KAPA‘A — The Kapa‘a High School Foundation distributed 57 scholarships totaling $78,500 to 28 students — all graduating seniors, Tuesday evening at a meeting in the Kapa‘a High School cafeteria featuring to-go Hawaiian plates prepared by Uncle John Kaneholani.
“We broke several records, including the number of scholarships available, and the total amount of scholarships available,” said Carolyn Morinishi of the Kapa‘a HS Foundation Scholarship Committee. “This is because of several new donations and endowments that came in during the pandemic.”
Mary Lardizabal, the music director at the Kapa‘a Middle School, was able to donate enough to create two scholarships.
“I got all teary-eyed while listening,” Lardizabal said. “A lot of these students were my students. Kapa‘a High School is where I got my start after Rene Thronas retired.”
Janice Bond came up with a $1,000 scholarship that was presented to someone entering the teaching profession, preferably Special Education.
“I’m glad I got to meet Sara Hudcovic in person,” Bond said. “I’ve still got to do the scholarships for the Lions Club.”
Some of the other special scholarships included $1,000 in honor of Eunice Kubota Olivas, $2,500 in honor of Coach Donald Shishido, $1,000 in honor of Paul Nakamura, $2,000 in honor of Nagahiro Family, $1,000 in honor of Shinichi and Yasuko Mukai, $2,000 from Judge Bill and Judith Fernandez, $2,500 from the Huddy family, $1,000 from Art Fujita, $1,000 from Clyde T. Kodani – Civil Engineering, $1,000 from the Kapa‘a Middle School Booser Club, $2,500 from Abraham Tanaka, Margaret Fortner, and $2,000 from the Nakamura family.
“The nearly $80,000 in scholarships awarded to 28 deserving students by the Kapa‘a High School Foundation, and the various endowments help these students with the many costs associated with post secondary education,” said Kapa‘a High School Principal Tommy John Cox. “I am very grateful for all that the Foundation and its donors do for our school community each and every year. The Foundation continues to be an important contributor to student success here at Kapa‘a High.”
Students receiving scholarships include Sailor Keahiolalo, Rhandi Hiranaka, Kailea Danielson, Trachelle Iwamoto, Meah Jensen, Alexia Kenney, Kapua Merseberg, Eve Ohai, Taryn Ramil, Wendell Marc Soriano, Richard Cabalona, Jessica Drent, Coral Haeger, Alexander Henriques, Monico Hernandez-Martinex, Sara Hudcovic, Hailee Kawakami, Maximus Merseberg, Liam O’Conner, Conner Payomo, Aliyah Silva, Tyler Tanaka, Kayla Branco-Maxwell, Kaliah Ann Kaneakua, Alexie Ann Yam, Janae Hope Motosue.
“We are very proud of these students and their accomplishments, and they are very deserving of these awards,” said Michelle Domingcil, chair of the Kapa‘a High School Foundation Scholarship Committee. “Their drive and perseverance to be the best that they can be is very impressive and we congratulate them.”
Funds for the Kapa‘a High School Foundation scholarships are derived from its annual golf tournament, lu‘au, and other fundraising events throughout the year.
