The Republican Convention’s final night is tonight, Thursday, August 30, and a Hilo boy will play a key role. Dylan Nonaka, 31, will lead the Pledge of Allegiance onstage in front of 20,000 people in Tampa, Florida…and millions more watching online and on television.
Nonaka graduated from UH Hilo. He is a Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq and is still with the Army Reserve in Hilo. He worked as Governor Linda Lingle’s liaison for Hilo, and is the former head of the State Republican Party. He also served on the State Reapportionment Commission. He is now working as a political consultant and lives in Hilo with his wife and two boys. His Dad, Jay Nonaka, and Mom, Casey de los Santos, live on the Kona side.
Nonaka has long been active in the Republican Party, but this is his first convention. He said it’s a huge honor to be selected to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
You can see it live on CSPAN at 1:00 this afternoon. It’s not clear if the national prime time television coverage will include the Pledge of Allegiance, but it’s not likely. The Republican Convention is also online.
His Dad Jay Nonaka said this morning that Dylan’s been practicing saying the Pledge over and over. He said Dylan and the entire ‘ohana are excited about this huge honor.
Note: Nonaka delivered a flawless rendering of the Pledge of Allegiance. He looked terrific, with a stunning maile lei befitting a member of the Hawaii delegation to the Republican National Convention who was on stage on the biggest night of the convention.
Mitt Romney, Dylan Nonaka
