Editor’s note: Cabuyadao was commissioned as a U.S. Navy officer on December 19 and earned her bachelor’s degree from UH Mānoa on December 20..
For Navy officer candidate Gellie Cabuyadao, the path to her December 2025 graduation from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa reflects a deep commitment to service under extraordinary circumstances.
Cabuyadao will earn a bachelor of business administration in management information systems while completing training through UH Mānoa’s Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC). Injured during the New Year’s fireworks disaster in Salt Lake just after midnight on January 1, 2025, she returned to the scene to ensure her girlfriend and brother were safe and helped provide immediate care.
Selected in 2022 for the Navy’s highly competitive Seaman to Admiral–21 (STA–21) commissioning program, Cabuyadao is the program’s first active–duty Sailor to graduate from UH Mānoa through NROTC.
A defining moment of courage
Just after midnight on January 1, Cabuyadao was inside a garage when sparks struck her leg and a sudden flash of fire surged toward her. The blast knocked her forward. “I felt intense heat on my arms, face and hair, and then everything went quiet except for a ringing sound,” she recalled.
She ran to safety, extinguishing flames on her clothing as fireworks continued exploding. Moments later, thinking of her girlfriend and brother, she turned back. “I just needed to find them to make sure they were safe,” she said.
Despite her injuries and the chaos of the scene, Cabuyadao located her loved ones, escorted them away from danger and helped provide immediate care until additional assistance arrived. She was later awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for heroic achievement, recognizing her courage, rapid response and decisive action despite being injured.
“The recognition has not changed how I see myself or how I act,” she said. “I do not consider myself a hero. My instinct was to protect the people I love.”
Six people died in the accident, and more than 20 others were injured.
Family, roots and early Navy service
Raised in Salt Lake by parents who immigrated from the Philippines, Cabuyadao credits her family’s sacrifices for shaping her sense of duty. With parents working long shifts to support the family, she learned independence early, often caring for her siblings and walking home through nearby military housing.
A 2016 graduate of Moanalua High School, Cabuyadao enlisted in the U.S. Navy shortly after graduation. She began her career as an information systems technician at Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Pacific in Wahiawā, supporting satellite and telecommunications systems critical to Navy operations across the Pacific.
“That early experience showed me how essential my role is to mission success,” she said. “Leadership exists at every level. Commissioning felt like the right step because I wanted the responsibility of making final calls and leading others.”
Through the STA–21 program, Cabuyadao remained on active duty while completing her degree and training with UH Mānoa’s NROTC unit, blending academics with leadership development.
Balancing service, studies and resilience
Balancing early–morning physical training and military obligations with a full academic load tested her limits. She met the challenge with discipline, careful planning and support from her chain of command, NROTC staff, professors and peers to stay on track.
“Managing both responsibilities strengthened my confidence and showed me I can perform under pressure,” she said.
Fear is allowed to be there, but it does not limit me…I know I can move forward and get through what’s in front of me.
—Gellie Cabuyadao
Surviving the fireworks incident also reshaped her perspective. With support from family, friends, healthcare professionals and the community, Cabuyadao gave herself time to process the trauma.
“Fear is allowed to be there, but it does not limit me,” she said. “I know I can move forward and get through what’s in front of me.”
Graduating from UH Mānoa carries additional significance. Cabuyadao is the first Filipina American, first woman and first commissioned officer in her family to hold this milestone.
“I hope my journey shows that people from communities like mine belong in these spaces, and their stories and perseverance matter,” she said.
Looking ahead, Cabuyadao plans to take on every opportunity the Navy offers—traveling widely, holding herself to high standards and leading by example.
“As a leader, I want to challenge Sailors to be comfortable getting uncomfortable,” she said. “Long–term mission success depends on mental resilience as much as physical readiness.”
