Colonel Adele Rugg

October 19, 2024

Adele Rugg was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel in 1990, for the work she has done for the Maui community in Hawai’i. Colonel Rugg, a Delaware native, relocated to Maui, where she worked as an executive assistant to former Council Member and Mayor Alan Arakawa. Since then, she has only become more involved.  

She currently belongs to more than a dozen organizations: board president of Maui Green & Beautiful; board member of Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO); Kīhei Community Association and Kīhei Canoe Club; Maui Arts & Cultural Center; International Human Learning Resources Network; Queen Dive Dell-Luscious of the Red Hot Mamas of Maui. She monitors South Maui parks as part of the Citizens’ Patrol. As a member of the Dawn Patrol, she looks for nesting honu, green sea turtles native to Hawaiʻi. She is “First State Coordinator” for Delaware Day, the annual celebration to honor the first state of Delaware. This will be the 36th year that Colonel Adele has hosted the Delaware Day celebration. 

The Kihei Canoe Club, that Colonel Rugg belongs to, offers a “Visitor Paddle” day two days a week for individuals to participate from around the world. Earlier this month, two of the club’s visitors happened to be Kentucky Colonels Andy Stephenson and Jim Combs from Kentucky. 

Colonel Adele is one of two 2024 Kupuna Advocates of the Year named in an event held by MEO. A kupuna is an honored elder who has acquired enough life experience to become a community leader and is expected to speak out on important issues for the community. In 2011, she was named Outstanding Older American. The Kentucky Colonels are honored to have a versatile individual like Colonel Rugg among our ranks! 

Scroll to Top

Passionate about being compassionate?

Your contribution to the Good Works Program today helps us improve the lives of Kentuckians tomorrow and for years to come.
 
Skip to content