On February 27, 2004 PEACESAT Director and Co-Principal Investigator Ms. Christina Higa won the 2003 RCUH Employee of the Year award. She was selected by a five-member team and out of fourteen finalists nominated for the RCUH Outstanding Employee. This is quite an honor and accomplishment considering RCUH has nearly 1,000 full-time employees.

Christina was selected in recognition of her demonstrable, significant, and outstanding performance, contribution, and achievement to the PEACESAT Program. A luncheon to honor all those nominated was held at the Manoa Grand Ballroom at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii with RCUH Director of Human Resources, Nelson Sakamoto, as the Master of Ceremony.

Comments from Christina: ".it was difficult to stand in front of a crowd and receive and individual award today because I know that each and everyone at PEACESAT contributes to the success of the program. I'm so very happy to work with such good people and a program that gives me personal satisfaction. Not everyone can say that about their job. I thank Norman as our PI for the nomination and taking the time to write-up a stellar application, for the program direction and our professional development. Thank you all for your support. I'm extremely touched."

Left to Right - Kurtis Lyle Hugenberge (2nd Place), Aaron Culliney (2nd Place), Christina Higa (1st Place).