On March 8 during a Court of Honor hosted at Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin, sponsor of Boy Scouts Troop 23, Thaddeus O’Connell, 18, was awarded the highest rank of Eagle Scout.
On March 8 during a Court of Honor hosted at Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin, sponsor of Boy Scouts Troop 23, Thaddeus O’Connell, 18, was awarded the highest rank of Eagle Scout.
Less than 4 percent of all Scouts manage to attain the Eagle rank.
O’Connell’s Eagle Scout Project consisted of constructing a 65-foot concrete sidewalk for Hilo Hongwanji’s Sangha Hall. He thanked Craig Shimabukuro, a retired engineer, for advising him on preparation of the plan details in order to complete this project.
At Troop 23, O’Connell recently served as senior patrol leader and currently serves as an assistant Scoutmaster. As a Hilo High School student, he is active with the Hilo High Viking Band, the robotics club and sings with the Ambassadors. In addition, he is a trumpet player for University of Hawaii at Hilo’s Jazz Band.
O’Connell’s most memorable and exciting activities were summer camps at Camp Honokaia in Honokaa and hike camp expeditions to Waimanu Valley.
After graduating this spring, O’Connell plans to attend the University of Hawaii at Hilo and major in Liberal Arts and minor in music.
O’Connell is the son of Tim Jr. and Toni O’Connell of Hilo.