Hawaii Knights of Columbus were hard at work at this year’s annual convention at St. Stephen Diocesan Center, May 7, the first in-person convention since the COVID-19 pandemic broke. (Courtesy photo)
By Robert Camilleri
Special to the Herald
The Hawaii State Council of the Knights of Columbus held its first in-person State Convention and Banquet since 2019 on May 7 at St. Stephen Diocesan Center in Kaneohe and at the Japanese Cultural Center in Honolulu.
The convention began with Mass celebrated by State Chaplain Sacred Hearts Father Lane Akiona, in the diocesan center chapel, attended by the Knights and their families.
The convention was gaveled to order by State Deputy Ryan K. Brown.
Supreme Director Daniel Rossi, the Supreme Representative to the State Convention, representing Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly and the board of directors, addressed the delegates.
Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly spoke via video and talked about the Knights’ charitable and humanitarian efforts, especially in Ukraine and Poland.
During the business session, the following Knights were elected the 2022-2023 Hawaii State Council officers:
- State Deputy: Ryan K. Brown
- State Secretary: Randy Tom
- State Treasurer: Patrick Guzman
- State Advocate: Alex Ty
- State Warden: Paul Maple
While the Knights were meeting, the Knights Women’s Auxiliary, also known as the Lady Knights, headed by president Mandy Brown, wife of the state deputy, performed a service project.
Following the conclusion of the convention, the Fourth Degree Knights held their Biennial District of Hawaii assembly meeting, with District Master Lito Alvarez presiding. the Delegates from the local assemblies recommended to the Supreme Knight the names of three Knights for the Office of District Master for 2022-2023.
One hundred and sixty-six Knights and family members attended the annual state banquet, a delicious buffet, which had been delayed two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic
After dinner, State Deputy Brown presented the Supreme Council Program Awards in four categories: community, life, faith and family.
- Community: Council 14663, “Leave No Neighbor Behind Food Distribution,” Grand Knight Kainoa Li
- Life: Council 6906, “Support for Pregnancy Centers-Baby Bottles Drive,” Grand Knight Paul Maple
- Faith: Council 16741, “Faith Lecturer Series,” Grand Knight Joshua Kapika
- Family: Council 12733, “Family of the Month Program,” Grand Knight Lito Alvarez
The Hawaii State Council Program Awards were presented to the following children for the annual Catholic Poster Contest:
- 11-14 years old: first place, Council 12733, Tony Domingo; second place, Council 11636, Mia Ricalde-Harada; third place, Council 11636, Sophia Laffery
- 8-10 years old: first place, Council 6307, Aiden R. Tupon; second place, Council 12733, Averick Agbunag; third place, Council 11636, Myra Cabuslay
- 5-7 years old: first place, Council 11636, Evelyn Woodward (also the international competition winner); second place, Council 12733, Zayden John Morshingo; third place, Council 6906, Veronica Trinidad
District Master Alvarez presented the following Fourth Degree Awards:
- Star Assembly: 1577, Bishop Louis Maigret, Faithful Navigator Robert B. Camilleri
- Star Assembly: 2938, St. Michael, Kailua-Kona, Faithful Navigator Joe James
- Knight Responding to the most call outs: Sir Knight Bill Rodrigues, Bishop Louis Maigret Assembly 1577
- Assembly with the largest growth: Kamiano Assembly 3984, Faithful Navigator Randy Tom
- Assembly with the most members responding to call outs: St. Damien Assembly 3221, Faithful Navigator William Castillo
The banquet ended with State Chaplain Lane Akiona blessing the Knights and their families.
