Kyle Nakamine uses his passion for prose and desire to help in reaching out to others. Hawaii Kai boy triumphs
Michelle Cournoyer, Star-Bulletin
as marathon reader,
fund-raiser"I don't even remember it, but my mom says I used to read to the kids in my (preschool) classroom," the 11-year-old said.
But reading is just one of the many gifts he shares.
Kyle gathered 100 sponsors who donated $1,500 to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Hawaii Chapter READaTHON.
"People used to pay 25 cents a book," his mother Jan Nakamine said.
"After they got to know how many books he reads, they started giving flat donations."
Executive Director Maryellen Markley honored him at a student awards ceremony at Wilson Elementary School in Hawaii Kai on Friday.
"The state's biggest fund-raiser for the fourth year in a row is . . . " said Markley.
"KYLE NAKAMINE!" yelled his classmates.
His school placed second in the state behind the national winner, Maemae Elementary. Students there raised more than $17,000 and Wilson Elementary collected $13,000.
"He is a truly remarkable student," Markley said. "People can sense his sincerity, and that's why they line up every year to support his efforts."
His family, parents' co-workers and friends, have supported him since his first READaTHON at age 6. Kyle's parents, Jan and Dennis, agreed to let him try the READaTHON, if he agreed to take the commitment seriously.
Not only did he take it seriously, he raised more funds than any student in the state that year and every year since.
"When he comes home with the brochures, I ask him if he is willing to give 100 percent," Jan said. "And every time he says, 'YES! YES! YES!' "
She helps him get organized, contact donors and set quotas for daily reading.
Kyle bolsters his campaign with knowledge he gains reading about multiple sclerosis. He explains to his sponsors how "the brain's messages get mixed up along the way."
Then with encouragement and desire to help, he sets out to beat the previous year's record. Armed with a clipboard and a long list of donors, he works his way through his parents' offices and social circles.
His sponsors' reward comes not only through giving, but in each of the 100 handwritten thank-you's Kyle sends.
When asked how he finds the time to write each note, Kyle said it's not a big deal to take one night to thank everyone for their help.
"I really don't know where he gets his spark," Jan said. "He comes home from school, asking for help getting involved in all sorts of things."
While many students stash video games or pogs in their bag, Kyle brings his Matt Christopher books, hoping to sneak in a read between classes.
Then after school, when student council meetings and junior police officer drills are over, when chores and homework are finally done, he sets his mind free in the world of words.
UH purchasing, inventory to be more efficient
Better. Stronger. Faster.That's what will happen to the University of Hawaii once legislation granting it greater flexibility hits its stride, said UH President Kenneth Mortimer.
For example, one component of such autonomy exempts the university from state procurement and concession laws, allowing UH officials to find another way to process the 35,000 to 40,000 items bought each month by the 10-campus system.
One idea is to give credit cards to college department heads in lieu of purchase orders and receipts so they can buy anything under $500 without a lot of paperwork.
"In this situation, we're going to experiment with some ways in which we can do these things more effectively," Mortimer said.
"We're going to take some risks, but hopefully they'll be risks that we can document while we're taking them, and we're going to figure out better ways to do it."
Gov. Ben Cayetano yesterday signed the UH autonomy bill into law, calling it the beginning of a new era of independence for the university.
The measure takes effect July 1.
Waikiki board member fends off ouster attempt
A Waikiki Neighborhood Board member's effort to oust another member failed last night.Rodger Snow objected to Brett White's continued membership on the board because, he said, White has moved to Hawaii Kai.
He distributed copies of certified mail receipts that showed White accepting mail at a Kaiulani Avenue address in Waikiki and a Kalohelani Place address in Hawaii Kai last week.
White said the Waikiki apartment "is my primary address."
Chairman Sam Bren said he has seen White's rental contract for a Waikiki apartment and determined that White is registered to vote in Waikiki.
A motion asking for a Neighborhood Commission investigation was defeated 10-2.
White later was re-elected as board vice chairman, and Bren was re-elected as chairman.
