By Marshall Fukuki, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Public Affairs
The Hawaii State Legislature honored Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard (PHNSY) for the first time March 18 with a House resolution and a Senate commendation lauding the Shipyard's 100 years of service to the Navy.
PHNSY will hold its official 100-year anniversary celebration on May 13.
PHNSY finds its roots in the 1800s, as the world's navies explored and established ports throughout the Pacific Ocean. Congress passed an Act officially creating Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, Territory of Hawaii, in May of 1908 and authorized nearly $3 million to help build it.
Rep. Lynn Finnegan sponsored the resolution, which was signed by all members of the Hawaii State House of Representatives. PHNSY Commander, Capt. Gregory Thomas and four other shipyard leaders were recognized on the House chamber floor.
Specifically, the resolution called PHNSY a "national treasure" and cited the shipyard's strategic importance and positive social and economic impact on the state of Hawaii.
Following Finnegan's reading of the resolution and introductions, she and her colleagues hosted a reception for the shipyard representatives.
Speaker of the House Rep. Calvin Say presided over the ceremony. Reps. Kymberly Pine and Gene Ward also commended the shipyard workers who spoke during the ceremony.
Prior to the presentation of the resolution, Sen. Norman Sakamoto presented a Senate Commendation to the shipyard leaders, and had them recognized as they sat in the Senate gallery. The commendation also cited the Shipyard's "100 years of exemplary service."
PHNSY is the largest industrial employer in the state of Hawaii with a combined civilian and military workforce of about 4,700. In fiscal year 2007, it had an operating budget of $550 million, of which $387 million was payroll for civilian employees. The shipyard, strategically located in the Pacific Ocean, is a full-service naval shipyard and regional maintenance center for the U.S. Navy's surface ships and submarines.