UH grads to hear Soetoro-Ng talk

Maya Soetoro-Ng, an education specialist at the East-West Center and the sister of President Barack Obama, will be the keynote speaker as about 1,600 undergraduate students receive degrees May 15 at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Soetoro-Ng earned a doctorate in educational foundations at UH and has taught and developed humanities curricula in schools in New York City and Honolulu. She was a lecturer at the UH-Manoa College of Education in 2000-06.

The student speaker will be Elinor Lutu-McMoore, who will receive a bachelor's degree in meteorology.

Doors of the Stan Sheriff Center will open at 8 a.m. for the 9 a.m. undergraduate commencement ceremony.

At 3 p.m., master's and doctoral degrees and post-baccalaureate certificates in secondary education will be awarded to nearly 800 candidates. Both events are free and open to the public. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

General assigned to 25th Division

Brig. Gen. Paul J. LaCamera has been assigned as deputy commanding general of the 25th Infantry Division.

LaCamera has been deputy commanding general of the Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg in North Carolina since July.

The Pentagon also announced the departure of Brig. Gen. James C. Nixon, currently the division's deputy commanding general in charge of operations. Nixon is slated to become deputy director for operations force protection at U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida.

LaCamera graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1985. From 2001-2003 he commanded the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry, of the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum in New York and deployed with the unit to Afghanistan. In 2003 he assumed command of the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, from Fort Benning in Georgia, and again was sent to Afghanistan. Two years later he returned to command the 75th Ranger regiment as a colonel and deployed to Iraq.

29th Brigade to get new commander

Hawaii Army National Guard Col. Keith Tamashiro will assume command of the 29th Brigade Combat Team from Col. Bruce Oliviera May 22 at Kapiolani Park ceremony near the Waikiki Shell.

The ceremony will follow a parade through Waikiki honoring military units stationed in Hawaii.

The parade will begin at 9 a.m. at Fort DeRussy and will follow Kalakaua Avenue to Kapiolani Park.

Tamashiro is the past commander of the 298th Regiment Multifunctional Training Brigade. Oliviera will become the commander of the Hawaii Army National Guard—a one-star position now held by Brig. Gen. Joseph Chaves.

Schofield to screen movie on 442nd

The movie “;Only the Brave,”; which depicts the 442nd Regimental Combat Team's rescue of the 141st Regiment in the Vosges Forest of France in October 1944, will be shown at 6 p.m. May 16 at Schofield Barracks' Sgt. Smith Theater.

The film's director, Lane Nishikawa, will introduce the movie and take part in a question-and-answer session. Admission is free.

Civilians will have to enter Schofield Barracks through the Lyman Gate off of Kunia Road. Drivers must present a driver's license, proof of insurance, vehicle safety check and registration. Passengers must present picture identification.

The presentation is part of the Army's Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month. For more information, call Schofield Barracks' Sgt. Yano Library, 655-8002.

Councilman to seek Maui mayoralty

WAILUKU, Maui » A Maui County Council member accused of violating a residency requirement says he will run for mayor rather than seek re-election.

Three-term Councilman Sol Kahoohalahala announced his intention to run for mayor last month.

Kahoohalahala represents Lanai, but 19 residents of the Pineapple Island have challenged his residency.

In October the state Supreme Court ruled Kahoohalahala was a resident of Lahaina, not Lanai. The ruling dealt only with his voter registration, not his eligibility to hold office.

But in February the high court held that Council members who violate county residency requirements automatically forfeit their seats. The ruling sent the issue to Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza for a full hearing.