John Henry Felix is no stranger to the limelight, yet he was still taken aback when he learned that his name had been submitted for consideration for recognition for his public service.

Felix is one of two men and three women from Hawai'i who were chosen as recipients of this year's Jefferson Award for Public Service. He and the other four recipients will be honored at a luncheon today. One of the five will be chosen to represent the state at a national ceremony in June in Washington, D.C.

Ever since Felix was an 8-year-old Cub Scout, he has volunteered his time. It's ingrained in the man, who is now 78.

"There are needs out in the community that have to be met," Felix said. "It gives me a great deal of personal satisfaction to help those who cannot take care of themselves. It is the core of who I am."

In addition to his volunteer work, Felix was instrumental in founding Hawai'i Public Radio as well as the Red Cross Societies in Western Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and Papua New Guinea, and was an international delegate and governor for the National Red Cross. As a city councilman for 16 years, Felix chaired several committees.

Volunteering helps government and the community get ahead, Felix said.

"Government cannot do it all," he said. "We need volunteer organizations to come together to collaborate with government to make things happen. That's the genius of American society."

With that in mind, consider that Felix: received a papal appointment to be a Knight of Malta; was the former chairman of the National Eagle Scout Association in Hawai'i; and was a commissioner for the Boy Scouts of America Aloha Council for six years. Other volunteer positions include national chairman of the March of Dimes and chairman of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.

"It is for these reasons and from my own experience of personal growth and enrichment ... that I am proud to nominate him," said Karen Mukai, president and chief operating officer of Abilities Unlimited.