Retired Vice Adm. Robert Kihune and the late Paige Barber have been selected as this year's recipients of the 2006 O'o Awards given by the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce.

Inaugurated in 1976, the O'o Awards recognize Native Hawaiians who have made significant contributions to improve their communities and the status of Native Hawaiians.

Kihune is chief executive of Sandwich Isles Communications Inc., a trustee and vice chairman of Kamehameha Schools and chairman of the USS Missouri Memorial Association.

A 1955 graduate of Kamehameha Schools, Kihune graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1959, with a bachelor's degree in marine engineering and received a graduate degree in electrical engineering in 1965. He retired from the Navy in 1994 after 35 years of service.

Barber, an advocate for Native Hawaiian home ownership, was the founder, president and chief executive officer of Nanakuli Housing Corp., a non-profit housing organization serving low income Native Hawaiian families. Barber also founded Base Yard Hawaii, another non-profit that recycles used construction materials, appliances and building supplies for reuse by low income homeowners.

An awards ceremony and banquet will be May 5 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Tapa Ballroom. For more information, call 682-5767.