Pictured at the scholarship ceremony are (from left): Lou Ross, Napili Kai Foundation president; scholarship recipients Paige Cajudoy, Windell Taylan, Audrey Casicas, Taylor Panlasigui and Yverly Navarro; and Nohealani Ralar and Yvette Laborte, foundation directors, representing awardees Lorilei Visitacion and Kaila Ompoy-King, who were still in college on the Mainland. PHOTO BY SARA LO.

NAPILI – Fresh off its year-long celebration of 50 years of existence, the Napili Kai Foundation is proud to announce its 2017 scholarship awards, totaling $21,000. They were presented on May 30 at the conclusion of NKF’s weekly performance 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 keiki’s weekly 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 at 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 pursuing a degree in Microbiology at the University of Hawaii, Manoa Campus in Honolulu. This is her fourth award from the Perna-Rose Foundation for Hope in the amount of $6,000.

Iverly Navarro, a 2017 graduate of Lahainaluna High School, is the daughter of Bonifacio Navarro, an employee of the Napili Kai Beach Resort. She will be attending Southwestern Oregon Community College with an interest in Criminology and Dental Hygiene. She received $2,000 from the J.C. Millar Memorial Scholarship Fund and $1,000 from the Stubblefield Scholarship Fund.

Windell Taylan, whose mother, Carina, has worked in the Sea House Restaurant of the Napili Kai Beach Resort for 14 years, received $2,000 from the Wilkinson Memorial Scholarship Fund and $1,000 from the Stubblefield Scholarship Fund. This is Windell’s second award. He is pursuing a degree in Sustainable Construction Technology at the University of Hawaii Maui College.

Lorilei Visitacion, whose father is the assistant controller of the resort, received her fourth award: $3,000 from the J.C. Millar Memorial Scholarship Fund. Lorilei is attending the University of Washington, majoring in Public Health.

Audrey Casicas’ mother, Lorene Akiona, has been the Napili Kai Beach Resort’s recreation manager for 14 years. Audrey is attending the University of Hawaii Maui College, planning to obtain a degree in Hospitality & Tourism. For her third award, Audrey received $1,500 from the J.C. Millar Memorial Scholarship Fund and $1,000 from the Stubblefield Scholarship Fund.

Taylor Panlasigui, a deep-rooted Napili Kai Foundation member, graduated from Lahainaluna High School this year. Her mother, Lee-Anne Ross Panlasigui, is a graduate of the Napili Kai Foundation, and her grandmother, Phyllis Ross, has been one of its kumu for more than 30 years, specializing in the dressing room. Taylor will be attending North Idaho College and hopes to obtain a degree in Radiology Technology. She received $2,000 from the J.C. Millar Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Kaila Ompoy-King, a 12-year member of the Napili Kai Foundation, was awarded $1,000 from the Stubblefield Fund, and $500 from the J.C. Millar Memorial Scholarship Fund to help her attend the University of Hawaii Maui College to pursue a degree in Business Management and Graphic Design. This is Kaila’s second award.

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 and has been awarding higher education scholarships to its graduates and to the children of employees of Napili Kai Beach Resort for more than 30 years.

For further information, visit www.napilikaifoundation.org.