Joji Miner-Ho might be soft-spoken, but the Kapaa High School junior has made an impact on students and staff at school.
So much so that she was just selected to be Kapaa High School’s Islander Scholar — a distinction that is garnered through teacher recommendations and is awarded to only one student at each of Hawaii’s schools a year.
It’s a program that’s meant to foster strong leadership among high school seniors, and helps train those leaders before they reach that senior year.
Miner-Ho was honored Wednesday at a small ceremony at Kapaa High, with parents Arlen and Latila Miner-Ho and sister Faith Miner-Ho in attendance, as well as some Kapaa High staff and faculty.
“This was very humbling for Joji,” said Nancy Borilez, parent-community networking center facilitator.
“Her parents acknowledge that Joji is a fine example to her own family.”
Those chosen for Islander Scholars embody characteristics like a commitment to excellence, aloha, well-being and a dedication to Hawaii. The purpose of the distinction is to encourage students to “have a deeper sense of purpose after they leave high school,” according to Islander Scholars.
Being a well-rounded student is also part of becoming an Islander Scholar, and Miner-Ho embodies that characteristic as well — for instance, she’s involved in sports and things like automotive competitions.
Just before being selected as Kapaa High School’s Islander Scholar, Miner-Ho returned to Kauai from the 2019 State of Hawaii Skills/USA Competition, where she was competing in the automotive category. The results aren’t in on how she placed, yet.
“She did well for only having Auto 1 under her belt,” Borilez said. “Next year she’ll be in Auto 2 and ready.”
In addition to the honor of being chosen, Miner-Ho will also be going to a three-day conference on Hawaii Island in June to learn from like-minded students at the Islander Scholars Academy.
She’ll hear from cultural practitioners, mentors and then take that kuleana with her during her senior year at Kapaa High, and further on through life.
