LAHAINA — The Lahainaluna High School Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of its various scholarship awards from Lahainaluna High School’s Class of 2023, along with previous graduates receiving their renewable awards.

The scholarship awards presentation was done in-person in Hale Pa’ina (the school cafeteria) for the first time since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. Last year, the ceremony was done virtually.

The annual event is coordinated by the school’s College and Career Center directed by Kristy Arakawa with assistance from Ginny Yasutake.

The Lahainaluna High School Foundation presented 64 scholarships to 43 seniors from the Class of 2023 totaling $174,500 in awards (including renewables), while an additional 12 renewable scholarships totaling $67,500 in awards were presented to previous alumni for a grand total of $242,000 through the nonprofit, 501(c)(3) foundation.

A $1,000 continuing education scholarship by alumnus James Kumagai (Class of 1952) was also awarded to Lahainaluna Kumu Jamie Eva Palakiko to further her studies.

Executive Director Art Fillazar announced the recipients with a number of the scholarship sponsors present to assist. Board President Mark Tillman and Board Members Susan Yap, Joel Navarro and Rob Shelton also assisted with the presentation of the awards along with a lei for each student receiving foundation scholarships.

Listed below are the Foundation Donor/Sponsor Scholarships, with the amount in parentheses, along with the student’s name and campus choice and area of study in parentheses:

5-A Rent-A-Space ($1,000): Meleiana Shulman (University of Oregon, Business Administration);

Maureen S. Ariyoshi Memorial ($1,000): Gracia Acosta (UNLV, Hospitality and Management);

Luly and Vaughn Baker ($1,000): Makenzie Alexander (Southwestern Oregon Community College, Education);

Bank of Hawaii ($1,000): Maison Alexander (Southwestern Oregon Community College, Business Management);

Boss Frog’s Dive and Surf /Frogman Charters ($1,000 each): Marc Cartagena (Pacific University, English) and Belle Dagupion (Grand Canyon University, Education);

Central Pacific Bank ($1,000): Richard Masuda (UHMC, Computer Science);

Central Pacific Marine ($1,000 each): Cielo Fabrique (UNLV, Biology) and Harry Flores (Pacific University, Sociology);

Mark Ellman Memorial ($1,000): Shelsea Wurts (Lane Community College, Culinary Arts);

Ebrahim Albert Gabbay, MD Memorial ($1,000): Troy Concepcion (UH Manoa, Nursing);

Kihachiro J. Hotta Memorial ($2,000): Kauikeolani Alo-Kaonohi Ah Loo (Chaminade University, Criminal Justice);

Shigeru (Class of 1921) & Toyoko (Class of 1941) Ichiki Memorial ($15,000 renewable-four years): Andrew Nguyen (Yale University, Economics and Applied Mathematics);

Ka’anapali Land Management ($1,000): Travis Koyama (Oregon State University, Electrical and Computer Engineering);

Sammy Kadotani (Class of 1941) Memorial for Service ($1,000): Maison Alexander (Southwestern Oregon Community College, Business Management);

Blaze Kalilikane (Class of 2010) Memorial ($1,000): Jeremy Kahahane-Lived (Universal Technical Institute-UTI, Auto and Diesel Technician);

Kapalua Maui Charities ($1,000): Joa Navarro (University of Utah, Finance);

Brian Kelly Memorial ($1,000): Jadelyn Fujii (UH Manoa, Education);

Andrew Kutsunai Future Teacher ($1,000): Makenzie Alexander (Southwestern Oregon Community College, Education);

Lahaina Hawaiian Civic Club Hawaiian Ancestry ($500): Kauikeolani Alo-Kaonohi Ah Loo (Chaminade University, Criminal Justice);

Lahaina Hawaiian Civic Club Hawaiian Immersion Scholarships ($500 each): Eden Healani Kanekoa (UH Hilo, Hawaiian Language/Education), and Danson Ke’alamokihana Lindsey (UH Hilo, Engineering);

Lahainaluna Boarders Association ($1,000): Mylei Kattil (Chaminade University, Environmental Science);

LHS Foundation General Scholarships ($1,000 each): Jayse Koyama (Oregon Technical Institute-OTI, Mechanical Engineering), Makena Murphy (Mesa Community College, Journalism) and Tyreece Tadena (UHMC, Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology);

LHS Foundation Travel Industry Scholarship ($1,000): Gracia Acosta (UNLV, Hospitality and Management);

LHS Foundation Henry “Bruno” Ariyoshi Memorial ($1,000): Makenzie Alexander (Southwestern Oregon Community College, Education);

Lahainaluna Merit Scholarship-Anonymous Alumni (new in 2023, $1,250 renewable-four years): Lance Morikawa Jr. (Pacific University, Biomedical Engineering);

Makana Aloha Foundation ($5,000 renewable-four years): Lance Morikawa Jr. (Pacific University, Biomedical Engineering);

Maui County Federal Credit Union ($1,000 each): Kathleen Baniqued (San Diego State University, Accounting), Solomon Kana’au Castro (UH Manoa, Secondary Education), and Kade Cunningham, (Hawaii Community College, Fire Science);

Maui Resort Rentals (new in 2023, $1,000): Mauri’irani Niles-Cantero (UH Hilo, Hawaiian Language);

