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 1st Class Jonathan Lewis, from Pearl City.
Lewis graduated from Pearl City High School in 2010. Upon joining the Navy, Lewis quickly found that many of the skills and values forged in Pearl City were the same as those needed to succeed in the Navy.
“The various roles I held in my hometown instilled in me a disciplined work ethic that has been vital to my success in the Navy,” Lewis said. “This foundation of hard work continues to drive my performance and professional achievements today. I worked at Wendy’s, Zippy’s, in security and various other places that provided a strong foundation of work ethic.”
Lewis, who joined the Navy 15 years ago, is assigned to Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Georgia.
“I joined the Navy to build upon my uncle’s military legacy while carving my own trail,” Lewis said. “For me, service is a dual commitment: a path toward self-improvement and a means of developing skills.”
Lewis 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.
“Navy Weeks bring the spirit of the sea to inland communities,” Lewis said. “I have 10 years of sea time, so being out there is something I can share with those who have never been. Being back in my hometown to connect with neighbors and give back to the place that started it all is an incredible feeling that reaffirms why I am so proud to serve.”
Today, Lewis serves as a cryptologic technician (collection).
“Sea duty is pretty much like Groundhog Day, which is why a lot of people enjoy it,” Lewis said. “Being out to sea provides structure. You do your normal job, then you usually have 12-16 hours to study, go to the gym, go to the various stores on board, eat or just do whatever activities MWR [the Morale, Welfare and Recreation program] offers. At the end of the day, work is work, but there is plenty of entertainment to be had even out to sea. Have you ever heard of a working party?”
Lewis 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.
“Helping others achieve goals has always been my crowning achievement, especially when they are on the last rung,” Lewis said. “Bringing them all the way back from that place means a lot to me.”
Lewis is grateful for the Pearl City community and for those who helped make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank all of the friends I have met along the way on this journey,” Lewis added.
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/.