Mufi Hannemann of the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association presents the $1,000 scholarship to Ray-Anne Dela Cruz of Baldwin High School.

HONOLULU – The Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association (HLTA) recently awarded its second annual Ho’okipa Scholarships of $1,000 to each of three high school students representing several counties.

The scholarship was introduced last year in observance of HLTA’s 70th anniversary and to further the organization’s commitment to recognizing outstanding students and their academic achievements.

It is granted to students enrolled in a hospitality program or taking hospitality classes in high school.

Mufi Hannemann, HLTA president and CEO, said, “This is the hospitality industry’s way of commending and rewarding high school students for their interest in travel and tourism and for their pursuit of potential careers in this business. We need young people with the energy, ideas and enthusiasm to fill the ranks of our local industry leadership, and we hope that this recognition will inspire them in their educational and career endeavors.”

This year’s recipients are Claudia Hanson of Kapa’a High School?on Kauai, Satoko Davidson of McKinley High School?in Honolulu and Ray-Anne Dela Cruz of Baldwin High School?on Maui.?

Ray-Anne was a member of her school’s National Honor Society, president of the Baldwin Theatre Guild and treasurer of the Aloha Club, a community service group in which students volunteer for various events to improve the surrounding neighborhood and schools.

She helped organize an event through her Spanish class to raise $500 for a scholarship for a student going to college.

Ray-Anne plans to major in business management at the University of San Francisco in the fall and gain the skills necessary for a career in the hospitality industry.

The Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association is a nonprofit, statewide trade organization of lodging properties, lodging owners and management companies, suppliers and related firms and individuals.

Founded in 1947, it is now the state’s largest private sector tourism organization. Today, HLTA consists of nearly 700 members representing the state’s leading industry, 170 of which are lodging properties with almost 51,500 rooms.