Michael M. Nakano Leadership Award ($1,000): Madison Yu-Cua (University of San Francisco, English);

Steve T. Nishimura (Class of 1968) Memorial (new in 2023, $2,000 renewable-four years): Madison Yu-Cua (University of San Francisco, English);

Paradise Lahaina, Mousa Hassan (Class of 2003) ($1,500 each): Drew Hufalar (University of Nevada at Las Vegas, Journalism and Media Studies) and Mishalyn Ilmeng (UH Manoa, Computer Science);

Jim Riley Memorial ($1,000 each): Kathleen Baniqued (San Diego State University, Accounting), and Jeremy Kahahane-Lived (Universal Technical Institute-UTI in Arizona, Auto and Diesel Technician);

Roy (Class of 1960) & Betty Sakamoto ($1,500 renewable-four years): Haley Mahoe (University of Pennsylvania, PPE: Politics, Philosophy and Economics);

Chad Santiago (Class of 1997), State Farm Insurance Scholarship (new in 2023, $1,000 renewable-four years): Kathleen Baniqued (San Diego State University, Accounting);

Alfred Fred Sarian Memorial ($1,000): Belle Dagupion (Grand Canyon University, Education);

Shelton ‘Ohana (new in 2023, $2,000 each): Joa Navarro (University of Utah, Finance) and Meleiana Shulman (University of Oregon, Business Administration);

Steven Strong, MD Memorial ($2,500): Blanche Abut (UH Manoa, Psychology);

Eugene Takenaga (Class of 1960) ($3,000): Andrew Nguyen (Yale University, Economics and Applied Mathematics);

H & K Takenaga Legacy ($1,500): Destiny Larrobis (UNLV, Management Information Systems); and ($1,000 each): Haley Mahoe (University of Pennsylvania, PPE: Politics, Philosophy, and Economics), and Joa Navarro (University of Utah, Finance);

Phoebe Toshikiyo Takenaga (Class of 1960) ($3,000): Cash Palma (University of Nevada Las Vegas, Pre-nursing);

Ted Toshikiyo Memorial ($3,000): Mico Corpuz (UH Manoa, Architecture);

Territorial Savings Bank ($1,000): Timothy James Heile (Loyola Marymount, Finance);

TS Restaurants (Duke’s, Hula Grill, Kimo’s, Leilani’s) ($1,000 each): Charisse Abut (UNLV, Architecture), Avery Dagupion (Lane Community College, Nursing), Dwayne Jaymie Diga (UH Manoa, Nursing), and Maur’irani Niles-Cantero (UH Hilo, Hawaiian Language);

UFO Parasail ($1,000 each): Jack Fuqua (UH Hilo, Marine Science), and Charisse Abut (UNLV, Architecture) and Jadelyn Fujii, Education);

Valley Isle Federal Credit Union ($500): Kade Cunningham (Hawaii Community College, Fire Science);

West Maui Community Task Force ($1,000 each): Solomon Kana’au Castro (UH Manoa, Secondary Education) and Frances Dangtayan (UHMC, Hospitality and Tourism);

Wo Hing Society ($1,000 each): Solomon Kana’au Castro (UH Manoa, Secondary Education), Timothy James Heile (Loyola Marymount, Finance), Kelvin Lam (UH Manoa, Accounting), Haley Mahoe (University of Pennsylvania, PPE: Politics, Philosophy, and Economics) and Mauriirani Niles-Cantero (UH Hilo, Hawaiian Language);

Also, being awarded their renewable four-year scholarships were the following alumni, with their graduation year and their campus in parentheses:

Shigeru & Toyoko Ichiki ($15,000 renewable): Challys Pascua (2020, University of Hawaii at Manoa), Kokoro Yamazaki (2021, University of Hawaii at Manoa) and Kailani Medeiros-Sodetani (2022, Rogue Community College);

Makana Aloha Foundation ($5,000 renewable): Rory Delaney (2020, University of Massachusetts-Boston), Cael Yasutake (2021, Columbia University), and Kamele Detweiler (2022, University of Notre Dame); Roy & Betty Sakamoto ($1,500 renewable four years): Jumar Dela Cruz (2021, University of Hawaii Maui College) and Angelina Lai (2022, University of California at Irvine);

Shelton ‘Ohana ($1,000 renewable): Rory Delaney (2020 University of Massachusetts-Boston), and Alexa Acosta (2021, University of California at Irvine).

This is the foundation’s 22nd year of awarding scholarships. The Lahainaluna High School Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by a group of community members and alumni whose mission is to support the Lahainaluna ‘Ohana by providing opportunities and resources and to preserve and perpetuate Lahainaluna’s unique culture, history, and traditions.

Foundation Executive Director Art Fillazar remarked, “We are grateful for the tremendous and generous support of the donors who have given so much towards the educational future of the Lahainaluna haumana. This year, I am also grateful to the alumni who accepted the challenge ‘to give back’ by means of offering scholarships and financial assistance through the foundation. The legacy of Lahainaluna lives on with the alumni.”

He furthered offered directions for alumni, classes, businesses or other groups wishing to offer scholarships to contact him via e-mail at lhsf08@yahoo.com, leave a message for a call back at (808) 661-5332 or check later on the foundation website, which is currently under construction at www.lahainalunahighschoolfoundation.net.