Kyle Kaneshiro, director of K2TENS and the Moanalua High School tennis program, received the U.S. Professional Tennis Association "Lessons for Life Award" at this week’s annual convention in Monterey, Calif.

The international award recognizes USPTA members who have "done the most to raise money for charities through tennis events" and also honors those who create the most "original or unique tennis event" to raise money.

Kaneshiro, a Waianae graduate who played on the Hawaii Pacific tennis team, raised $200,000 to replace the tennis court lights at Moanalua. The poles were removed by the Department of Education in March 2009 because of safety issues.

Kaneshiro raised the money through grants — most notably Hawaii 3R’s — and donations, clinics with former HPU coach Rosie Bareis and benefit golf and tennis tournaments over two-plus years. He held a blessing for the new lights/courts last November.

Kaneshiro has also hosted tennis tournaments the past five years that raised more than $10,000 for the Hawaii Children’s Cancer Foundation. Additionally, he has helped the University of Hawaii tennis program, Judiciary Juvenile Drug Court and Moanalua Elementary School with clinics and fundraisers.

The Moanalua courts are used for tennis, soft tennis and PE classes by the school. They are also used by junior and adult team tennis, adult education, the Honolulu Tennis League, New Hope Tennis Ministry and adult night programs. More than 13,000 people are involved in tennis programs at Moanalua annually.