Palolo Chinese Home has received the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification for its Lani Booth Building renovation. The LEED Certification for Commercial Interiors Rating System was designed by the U.S. Green Building Council to encourage and facilitate the development of more sustainable tenant spaces. PCH's push towards achieving the LEED designation was the brainchild of former CEO Leigh-Wai Doo.

Island Insurance Foundation recently recognized public school principals nominated for the Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award. They are: Nathan Aiwohi, Hanalei Elementary; Duwayne Abe, Salt Lake Elementary; Myron Brumaghim, Nanaikapono Elementary; Stanley Kayatani, Kalihi-Kai Elementary; Lloyd Matsunami, Kaumana Elementary; Fern Markgraf, Kahului Elementary; Steve Nakasato, Mililani Ike Elementary; Mitchell Otani, Kane'ohe Elementary; Norman Pang, Holomua Elementary; Charlotte Unni, Ala Wai Elementary; Claire Yoshida, Kona Waena Elementary.

Individuals representing leading medical institutions on O'ahu were recently honored by the Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition for their years of dedication and volunteer work to make the child passenger safety seat program a reality that has saved countless lives. They are: Karen Tessier, University of Hawai'i School of Nursing; Nola Faria and Lisa Dau of Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children; Lois Arakaki of Kalihi-Palama Health Center; Wendy Miyamoto, Katie Barbieto and Lisa Nishikawa of The Queen's Medical Center; Pi'ilani Kai of Waimanalo Health Center; Ivy Johnson of Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center; Dan Martyniuk of U.S. Navy Family Support Services; Alice Mello of Kahuku Hospital; and Carol Moreno of Tripler Army Medical Center.

Maryknoll School will honor Hawai'i sport superstar Wally Yonamine as its 2007 Monsignor Charles A. Kekumano Award recipient for his commitment and devotion to the community. Yonamine and Maryknoll junior Cheri Amas, this year's Kekumano scholar, will be celebrated at the annual scholarship dinner.

A Maui native, Yonamine is known as one of Hawai'i finest athletes. His baseball legacy has helped strengthen Japan-Hawai'i relations. For more than a decade, the Wally Yonamine Foundation has sponsored the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association's Annual Baseball Tournament.

Aloha Council Boy Scouts of America recently installed new board members.

They are: Kirk Belsby of Kamehameha Schools; Shari Chang of ResortQuest; Audrey Hidano of Hidano Construction; Frank Kudo of New City Nissan; Gabe Lee of American Savings Bank; Kelly Sanders of Sheraton Waikiki; Lance Wilhelm of Kiewit Building Group; David Wong of Marriott International, Inc.; and Daniel E. Zettle of Hopaco/Office Max.

The Aloha Council serves 18,000 youths on every island except Maui, as well as the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

The goals of the council's strategic plan are: to identify, recruit, train and motivate the best possible adult volunteer and professional leadership available; create opportunities for Scout-age youth and their families to join traditional values-based Scouting programs, create quality programs as well as opportunities for culturally diverse and Scout-age youth and their families in rural and urban areas; and increase resources for operating, capital and endowment dollars.

University of Hawai'i Emeritus Professor Klaus Wyrtki has been elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in 2007. He is most well-known for providing a key piece to the El Nino puzzle. He was the first to understand that ocean conditions more than 5,000 miles away in the far-western equatorial Pacific affect the ocean temperatures off the coast of Peru.

The National Japanese American Memorial Foundation Chairman's Award was recently presented posthumously to the late U.S. Sen. Spark Matsunaga. The Patriotism Award went to U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka.

The award was presented to Matsunaga for raising the nation's awareness of the Japanese Americans' contributions to the nation. Matt Matsunaga, the senator's son, accepted the award.

Akaka's award epitomizes his life of giving to his government and his people.

Hawai'i Pacific University recently recognized three outstanding alumni at the Paul C.T. Loo Distinguished Alumni Awards. They are: Professional Achievement Awardee, Barbara Ideta, a leader in Hawai'i's healthcare industry; Alumni Service Awardee, Ralf Mitteregger, an outstanding member of the HPU Alumni Association; and Young Alumni Awardee, Evan Leong, an outstanding role model for future alumni.

The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel recently announced that Eric S.T. Young has been elected a Fellow of the College.

The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel is a national association of more than 2,500 lawyers who have made outstanding contributions to the field of trust and estate law.