HONOLULU – Former University of Hawai'i track and field coach Rick Nakashima is the recipient of the 2025 Kāne Fernandez Community Service Award, presented by the UH Letterwinners Club.
Nakashima received his award during intermission at the men's volleyball game on Saturday, March 28 at the Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
 
As CEO-Partner of Ruby Tuesday Hawai'i, Nakashima is a big supporter of UH Athletics and participates in the Hawai'i Restaurant Association's Braddahhood and Sistahhood Grindz nutrition program providing supplemental meals for our student-athletes. Through his restaurant, he's also provided tens of thousands of meals to those in need. Most recently, partnering with Aloha United Way, he helped raise money for AUW programs and initiatives.

This annual award is named for the late Kāne Fernandez, chairman and chief executive officer of Fernandez Entertainment, who passed away in 2001 and is one of the original members of the UHLWC. The UHLWC presents the award annually to a past letterwinner who has volunteered unselfishly to further advance the community.

UHLWC is comprised of former student-athletes and coaches (as honorary members) of the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa Athletics.