(Back row, left to right: CSW Members Ellie Castillo, Jennifer Gladwin, Vice Chair Sheila Kelley, and Chair Molly Murawski; front row, left to right: Honoree Kimberly Svetin, Honoree Mindy Fletcher-Sistar, Honoree Kekai Brown, Honoree Lois Prey, Mayor Alan Arakawa, Honoree Nani Watanabe and CSW Member Ana Sorote. Credit: County of Maui / Ryan Piros)
By Staff Reports
(MAUI) – Maui County’s Committee on the Status of Women (CSW) celebrated Women’s History month by presenting the annual “Women of Excellence” awards on Thursday, March 24 in the Mayor’s Conference Room. This year, Women’s History Month honored women from all cultural backgrounds and in all levels of public service and government who have shaped our County’s history and future through their public service and/or government leadership.
Recipients of the 2016 Women of Excellence awards were the following:
- Mindy Fletcher-Sistar
- Kekai Brown
- Kimberly Svetin
- Lois Prey
- Nani Watanabe
Other women who were honored for their contributions by being nominated for the awards were:
- Theresa Thompson
- Jennifer Brittin-Fulton
- Audrey Rocha-Reed
- Councilmember Gladys Coelho Baisa
- Jean Pezzoli
- Marina Satoafaiga
- Meg Obenauf
- Joan Martin
- Rosie Davis
Women’s history month is a national celebration of women, a time where the richness of women leaders and their accomplishments are honored. In accordance with the national women’s movement, this year’s award theme, “Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government.” This formal recognition of women was started in 1980 by President Carter as a week-long celebration. In 1987 the U.S. Congress expanded it to the month of March.
“The Committee on the Status of Women looks forward to this annual awards ceremony, as it gives us an opportunity to honor all the nominated women for their excellence and all the work they’ve done,” said Molly Murawski, CSW Chair. “We feel it is important to recognize those who have spent so much time and energy for the betterment of Maui County. Their contributions have had a major impact in our community, and they set an example of public service we can all follow.”
Recipients of 2015 awards included Kathy “Tita” Collins, Teresa Skinner, Agrifina Cabebe, Lyn McNeff, Stacey Moniz and Lois Reiswig. For information on the Maui County Committee on the Status of Women, visit www.mauicounty.gov/csw.