Lori Mukaida is the person that was single-most responsible for the re-establishment of the PEACESAT Program and the development of the network over the past decade.

When the satellite left the Pacific in 1985, many users were stranded without communications. Most felt that the program was over - that there would never be another opportunity to obtain a satellite for the Pacific Islands and that public service telecommunications was doomed. Lori did not give up hope. She worked tirelessly to maintain communications through HF/SSB radio links, solicit a satellite, obtain program funding, directed the design the system, and worked with representatives from the Pacific Islands to re-establish the network.

Everyone that has met Lori recognizes the commitment, dedication, and love that she has had for both the Pacific and the Program.

Katashi Nose, deceased, Associate Professor of Physics, University of Hawaii.

Mr. Nose is renowned for the development of economical earth stations to access the ATS-1 satellite. His practical design was instrumental in the growth of the PEACESAT network to over 140 sites in the Pacific Islands regions (from 1971-1985). Mr. Nose not only designed but also modified, assembled and installed the PEACESAT ground terminals and antennas all over the South Pacific.

His distinguished academic career was marked by many highlights that led him from the halls of Harvard where he received his master's degree and Advanced Studies certificate to Kauai High School where one of his students was the former Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Eric K. Shinseki. He received the University of Hawaii Excellence in Teaching Award in 1971.

At the same time, Mr. Nose earned a world class reputation as a ham radio operator known as "the Pacific Powerhouse." His tremendous expertise in building his own radio equipment and in antennas, speed in sending and receiving Morse Code, and victories in contests judged on the number of radio contacts and areas reached brought him global honor and recognition. For nearly fifty years, he pursued his passion for amateur radio and wrote the longest continuously running column in the Honolulu Star Bulletin. Because his call sign (KH6IJ) was so well known, many other radio operators have since paid tribute to him by changing the last two letters of their own call signs to IJ. His ham radio columns and publications are archived in the Library of Congress. His PEACESAT work is included in the PEACESAT archives at the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland.

Paul Yuen, Dean, retired, University of Hawaii College of Engineering.

Mr. Yuen was instrumental in the development of the first line of PEACESAT Earthstations which utilized the VHF/UHF radio frequency to access the ATS-1 satellite. The first earthstations were relatively inexpensive and consisted of readily available radio equipment and Yagi antennas.

With a tenure as the College of Engineering’s Dean that spanned 18 years and a total of 38 years of service to the Engineering Department, Mr. Yuen is held in high regards as one of the most prominent and versatile administrators at the University of Hawaii’s College of Engineering. Some of the positions held by Mr. Yuen includes assistant to the Manoa chancellor, director of the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, acting president of the Pacific International Center for High Technology Research, University of Hawaii at Manoa vice president for academic affairs, University of Hawaii senior vice president/University of Hawaii at Manoa executive vice chancellor, and acting University of Hawaii president.

Carl Staton, Chief Information Officer
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Staton served as Branch Chief of the NESDIS Data Collection and Direct Broadcast Branch for NOAA in 1987-88. During this tenure Staton received a telephone call from Dick Hagemeyer, Director, Pacific Region National Weather Service Office requesting his assistance for PEACESAT. Staton was instrumental in PEACESAT receiving approval on the use of the GOES-3 and later, the GOES-2 satellites. Mr. Staton maintains interest in PEACESAT and its use of the current GOES-7 satellite and visited the program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in January 2006.