Wayne Kamitaki, CEO of House Mart, a family business comprising some of the Ben Franklin Craft stores in Hawaii and Ace Hardware in Hawaii, received the Hilo Y’s Men and Women’s Club’s first Outstanding Hero Award on June 14 at Kenichi Restaurant in Hilo.
Wayne Kamitaki, CEO of House Mart, a family business comprising some of the Ben Franklin Craft stores in Hawaii and Ace Hardware in Hawaii, received the Hilo Y’s Men and Women’s Club’s first Outstanding Hero Award on June 14 at Kenichi Restaurant in Hilo.
The Outstanding Hero Award was created to honor an individual or business that supports and advances the Hilo Y’s Men and Women’s Club’s core purpose — service to the YMCA. Since its founding in 1938, the Hilo Y’s Men and Women’s Service Club has provided leadership and financial support to the Hawaii Island YMCA.
Kamitaki’s association with the YMCA started when he was a Hi-Y teen member at Nuuanu YMCA on Oahu. In 1970, he was elected youth governor of the YMCA’s Model Legislature Program. Kamitaki served as Hawaii Island YMCA board chairman and continues to serve as a volunteer on the Y’s property/facilities committee.
For 67 years, the Hilo Y’s Men’s Service Club has brought the spirit of Christmas to Hilo through it’s annual Christmas tree sale fundraiser.
“I remember the muddy grounds at Mo‘oheau Park when buying my first tree some 40 years ago,” Kamitaki remembers.
Proceeds from the annual tree sale supports the Y’s youth and senior programs, making it affordable for island families.