HONOLULU – Former University of Hawai'i football offensive lineman Mitchell Ka'aiali'i will be awarded with the 2012 Kane Fernandez Community Service Award at Saturday's men's basketball game against Cal Poly at the Stan Sheriff Center. Ka'aiali'i is the 12^th recipient of the award, presented annually to a past UH letterwinner who has volunteered his or her support unselfishly to further advance their community.
 
Ka'aiali'i lettered for UH from 1989-91. He is the vice president and area manager of First Hawaiian Bank's Wahiawa Branch, a former President of the Letterwinners Club who now serves on the Board of Directors for the club, and is a board member of Koa Anuenue and the Na Koa Foundation. In addition, he also participates in many community programs such as the Hawai'i Literacy Foundation, Hawai'i Children's Cancer Foundation, the OIA Athletic Association and Makaha Sons Foundation.
 
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.

Past Kane Fernandez Award Recipients
2001        Artie Wilson
2002        Daniel Lau
2003        Dr. Charles Araki
2004        Dennis Chai
2005        Clifford Sanchez
2006        Thomas Shimabuku
2007        James Donovan III
2008        Ed Gayagas
2009        Erika Buder-Nakasone
2010        Riley Mende
2011        K. Mark Takai