Constance Lau, president and Chief Executive Officer of American Savings Bank, joined with the Contractors Association of Kauai’s officers, members, and Scholarship Committee in congratulating and recognizing the 2003 scholarship recipients and their parents during a special dinner meeting held
Constance Lau, president and Chief Executive Officer of American Savings Bank, joined with the Contractors Association of Kauai’s officers, members, and Scholarship Committee in congratulating and recognizing the 2003 scholarship recipients and their parents during a special dinner meeting held Thursday night at the Kauai Marriott.
Working towards realizing a childhood dream that began with Lego blocks, Kanoa Chung was one of six recipients that were awarded this year’s share of scholarship funds by the CAK. Ashley Nakaahiki, Dustin Moises, Erron Koji Nakaya, Kanani Kagawa, and Richard Rodrick round out this year’s field of scholarship recipients. Chung’s dream turned into a passion, when as a student at Kamehameha Schools, he took a CADD class that was followed by classes in computer drawing and designing. The fire was stoked when Chung took top honors in the Advanced CADD Design Award at Kamehameha Schools who also provided Kanoa the opportunity to explore, understand, and gain more insight into his cultural roots.
“I already feel that I am learning about the connections Hawaii and architecture share,” Chung, a sophomore in the School of Architecture at the University of Hawaii said. “During a recent charette on Waikiki, I was able to recognize a number of relationships between Hawaiian culture and architecture. The charette served as one of the most rewarding and powerful learning experiences I’ve had. After hearing award-winning architect Gregory Burgess, I’ve learned how powerful architecture can be when we really look at cultures and work with them to produce beautiful works of art.”
Nakaahiki, a 2001 graduate of Kamehameha Schools, lost her dad when she was two years old, and her mom, Ori, worked two jobs besides going back to school to earn a degree in education to support and raise her two children.
The young family was also kept in the folds of the extended Nakaahiki family from Kekaha during their growing years. Nakaahiki, another student of the School of Architecture at the University of Hawaii, said she enjoys drafting and creating models based on her designs, something that became reality when she and a team of students worked on a real project designing the Malama Learning Center in Kapolei using the charette system.
Moises, the son of Larry and Marlene Moises, initially received a CAK scholarship upon graduating Kauai High School in 1999. Moises is on track to graduate in December, 2003 from the University of Hawaii with a degree in civil and environmental engineering.
Nakaya, a 2003 graduate of Kauai High School plans to major in mechanical engineering at the University of Hawaii.
“I want to study engineering because I enjoy working with my hands, thinking and solving problems, and seeing how things work together,” Nakaya said. “I hope to become a competent, creative professional, and be part of a team of people that designs and builds solutions of our community.” Kagawa is the first student to receive a CAK scholarship for post graduate studies as she continues working towards a masters degree in civil engineering with a concentration on structural and construction engineering at the University of Hawaii. Kagawa is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and received her bachelors degree in mathematics from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon.
Rodrick graduated as a valedictorian from Kapaa High School in May and will be attending the School of Engineering at the University of Hawaii this Fall. Rodrick plans on pursuing a career designing electronic or renewable energy systems.
