Honolulu EMS honors 16 employees for heroism, outstanding service, and exceptional achievements

Honolulu Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel are recognized for their heroism, exceptional service, and outstanding achievements during the City’s annual awards ceremony at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center.

HONOLULU — Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Honolulu Emergency Medical Services (EMS) recognized 16 employees for their heroism, exceptional service, and outstanding contributions to the community during an annual awards ceremony held today at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center.

Mayor Blangiardi presented certificates and plaques to the honorees, recognizing their extraordinary efforts to save lives, strengthen emergency medical services, and improve the health and safety of Oʻahu residents.

“The men and women of Honolulu EMS represent the very best of public service. Every day, they put the needs of others ahead of their own, often under incredibly difficult and dangerous circumstances,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “The heroic rescue of a family during the historic March storms is just one example of the extraordinary courage, compassion, and professionalism these individuals bring to their work. What makes these honorees so special is that their commitment goes well beyond responding to emergencies. They are finding new ways to strengthen our EMS system, improve the care we provide, and make a real difference in people’s lives. I am incredibly proud of each of them, and deeply grateful for their dedication to the people of Oʻahu.”

Valor Awards

The department presented its prestigious Valor Awards to EMS District Chief Julie Watanuki, Paramedic Will Batalon, and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) Alexis De Costa and Rodney Williams for their heroic actions during the historic Kona low storms on March 20, 2026.

Batalon and De Costa, working alongside two Honolulu Police Department (HPD) officers, entered a severely flooded home at risk of collapse to rescue a family of seven, including three adults and four children. The rescuers brought the family to safety in an HPD vehicle.

Watanuki and Williams responded in an EMS High Water Rescue vehicle and transported the family to a nearby emergency room, where they were treated for hypothermia and later released.

Manager of the Year

EMS Assistant Chief of Professional Standards Korey Chock received the department’s Manager of the Year Award for his exceptional leadership and contributions to improving EMS operations and training.

Chock spearheaded the establishment of the department’s first EMT Academy on Oʻahu’s leeward coast, ensuring recruits had the instructors, equipment, facilities, and resources needed to succeed.

He has also played a key role in strengthening the department’s use of data to evaluate resource allocation, identify service gaps, and determine where additional emergency medical resources are needed across Oʻahu.

Employee of the Year

EMS District Chief Jon Kurosu received the Employee of the Year Award for his outstanding work with the department’s Community Outreach Response and Engagement (CORE) program.

A paramedic with 25 years of EMS experience, Kurosu joined CORE last year to help lead the newly established MH-3 program, which provides critical intervention and assistance to individuals experiencing homelessness who cannot care for themselves.

Under his leadership, CORE has made significant strides in connecting vulnerable individuals with essential medical care, support services, and pathways off the streets.

Exceptional Achievement Awards

EMS Training District Chief Anthony Young and Training Supervisors Matt Lamke, Keola Pidot, Jeff Jacobson and Mike Hirata received Exceptional Achievement Awards for their leadership in establishing and operating the department’s first EMT Academy on Oʻahu’s leeward coast.

Held this spring at the Waiʻanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, the academy successfully graduated nine EMTs who are now serving their communities. The initiative represents an important step toward expanding training opportunities and strengthening emergency medical services in underserved areas.

Acting Chief of Specialized Community Medicine Kathy Higa and EMS Planner Jackie Hilea also received Exceptional Achievement Awards for their work over the past three years organizing and delivering the department’s Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) Conference.

The conference brings together physicians and nationally recognized subject-matter experts to share their knowledge and experience in responding to mass casualty incidents. It provides valuable training and collaboration opportunities for federal, state, and city first responders, as well as physicians, nurses, and other members of Hawaiʻi’s healthcare community.

CORE Assistant Chief Jeff Zuckernick, EMS District Chief Frank Gregorio, and CORE EMT Molly Swanson also received Exceptional Achievement Awards for their compassionate, coordinated response to a vulnerable individual who needed assistance.

After EMS transported a patient to an emergency room, Gregorio recognized that the patient’s relative, who had a disability, could not safely be left alone. He immediately contacted Zuckernick and the CORE team for assistance.

Swanson responded and determined that the individual was also experiencing symptoms requiring medical attention. She arranged transportation to an emergency room for further evaluation, ensuring the individual received appropriate care and was not left in a potentially unsafe situation.

The annual Mayor’s Awards ceremony recognizes City employees across departments whose dedication, professionalism, and exceptional service make a meaningful difference in the lives of Oʻahu residents.

—PAU—

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