Scholarship recipients include (clockwise from top left): Nicholas Agdeppa, Paige Cajudoy, Audrey Casicas, Lorelei Visitation, Aida Lyne Taylan and Courtney Ruidas.

NAPILI – The Napili Kai Foundation’s 2016 scholarship awards, totaling $20,000, were presented on May 17 at the conclusion of its special performance heralding the start of its 50th year of existence at Napili Kai Beach Resort.

The awards were provided by four different scholarship funds.

The J.C. Millar Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 1986 to honor the founder of Napili Kai Beach Resort for the benefit of the graduates of the Napili Kai Foundation and the children of employees of the resort. It is supported by the shareholders and owners of the resort, by the weekly keiki hula show and with community fundraisers.

The Perna-Rose Foundation for Hope was founded in 2009 by Janet Perna and Melanie Rose, both of whom retired after more than 30 years in executive positions at IBM. Their foundation reaches out nationally and internationally to help a wide variety of organizations committed to improving their communities in a sustainable way.

The Stubblefield Scholarship Fund was established by the late Barbara and Bert Stubblefield, lifelong supporters of the Napili Kai Foundation and frequent visitors of the Napili Kai Beach Resort, to award scholarships to the children of the employees of the resort who may wish to pursue technical training.

And the Dennis Wilkinson Memorial Scholarship Fund was started five years ago by Dennis’ widow, Jamie, his family and friends, who wanted to honor and memorialize him. The late Mr. Wilkinson was an architect and owner of a unit of the Napili Lani wing of Napili Kai Beach Resort.

The eight awardees, who are all graduates and alumni of Lahainaluna High School, are:

Paige Cajudoy, a ten-year member of the Napili Kai Foundation. She is studying microbiology/pre-pharmacy at the University of Hawaii, Manoa Campus in Honolulu. This is her third award from the Perna-Rose Foundation for Hope in the amount of $5,000. Paige also received $1,000 from the J.C. Millar Memorial Scholarship Fund to help her in her senior year.

Courtney Ruidas, also a ten-year member of the Napili Kai Foundation, is already attending Western Oregon University, pursuing a major in gerontology with a minor in health. She was awarded $3,500 from the J.C. Millar Memorial Scholarship Fund. This is her first award.

Aida Lyne Taylan, whose mother, Carina, has worked in the Sea House Restaurant of Napili Kai Beach Resort for 13 years, received $2,000 from the J.C. Millar Memorial Scholarship Fund and $1,000 from the Stubblefield Scholarship Fund. This is Aida’s fourth award. She is pursuing, very successfully, a degree in culinary arts at the University of Hawaii, Maui Campus.

Kaila Ompoy-King is not only a 12-year member of the Napili Kai Foundation, but she is also the daughter and granddaughter of three employees of Napili Kai Beach Resort. She graduates this year and is planning to attend Seattle Central and major in fashion design. She was awarded $1,000 from the Stubblefield Fund as well as $1,500 from the J.C. Millar Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Windell Taylan, also the son of Carina, who works in the Sea House Restaurant, is already attending the University of Hawaii Maui College, and plans to major in sustainable construction technology. This is his first award; he received $2,000 from the Dennis Wilkinson Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Audrey Casicas’ mother, Lorene Akiona, has been the Napili Kai Beach Resort’s recreation manager for 13 years. She is attending the University of Hawaii Maui College, planning to obtain a degree in hospitality and tourism. For her second award, Audrey received $1,000 from the J.C. Millar Memorial Scholarship Fund and $1,000 from the Stubblefield Scholarship Fund.

Lorilei Visitacion, whose father is the assistant controller of the resort, received her third award: $500 from the J.C. Millar Memorial Scholarship Fund. Lorilei is attending the University of Washington, majoring in biology and women’s studies.

Nicholas Agdeppa, whose father, Nick, is a painter and member of the Engineering Department of the resort, also received $500 from the J.C. Millar Memorial Scholarship Fund. He plans to major in music and education at Seattle Central Community College.

Perpetuating its mission to preserve the culture of Hawaii through the children of Maui, the Napili Kai Foundation is the oldest running keiki hula show in the State of Hawaii.

NKF has been awarding higher education scholarships to its graduates and to the children of employees of Napili Kai Beach Resort for more than 25 years.

For more information, visit www.napilikaifoundation.org.