Pictured, from left, are Alyssa Yoshimura, Arissa Molina, Jan Erwin Bio, Thomas Takeo Macadangdang Hayashi, Hiroshi Arisumi (board of directors, Maui AJA Veterans Inc., and president emeritus, Nisei Veterans Memorial Center), Sage Kamaka, Brian Cox (stepfather of recipient Mikino Kumagai, who was unable to attend the luncheon), Devynn Leigh Kochi and Kylie Taketa. Also unable to attend were recipients Joseph Baldwin and Jared Josh S. Matias. PHOTO BY MELANIE AGRABANTE.

WAILUKU – Maui AJA Veterans Inc. and Maui’s Sons and Daughters of the Nisei Veterans awarded ten $1,000 scholarships to graduates of Valley Isle high schools.

The recipients are listed below, with their high school, parents, town of residence and their plans for college:

Mikino Kumagai, Lahainaluna High School, daughter of Satomi K. and Brian Cox, Lahaina, Beloit College;

Jared Josh S. Matias, Lahainaluna, son of Alex and Melinda Matias, Lahaina, UH Maui College;

Joseph Baldwin, Kihei Charter School, son of Joseph and Jamie Baldwin, Kihei, Harvard University;

Jan Erwin Bio, Maui High School, son of Oswaldo and Norma Bio, Kahului, University of Hawaii at Manoa;

Thomas Takeo Macadangdang Hayashi, Seabury Hall, son of Duane T. and Agnes M. Hayashi, Makawao, Santa Clara University;

Sage Kamaka, Kamehameha Schools Maui, son of Bert and Jamie Kamaka, Wailuku, University of Hawaii Maui College;

Devynn Leigh Kochi, King Kekaulike High School, daughter of Cindy Asato-Kochi and Kevin Kochi, Haiku, UH Manoa;

Arissa Molina, Henry Perrine Baldwin High School, daughter of Jana Yamashiro and Ariston Domingo, Kahului, UH Maui College;

Kylie Taketa, Baldwin, daughter of Russell and Jacqueline Taketa, Kahului, University of Nevada, Reno;

Alyssa Yoshimura, Maui High, daughter of Michele Yoshimura, Wailuku, University of Portland.

Scholarships are awarded annually, based on academic achievement, extracurricular activities, essay and financial need.

A major source of scholarship funding is the annual Chrysanthemum Festival, and three of the 2016 recipients have ties to the event. Kochi was queen of 2014 festival, Molina was a princess on that court, and Hayashi was the escort of Jaelyn Domingo, the reigning queen.

The event was created in 1953 by the Maui AJA Veterans, and it is now presented by Maui’s Sons and Daughters of the Nisei Veterans.

The two organizations held a luncheon to recognize the scholars and present the awards June 4 at the Stanley Izumigawa Pavilion of the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center.

The pavilion sits atop the NVMC Education Center. The facility is normally closed on Saturdays, but recipients and their families were hosted by Kyle Watanabe, historical preservation and education program coordinator.