HONOLULU – Former University of Hawai'i boxer Tom Shimabuku will be awarded with the 2006 Kane Fernandez Community Service Award at this Saturday's basketball game against Louisiana Tech at the Stan Sheriff Center. Shimabuku will be the sixth recipient of the award, presented annually to a past UH letterwinner who has volunteered his or her support unselfishly to further advance their community.

Shimabuku lettered for UH from 1951-55. An NCAA bronze medalist for the Rainbows, Shimabuku is a retired State Farm Insurance agent and a retired Air National Guard officer. He is a member of the UH Letterwinners Club, serving on the Board of Directors.

Besides supporting the University, Shimabuku is the president of the Okinawan Genealogy Society of Hawai'i. His past services include serving eight years on the State Boxing Commission, State Consumer Advisory Council, was the co-founder and president of the Maunawili Estates Community Association, President of the Hawai'i State Chartered Life Underwriters Association, District Chairman of the Aloha United Fund, and President of the Urasoe Club, just to name a few.

The award is named for the late Kane Fernandez, chairman and chief executive officer of Fernandez Entertainment, who passed away in January 2001. He was one of the original members of the UH Letterwinners Club.