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Police/Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffAll-A student faces trial in traffic death
An Aug. 24 trial has been scheduled for a 16-year-old Moiliili girl charged with second-degree negligent homicide for her alleged role in the death of a teen-age passenger last year in a Kahala traffic accident.Michael Green, the girl's attorney, yesterday said he would review the evidence to determine if a Family Court trial would serve a purpose for the defendant or the victim's family.
The state has charged the girl as a juvenile and will prosecute her in Family Court, where the maximum penalty is incarceration at a youth facility until age 19.
If the state had prosecuted her as an adult, she could have faced up to five years in prison.
The case will remain closed to the public, based on a ruling by Family Judge John C. Bryant Jr.
Deputy Prosecutor Joseph Lee had argued for the hearing to be open under new laws to open juvenile proceedings for some serious crimes.
In the July 18 incident, the girl allegedly was driving a sports utility vehicle with nine passengers ranging in age from 14 to 16.
The vehicle hit and severed a utility pole before it flipped over, killing Ross Bonilla, a 16-year-old Kaiser High School student.
May 7 police shooting is deemed justified
The Honolulu prosecuting attorney's office has determined there was justification for the May 7 police shooting of Mark Hartman in Kapahulu.Hartman, also known as Mark Harriman, was shot twice while fleeing from officers in a stolen car. While driving away, Hartman allegedly tried to run over an officer, who fired two shots.
Hartman was indicted June 1 for attempted murder of a police officer, auto theft, leaving the scene of an accident and two counts each of criminal property damage and drug offenses.
Maui councilman faces drunken driving charge
WAILUKU -- Maui Councilman Wayne Nishiki was arrested and charged with drunken driving yesterday following a traffic stop in Wailuku, police said.Acting Sgt. Ericlee Correa said Nishiki was "very cooperative" throughout the incident.
"When I was there, he conducted himself well," Correa said. "He wasn't belligerent."
Nishiki posted $257 in bail and was released. He was unavailable for comment.
Police said Nishiki was heading toward Kihei on Honoapiilani Highway in his station wagon and, shortly before 1:30 p.m., was stopped at Kuikahi Drive near the entrance to Wailuku Heights after it went partially off the road.
Police said Nishiki's breath alcohol content was .125, over the legal limit of .080.
Armed robbers take cash register in Waipahu
Police are searching for three men who robbed a Waipahu business by gunpoint yesterday.The suspects entered the business at 94-366 Pupupani St. at about 4:25 p.m., police said.
One man held a gun to a 60-year-old employee while another man stole the cash register. A third man stood as a lookout.
The suspects then fled. No injuries were reported.
Officers later recovered the cash register near Waipahu Elementary School.
Man picking lychees falls off ladder, dies
A 77-year-old man died yesterday when he fell 40 feet while picking lychees in the backyard of his Nuuanu home.The man was on a ladder at his Rosebank Place home when he fell at about 2:31 p.m., police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Bank robber in Aiea fits details in other thefts
The Aiea branch of American Savings Bank was robbed yesterday by a man fitting the description of a suspect who has robbed three other banks since May 20.The suspect is about 6 feet tall and more than 250 pounds, with collar-length hair and a goatee.
He entered the bank at 99-115 Aiea Heights Drive at 10:10 a.m. and handed the teller a demand note written on a brown paper bag.
He fled the bank on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.
The suspect fits the description of a man responsible for robberies of Bank of Hawaii's Mapunapuna branch May 20 and two First Hawaiian Bank branches -- at Makiki May 27 and and Aina Haina June 1.
Yesterday's holdup was the 22nd robbery of a financial institution in Hawaii this year.
Maui eatery fire costs $28,000 in damage
WAILUKU -- Maui fire officials are investigating the cause of a fire that led to $28,000 in damage to the International House of Pancakes in Kihei.Assistant Fire Chief Clayton Ishikawa said no one was injured and the fire was contained to the kitchen. Firefighters received the alarm at 9:40 a.m. yesterday and had the fire extinguished by 10 a.m., he said.
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