Uaaree Matsuda, executive secretary for the 14th Coast Guard District commander, was recognized in November for her work by the secretary of Homeland Security in Washington, D.C. She works directly with Rear Adm. Manson K. Brown and with foreign, federal and local dignitaries, and manages the office of the senior Coast Guard officer in the central and south Pacific.

Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard civilian workers and sailors were presented the Personal Excellence Partnership Flagship Community Service Award by Rear Adm. Dixon R. Smith, commander of the Navy Region Hawaii. The award was in the “;Shore, Large Command”; category for the period of July 1, 2007, through June 30.

The award recognizes the shipyard's exemplary service, particularly with the command's four local “;adopted”; schools, which received national recognition in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics programs.

Friends of the Maui/Molokai Drug Court has received $2,000 from the Bank of Hawaii Charitable Foundation to support its substance abuse services, including intervention, treatment and prevention programs. The court allows nonviolent offenders an opportunity to avoid or minimize incarceration following treatment. Nearly 300 clients have graduated from the intensive program.

Eight nonprofit arts organization in the Mayor's Production Grant Program under the Mayor's Office of Culture and the Arts have each received $5,000 grants for the production of new works in dance, theater, music, literature and short film. They include the Alliance for Drama Education, Bamboo Ridge Press; Dance Pioneers, Hanayagi Dancing Academy, Hawaii Foundation, Na Pualei O Likolehua, Nova Arts Foundation, Oahu Choral Society and Taiko Arts Center.