KILAUEA — The North Shore Lions Club celebrated the awarding of $40,000 in scholarships to 27 students from the North Shore, Wednesday during a gathering at the Hawaiian Paradise Flowers farm owned by Lion Gary Pacheco.
“They are our hope,” said Janine Hunt of the scholarship recipients. “They are our future. We have hope.”
With the help of Steve and Janine Hunt and their family foundation, the North Shore Lions were able to distribute $40,000 in scholarships for the second straight year. The total amount was due to the Hunt family foundation matching proceeds from the club’s annual golf tournament to a maximum $20,000.
Scholarship amounts ranged from $550 to a maximum of $3,100, said Lion Stuart Cain, a chair of North Shore Lions Club “eating” events, and along with Lion Jerry Moore, a co-chair of the North Shore Lions Club Golf Tournament that is already penciled in for January 9 with a shotgun start at the Princeville Makai Golf Club.
“The golf tournament is the primary source for scholarships,” Moore said. “There are other events that help with the scholarships, but those events raise funds for other community groups like schools and the club’s projects like the recent sidewalk building for the Kilauea Elementary School.”
Steve Hunt said the family’s foundation helps programs involving young people and environmental projects.
“I got involved with the North Shore Lions when our son-in-law registered us to play in the tournament,” Steve said. “I told him, ‘if we win, maybe we’ll match them.’ And, we won, and we’ve matched the tournament fundraising to the maximum of $20,000.”
Janine said the foundation’s mission has always been to help the North Shore youth.
“This is just our little part, and we’re happy to do it,” she said.
Topping the list of scholarship recipients are Taelee Kimura, Kirra Lindman, Olena Kelsey Molina, and Tu Nguyen — each receiving scholarships for $3,100.
Other scholarship recipients include Alise Abell, Leleaka Anakalea, Dato Anapuni, Isabella Ancharski, Kelsea Armstrong, Mahie Beck, Pierce Bevins, Gianna Detrolio, Kauahoa Hermosura, June Hsu, Mary-Martha Hull, Lia Kopesky, Dominic LaFratta, Gabrielle LaFratta, Amber Lis, Gina McNarney, Sydney Maczka, Celeste Makarewicz, Kieran Mitchell, Kelta O’Rourke, Liliana Perry, Junelle Tangalin, and John Walther.
The North Shore Lions Club meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month, starting at 7 a.m. at The Bistro Restaurant in Kilauea. Lion Patrick O’Connell is the club’s president.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
