Newsmaker
Monday, August 3, 1998
Name: Chase Kawakami
Age: 26
Position: Computer specialist, UH Office of Human Resources
Education: McKinley High School; UH
Pastimes: Volleyball, movies
As the University of Hawaii's nominee for state Employee of the Year, Chase Kawakami believes the real accolades go to his co- Award hopeful
shares gloryworkers at the Office of Human Resources, where he is a computer specialist.
The Waikele resident said without their help, he could not have converted several tasks that were previously done manually into online computer operations.
"The people I work for, my supervisor, they're very pro-technology and therefore, they support me a lot," said Kawakami, who earned a bachelor's degree in information and computer sciences in 1995.
"It's an honor. But I think there's a lot of people at the UH that deserve this award as well. Its just a matter of someone recognizing them for it," he said.
The UH Board of Regents in July recognized Kawakami as its nominee for the 1998 Distinguished State Service Award. The selection puts him in the running for state worker of the year, to be named by Gov. Ben Cayetano on Sept. 24.
UH Personnel Officer Steve Yamada said Kawakami is an "exemplary employee" whose inspirational work has a ripple effect on others. Kawakami, hired in 1996, helped streamline a variety of human-resources functions, improving both the accuracy and the accessibility of records, he said.
For example, with no budget and on his own time, Yamada said Kawakami developed an online student payroll information system that replaced the redundant typing needed to complete a five-part carbon form.
Kawakami then obtained a secure Website for the new system and got the software needed for the applications to run on the World Wide Web.
"Mr. Kawakami actively and continuously investigates emerging and developing concepts, hardware and systems, and then makes suggestions that keep OHR and human resource managers on the technological edge," Yamada said in his nomination letter.
Despite his work, Kawakami's no computer nerd. He leaves his work at the office once the day is over. He enjoys the outdoors, volleyball, movies and spending time with his girlfriend.
"For now, I'm just happy where I am. I'm still paying my dues, I think," he said.
By Pat Omandam, Star-Bulletin
