Kyle Nakatsuka

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Kyle Nakatsuka

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Miracle Helekahi, Zachary Pezzillo and Kyle Nakatsuka were named distinguished recipients of the HMSA Kaimana Awards scholarship at a luncheon Saturday at the Hawaii Prince Hotel.

The three were selected among 22 students from around the state honored for not just for their participation in athletics, but for their excellence in academics and community service. Each of the 22 winners were awarded $2000 scholarships. Each of the three distinguished winners were given an additional $1000.

This is third of three mini-profiles on each of the distinguished recipients.

Kamehameha-Kapalama graduate Kyle Nakatsuka is seemingly always ahead of the pack.

He was unable to attend the Kaimana Awards luncheon because he was in Texas working on his science internship.

But before he left the Islands, he made it a better place.

Nakatsuka, a water polo player, swimmer and cross country runner, as well as a tri- and bi-athlete, turned his love of cycling and knowledge of mechanics into a service that saves youths in the Kalihi Valley community.

The Eagle Scout, National Honor Society president and National Merit Commended Scholar volunteered at the Kalihi Valley Instructional Bike Exchange (KVIBE), teaching youths primarily from the Kalihi's two housing projects how to build their own bikes from scratch from discarded parts. And when the program's funding was threatened, he organized a movement that helped it earn a $1000 grant from Matson Navigation Company. His efforts included testifying at zoning hearings, creating a video to petition signatures and donations and coordinating a 350-hour, 70-person volunteer project.

Nakatsuka, whose brother Nathan was a Kaimana distinguished winner in 2008, noted his career goal is to serve native Hawaiians in a community health clinic.