Contractors scholarship breaks new ground

NAWILIWILI — A non-construction recipient earned a scholarship from the Contractors Association of Kaua‘i for the first time, Wednesday evening.

A scholarship fund established in memory of Yasuo and Hisae Minatoya, one of the charter members of the CAK, designated that the scholarship be awarded to a child of a CAK member and does not have to be majoring in a construction field of study.

That was one of two new scholarship programs established for the 2009 presentation, said a CAK spokesperson.

A scholarship established in memory of Guy Matsunaga was one of two earned by Brycen Nakashima, the son of Michal Nakashima and Jon Nakashima of Hanapepe.

In addition to the $1,000 from the Guy Matsunaga Memorial Scholarship, Brycen, a sophomore majoring in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, was presented $1,000 from the Clyde Shigematsu Memorial Scholarship program.

Mokihana Aki, the daughter of Pearl and Mike Aki of Lawa‘i, was presented a $1,000 scholarship from the Minatoya scholarship fund to help her finish her multi-media studies in journalism at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa where she is a senior and carrying a 4.0 grade point average, said Bill Dahle, emcee of the special recognition dinner.

Those two new scholarships were part of $9,500 presented to eight Kaua‘i recipients during the dinner Wednesday night at the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort and Beach Club.

Lance Delos Reyes, the son of Gracie Grace, was presented $1,500 from the Payton Bryan-Chung Memorial Scholarship. That was one of two from that fund, the other being presented to Kaua‘i High School graduate Kelan Adachi, the son of Corey and Sandy Adachi, for $1,000.

Delos Reyes, a 2009 Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama, will be heading to Oregon State University.

Adachi, whose Eagle Scout  construction project of two wheelchair-accessible concrete benches at the Hanapepe Veterans Cemetery is his center of focus before heading off to college.

CAK scholarship recipients include Peterson Dela Cruz, Jr., the son of Jean and Peterson Dela Cruz Sr. of Hanapepe, who graduated with his Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Southern California.

During his tenure there, Dela Cruz Jr., an Air Force ROTC cadet, worked on his Masters Degree concurrently with his bachelors program while maintaining a Dean’s List status. He plans on completing his Masters Degree in Construction Engineering and Management.

Mark Guirao, the son of Nida and Avelino Guirao of Hanapepe, is a sophomore Electrical Engineering student at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona where he is an ROTC cadet and maintains a position on the Dean’s List.

Both Dela Cruz and Guirao’s parents are employees of G&R Sugar and are probably on the tail end of students affiliated with the sugar industry, the CAK spokesperson said.

“They are both really special — academically-gifted and both ROTC cadets,” the spokesperson said. “Mark consistently scores 290 out of 300 in the Army Physical Fitness Test, and Peterson Dela Cruz Jr. helps feel the homeless on Los Angeles’ skid row and reads to students as part of the L.A. Reading to Kids program.”

Lynell Wright, the daughter of U‘ilani and Erwin Wright, was unable to accept her $1,000 scholarship in person since she was tied up with summer school at the Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, where she is a senior majoring in Electrical Engineering.

Garon Nobriga, the son of Rona Nobriga, made a special trip home to join CAK members in accepting his $1,000 scholarship that will help him complete his studies in Civil Engineering at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa where he earned Dean’s List honors.

The CAK was established in 1957 as a trade association of licensed contractors, suppliers and businesses affiliated with the construction industry on Kaua‘i.

• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com