State Department of Health receives award

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services gave a Surgeon General's Champion Award to the state Department of Health for its Healthy Hawaii Initiative to combat childhood obesity. The initiative provides tools and information on nutrition and physical activity and helps schools serve more fruits, vegetables, low-fat milk and whole grains. It also spearheaded the development of a Hawaii State Plan for Physical Activity and Nutrition that includes public and private partnerships across the islands.

The Hawaii Pacific Gerontological Society awarded $1,000 scholarships to Kelly Paikai, a junior at the University of Hawaii at Hilo's nursing program, and Juanita Tabilisima, a junior in nursing at the University of Phoenix, Hawaii campus.

Outrigger Enterprises Group named Jim Heather as general manager of The Wyland Waikiki. He will oversee the hotel's transition to its rebranding as Courtyard by Marriott Waikiki Beach this summer. He joined the company in 1998 as director of rooms for the Outrigger Guam Resort and has also served as general manager of the Outrigger Kanaloa at Kona and general manager of the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach.