By: Jonathan Bennett

Employees are paid to do certain jobs, however people who go above and beyond time and time again deserve some added praise. This is exactly what happened for Thomas Nizo, the Pacific Missile Range Facility's facilities operations specialist, who recently received the Ho'okanaka Adult Leadership Award, The Garden Island reports.

Along with working a 9 to 5 job, Nizo spends much of his free time helping out with many groups within his community. Nizo is an active part of the Waimea Project Graduation, the Waimea youth baseball league, Waimea Historic Theater, the West Kaua'i Lions Club and the West Kaua'i Technology and Visitor Center, to name a few.

The recognition award is given out to anyone in the community who serves and improves the life on the Hawaiian island. Nizo was selected as the recipient over 20 other adults and 8 youths. He admitted it was an honor to be recognized, however he doesn't help out around town to gain praise or awards, instead he volunteers to make his community better.

"I was humbled and honored to get the award. It was a field full of adults and youth who all do so much for our island in their own way," Nizo said in a statement. "I never looked for recognition for the service I do, but I was grateful to accept it on behalf of all of the people in the community I have worked with."