BATTLE CREEK, Mich. –
Editor’s Note: During the month of May, the great achievements of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are highlighted to celebrate the contributions that generations of AANHPI have made to American history, society and culture.
In 1978, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter designated May as Asian Pacific Heritage Week. May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the U.S. on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869.
Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services Pacific Director and Special Emphasis Program Champion Faron Cordrey wanted to highlight select members of the DLA Disposition Services Pacific Region that have special ties with AANHPI Heritage Month.
Royden Hanano’eau Low Mokiao was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and is of Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese and Portuguese decent.
Mokiao is happily married and a father of two boys and one girl. His kids keep him busy seven days a week at football and volleyball practice and games. When he is not
at their activities, he’s on the field playing softball.
At a young age, he started playing sports and his passion for the game evolved into pursuing a professional career in football or baseball.
His career path changed in November 2001 when Mokiao joined the Hawaii Air National Guard as an F-22 Weapons Armament Systems Technician – he still serves today. When not in uniform, he works for DLA at J64 Indo-Pacific as an IT Specialist.
The most exciting detail about his job is being able to help others and meet new people, he said.
“Every day is different, and it’s a constant adventure,” Mokiao added. “Take any opportunity to get better, be a team player, and don’t be afraid to fail.”
Growing up Mokiao’s parents taught him the values of hard work, education, and most importantly, family.
Family is important to him because no matter what you’re going through, they will be there to support you, and without his family, he wouldn’t be who he is today, he reflected.
Like most families in Hawaii, his family always celebrates holidays and special occasions together.
“Every get-together is always a big event with lots of food, creating great memories with the people you love,” he said. “Asian American and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month is a time to acknowledge the contributions, extensive history, and diversity of each of these cultures and to celebrate our roots and where we came from.”