MILLINGTON, Tenn. – U.S. Navy sailors from across the fleet are headed to the islands for Hawaii Navy Week, March 9 to 15, to volunteer in the community and discuss why the Navy matters to the Aloha State.
While many of the sailors are from all over the country, this Navy Week will carry special meaning for visiting sailors from the area, including Petty Officer 2nd Class Dorima Matin, from Aiea.
Matin graduated from Aiea High School in 2023. Upon joining the Navy, Matin quickly found that many of the skills and values forged in Aiea were the same as those needed to succeed in the Navy.
“One of the greatest lessons I brought from Hawaii is how to thrive in a melting pot of cultures,” Matin said. “Growing up in such an environment like that, I learned early on that there isn’t just one way to look at a problem or one way to communicate. This helped me get along with my teammates and those around me.”
Matin, who joined the Navy two years ago, is assigned to Naval Information Warfare Training Group Fleet Intelligence Detachment, Washington, D.C.
“I joined to be a ‘first,’” Matin said. “In my family, staying local is the norm, but I’ve always wanted to see the world and build a career that takes me across it. The Navy is the best way for me to gain that experience, travel and start a new chapter of leadership that extends far beyond home.”
Matin is part of the first Navy Week to be hosted in Hawaii. Navy Weeks are a series of outreach events coordinated by the Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO) designed to give Americans an opportunity to learn about the Navy, its people, and its importance to national security and prosperity.
“Participating in this Navy Week is about showing people that the Navy is made up of individuals who share their values,” Matin said. “I want to give back by building real connections and sharing the opportunities the Navy offers, ensuring that everyone knows we are here to support the community.”
Today, Matin serves as an intelligence specialist.
“My job is to provide ‘eyes in the sky’ and translate that data into visual intel,” Matin said. “I’m essentially the Navy’s professional ‘Where’s Waldo’ expert.”
Matin has had many opportunities to excel in the Navy and sees military service as more than just a job – it represents a chance to become a better person.
“I am most proud of qualifying as a mission manager,” Matin said. “As a mission manager, I’m at the center of the action, leading a team that provides real-time intel, and I find a lot of fulfillment in helping other sailors reach their goals too.”
Matin is grateful for the Aiea community and for those who helped make a Navy career possible.
“I’d like to thank my mom for exemplifying what true strength looks like,” added Matin. “She is my role model and biggest supporter.”
Since 2005, the Navy Week program has served as the Navy’s flagship outreach effort into areas of the country without a significant Navy presence, providing the public a firsthand look at why the Navy matters to communities like those in Hawaii.
“We’re excited to bring Navy Week to Hawaii for the first time and continue the 2026 tour in this vital part of the Pacific,” said Cmdr. Julie Holland, director of the Navy Office of Community Outreach. “Hawaii has long been a cornerstone of our Navy’s presence, and this event is a great opportunity to strengthen the bond between our sailors and the community while celebrating the Aloha spirit and Hawaii’s strategic role in our nation’s defense.”
While on the Big Island, approximately 50 sailors will partner with organizations like Volcanoes National Park, OK Farms, Lavaloha Farms or Carve4Vets for service-based projects; University of Hawaii Hilo, Kamehameha Schools and Hilo-Waiakea Schools for educational visits; Mokupapapa Discovery Center, Kileauea Military Camp, and Pana’ewa Zoo Gardens for static displays; and daily performances from the U.S. Pacific Fleet band at places like Rainbow Falls, Hilo Public Library and the Mooheau Bandstand.
Meanwhile on Oahu, locally-based sailors from across the island will be engaged in events to include a swearing in and proclamation ceremony with the Governor’s Office; volunteer engagements at The Pantry, Hawaii Public Libraries and River of Life Mission; band performances at Ala Moana Center Stage and the Waikiki International Marketplace; and up front and center at the Honolulu Festival Grand Parade.
For a list of public events, visit https://outreach.navy.mil/Navy-Weeks/Honolulu-Hilo-2026/.