LIHUE — The meeting of the East Kauai Lions Club, Thursday was more than celebrating the three scholarships presented to graduating high school seniors at the Lihue Neighborhood Center. The meeting was also the 81st Charter Anniversary of the club where president Angel Acorda turned over the gavel to incoming president Ed Keopuhiwa.
Janice Bond, the Scholarship Chair for the EK Lions, presented $1,000 scholarships to three seniors — Gaylen Madamba, Zachary Stem, and Jenny Anne Villanueva.
Madamba, the daughter of Gil and Vilma Madamba of Eleele, graduated from Kauai High School where she was a member of the school’s Leo Club, contributing numerous community service hours to the Kauai Independent Food Bank, the elementary schools, and to the hospitality industry.
She plans on attending the Kauai Community College with a goal of earning an Associates Degree in Travel and Hospitality.
Stem, the son of Hope and Lawrence Stem of Puhi, will also be gracing the campus of Kauai Community College where he will be in Liberal Arts towards his eventual goal of a degree in Fire Science.
Stem, during his high school career, participated in football, soccer, Hawaii Youth Soccer Association soccer, and was a part of the Kamehameha Scholars program.
Villanueva, the daughter of Tito and Eugenia Villanueva of Lihue, is currently a teacher with the Aloha Dance Studio and demonstrates excellence in her studies while a student at Kauai High School. She plans on earning a degree in teaching with a minor in business administration when she enters the University of Portland this fall.
Bond, in addition to presenting the scholarship recipients, was the recipient of a special award presented by Past District Governor Kelvin Moniz for her efforts at recruiting members for the club that celebrates 81 years. Bond was also sworn in as the EKLC First Vice President.
Lion Tamer for the 2019-2020 term honors fell on Crystal Caday-Bargayo with Ron Garlie being sworn in as the Tail Twister.
Keopuhiwa tops the roster of EKLC Directors as the club’s president. Bond is the first vice president, DeAnna Starinieri is the second vice president. PDG Roy Nishida is the Program Coordinator with Acorda getting Immediate Past President recognition. Rob Robinson continues as the club’s secretary, and Larry Graff is the club’s treasurer.
Robin Dame and Donald Nagamine fill in as one-year directors, with Harvey Kinoshita and Georgio DePaz getting two-year directorships.
The East Kauai Lions Club was chartered on May 18, 1938 with its first meeting being held as the Lihue Lions Club on May 23, 1938 at the Kauai Inn pavilion that formerly occupied the space across Rice Street from the current Ace Hardware store.
George O. Clark was elected to serve as president of only the eighth club in Hawaii, and the second on Kauai, with Paul Akama, Sr. recording the meeting, according to a report described by Lion John Uyeno on the club’s seventh anniversary.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
