KAPA‘A — A box lunch was a to-go option on Wednesday night when the Kapa‘a High School Foundation hosted two dozen Kapa‘a Warror students and their families and friends to share in more than $55,000 in scholarships coordinated by the Kapa‘a High School Foundation.
“Due to several new donations and endowments, the Kapa‘a High School Foundation Scholarship program was able to offer 57 scholarships this year for a total of $78,500 available,” said Carolyn Morinishi of the Foundation. “We had 25 students apply for scholarships this year, and we were able to award $55,000 to these outstanding students.”
The Pauline and Nicholas “EZ” Street Charitable Fund provided 16 students with $1,000 scholarships each. Recipients are Jovian Lee Agcaoili, Keahilani Bacon, Lacie Binongial, Madison Doo, Mikaila Keawe, Robbin Mizushima, Tirare Regina Morita, Ashlee Nagahiro, Kiani Pia-Salvador, Sophia Potter, Ian Raquel, Emeli Rubel, Juston Sunada, Toni Umalla, Kaya Wilson-Wyle and Shine Winter.
A pair of $5,000 scholarships were presented to Serena Bryan and Michael Questin through the James McCullough Scholarships, and the Huddy Family Foundation offered a $2,000 award to Mikaila Keawe.
Kapa‘a students Keahilani Bacon and Madison Doo were recipients of $2,000 Coach Donald Shishido Memorial Scholarships, and Laulea Miike was the recipient of a $2,500 Abraham Tanaka/Margaret Fortner “Dream Big” Scholarship.
The Daniel S. Hamada Endowment Scholarships of $1,000 each were presented to Emily Hartshorn and Anjoelina Miyashiro-Catbagan. Three $1,000 awards from The Shinichi and Yasuko (Dobashi) Mukai Memorial Scholarships were awarded to Ashlee Nagahiro, Kiani Pia-Salvador and Sophia Potter.
Jack Yatsko, who represented The Nakamura Family Scholarship in Honor of Galen Nakamura, presented a $2,000 scholarship to Kaya Wilson-Wyle.
Ernest Cate Abadacio was the recipient of a $2,000 award from The Nagahiro Family Endowment Scholarship. Abadicio was also the recipient of a $1,000 award from The Clyde Kodani Scholarship, and a $750 award from the LTC Placido and Michelle Valenciano 2023 Junior ROTC Scholarship.
The Kapa‘a Middle School Choir Boosters Club awarded a trio of $500 awards to Keahilani Bacon, Jennifer Hayakawa and Tiare Regina Morita. Shine Winter was the $1,000 scholarship recipient of The Kaua‘i Accounting Resource Company Scholarship. The $1,000 Judge and Judith Fernandez Scholarship was awarded to Kiani Pia-Salvador.
Janice Bond presented $1,000 to a student aiming to become a teacher, Madison Doo. Robbin Mizushima, earlier being recipient of the Kaua‘i Mokihana Club music scholarship, the Gen. Eric Shinseki Scholarship and the Kiwanis Club of Kaua‘i scholarship, received a $2,500 scholarship from the Tad and Margaret Miura Scholarship from Sara Miura.
The Mrs. Adrienne Thronas Scholarship of $1,000 was presented to Emily Hartshorn. Te‘a Rosa is the recipient of $1,000 from The Eunice Kubota Olivas Scholarship.
The Art Fujita Endowment Scholarship of $1,000 was presented to Tiare Regina Morita, which wrapped up the evening of presentations announced by Kapa‘a High School Principal Tommy John Cox and school counselors.
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
