Gov. Josh Green doles out Governor’s Awards for outstanding executive branch employees

Branch Manager Katy Tipton of the Pāhoa Public Library on the Big Island was named State Manager of the Year during a ceremony on Monday in Honolulu to recognize the winners of the annual Governor’s Awards.

Other winners were Marly Jane Nakamura, corrections education supervisor with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, as Employee of the Year, and the Med-QUEST Program and Policy Development Office in the Department of Human Services for Work Team of the Year.

“Public employees continue to make extraordinary contributions that improve the efficiency and quality of government services,” Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green said during the ceremony. “This year’s honorees exemplify that spirit and we are truly honored to work alongside such dedicated individuals and teams who are changing lives every day.”

The Governorʻs Awards are designed to honor outstanding state executive branch employees, managers and work teams who exemplify the highest caliber of public service and dedication in serving the people of Hawai‘i. The statewide program is administered by the Department of Human Resources Development.

At Pāhoa Public Library, part of the Hawai‘i State Public Library System, Tipton spearheaded numerous successful programs such as “Craft Nights” showcasing art interests and talent, “Thinking Money for Kids” which teaches basic financial skills, “Preschool Jamboree” structured to provide early literacy skills and getting kids ready for school, and “Lei Po‘o Nights” during which staff members teach patrons how to make lei, how lei are used, and their cultural significance.

Her efforts have enhanced services and strengthened the connection with the Pāhoa community, said the news release about the Governor’s Awards.

Nakamura, with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, is an inspirational educator who is passionate about helping incarcerated individuals realize their career potential.

She has contributed greatly to Hālawa Correctional Facility’s educational programs through her creation of the Tutorial Program, or BrainGYM, that addresses students’ competencies in reading, writing and math, her designing of standardized cross-curricular lesson plans to assist with challenging concepts, organizing the facility’s 1st Commencement Ceremony for those receiving their high school diplomas, and enrolling students for an associate degree in business administration from Chaminade and in Hawaiian Studies at Windward Community College.

The nine-member team of the Med-QUEST Program and Policy Development Office made significant improvements to healthcare access and the quality of the Medicaid program. A few of the accomplishments include:

• Approval of the first community palliative care service in the nation;
• Renewal of the 1115 Demonstration Waiver, which includes pre-release services for the justice involved population;
• Creation of the Hawaiʻi Child Wellness Initiative Program that provides incentives to Medicaid beneficiary parents for completed well-child examinations;
• Collaborative efforts with the Department of Education to maximize federal reimbursements for school-based medical services; and
• Partnering with the Department of Health for the treatment and prevention of mental and physical illnesses.

These creative and innovative programs have made a notable impact on the lives of countless individuals and families in Hawai‘i.