for Memorial Day.