Name: Christopher Willson
Age: 17
School: Kamehameha Schools
Pastimes: Water sports
Future: Pilot, doctor

He tested a healing method used by ancient Hawaiians, extracting toxic venom from sea urchins to fight cancer tumors. Willson found the ancient practice worked, resulting in a 60 percent inhibition in laboratory-cultured cancer cells.

"I've always been interested in investigating nonstandard techniques, things that aren't really looked at," said Willson, a senior at Kamehameha Schools.

Teacher and mentor Lawrence Mordan says Willson is "a good student, works hard, very bright and self-motivated."

He spent countless hours during class, after school and on weekends working on the original research project, Mordan adds.

This summer, Willson has enrolled in a flight program at Embroyriddle University in Arizona to help him decide whether his future lies in being a pilot or a doctor.

His cancer project took first place at the school science fair, first place in his district and second place overall in the state to earn him a trip to the international science fair in Arizona.

The son of Donna and Richard Willson of Kailua received awards for his research from the Hawaii Medical Association, BHP Hawaii, Hawaii Surgical Association and American Cancer Society.