LIHUE— Marisa Valenciano, one of Kauai’s own, will be able to stay on track with her master’s degree in urban and regional planning with the University of Hawaii at Manoa thanks to a new scholarship established in honor of Peter
LIHUE— Marisa Valenciano, one of Kauai’s own, will be able to stay on track with her master’s degree in urban and regional planning with the University of Hawaii at Manoa thanks to a new scholarship established in honor of Peter Nakamura, the well-loved County of Kauai long range planner and county clerk.
The Loa’a Mai Ka ‘Ike Fund at the Hawaii Community Foundation awarded Valenciano a $1,000 scholarship. The planner II with the planning department has a passion for infrastructure and transportation, she said, and is dedicated to continuing her education.
With misty eyes, Valenciano expressed her gratitude to her own family, as well as the Nakamura family and the planning department staff. The scholarship, she said, was special because Peter was her mentor.
Nakamura began his tenure with the county as a planning director from 1990 to 1992. From 1999 to 2011, Peter was the county clerk and in 2011 he transitioned back to the planning department. He died in November 2013 of heart disease at his home in Wailua Homesteads. He was 60 years old.
“I knew Peter and I was able to work with him,” Valenciano said. “He was a wealth of knowledge and I am very grateful for that.”
Councilmembers were happy to see someone who grew up on Kauai and who is working in the county planning department receive the scholarship.
“You symbolize to me a lot of young people that I’ve seen grow up and do so well,” said Councilman Gary Hooser. “You continue to impress your community.”
Councilman Arryl Kaneshiro expressed his delight at Valenciano’s involvement in the Kauai Planning Department.
“I’m happy that you’re working for the county and I’m hoping that you can stay here,” he said.
That, in fact, is one of the qualifications of the scholarship. To be considered, applicants have to have one year under their belt as a county planning department employee and be interested in furthering education in planning. A focus on community-based planning is also a requirement.
The fund was established by Nakamura’s family, according to a letter sent to The Garden Island by Darcie Yukimura, senior philanthropic services officer for the Hawaii Community Foundation, which helps distribute the funds.
“Our family established the fund to honor my brother, Peter Nakamura. He moved back to Kauai because he cared about this island and was passionate about sound planning for Kauai’s future,” Galen Nakamura wrote.
Valencino thanked the Nakamura family and council chairman Mel Rapozo echoed Valencino’s gratitude.
“Peter’s work will be continued on and carried on through this scholarship and that makes me happy,” Rapozo said. “We miss him dearly.”
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Jessica Else, education reporter, can be reached at 245-0452 or jelse@thegardenisland.com.
