Tabata, Kakazu honored with top Scouting leader awards

LIHU‘E — Lyle Tabata needed permission from his supervisor at work to attend an awards ceremony last week.

“Can I go, boss?” Tabata asked Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. on Tuesday afternoon.

Tabata, recently appointed as  deputy county engineer, and Franklin Kakazu were honored by Carvalho on being named recipients of the Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver award.

“This award is presented for noteworthy service of exceptional character to youth and is the highest award that can be presented by the BSA Aloha Council,” said Helen Shirota Benevides, the Silver Beaver chairperson, in a letter read by Carvalho. “We are pleased to honor you for your involvement and service to Scouting, church and the community.”

Those words were echoed by Carvalho, who was thrilled because one of his appointees was the recipient of such an honor.

Tabata and Kakazu will be recognized during the BSA Aloha Council’s annual banquet on Feb. 24 aboard the U.S.S. Missouri.

Vianne Tabata, Lyle’s wife and a leader with the BSA Aloha Council, Kaua‘i, said both Scoutmasters will also be honored during the Aloha Council, Kaua‘i Recognition Dinner, Jan. 29.

“Frank is well-known throughout Kaua‘i for his devotion to Scouting,” said Tommy Contrades in his nomination letter for Kakazu. “He is much loved, and well respected in the Scouting community.”

Contrades pointed out that in addition to being named Cubmaster of the Year in 1983 and 1984, Kakazu is always willing to help anyone, regardless of which cub pack or troop a scout belongs.

“He is a very quiet and unassuming person,” Contrades said. “He volunteers in many areas, especially for his church where he has served as a bishop for the Lihu‘e Ward, high counselor for the Kaua‘i Hawai‘i Stake, and Kaua‘i Stake Executive Secretary. Being in these positions has made Frank an invaluable resource for Scouting on Kaua‘i.”

Tabata, nominated by Dr. William Bodenstab, is described as the “ideal Scoutmaster.”

“Lyle represents the ‘ideal Scoutmaster’ in many ways, as I have learned in the past five years,” Bodenstab said. “He easily commands the respect and admiration of all Scouts, Cubs, Boy Scouts and Venturers with whom he comes in contact with. This starts with his own sons, two of whom attained the rank of Eagle Scout, and the dozens of Scouts for whom he has mentored in the Troop 148 for the past seven years, the Scouts he has taught aquatics programs to, and the Summer Camp and year-round Merit Badge Counselorship.”

Bodenstab said Tabata has provided leadership to Cub Scout Pack, Troop, and Crew 148 for 15 years, the troop sponsored by the Lihu‘e Christian Church being the largest and most active in the Aloha Council, Kaua‘i district.

He was instrumental in the start of the Venture Crew as part of his Woodbadge Ticket, and Crew 148 became the first natural unit from Kaua‘i to attend Philmont in June. 2009.

Additionally, eight of Tabata’s Scouts were the only Kaua‘i youth to participate in the 2010 National Jamboree which celebrated the 100th anniversary of Boy Scouting.

Bodenstab said 13 of Tabata’s Scouts have achieved the Eagle Scout rank, the highest rank earned by a Boy Scout. In addition to his Scouting achievements, Bodenstab said Tabata has been an active member of the G.N. Wilcox Memorial Hospital Board and has been nominated for a position on the Hawai‘i Pacific Health Board, participating regularly in Wilcox Hospital fundraising efforts.

Tabata also has been active in the Salvation Army lunch programs, the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and the Firefighters’ Auxiliary.

Kimberly Paglinawan of the Aloha Council, Kauai, said normally there is only one Silver Beaver award presented for every 50 boy scout troops.

Kaua‘i has 41 troops spread islandwide, and the Silver Beaver Committee felt both Tabata and Kakazu were worthy of the awards and granted an exemption, so both could become Silver Beaver recipients.