The Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation distributed $14,000 in scholarships to be shared between four high school seniors from Kaua‘i in its annual legacy scholarship program.
Throughout the state, the foundation awarded $217,000, stated a Takitani Foundation announcement Thursday.
Angeline Chan, graduating with the Kaua‘i High School Class of 2022, earned a $5,000 District Finalist award. She was joined by three other high school seniors, including Alexander Henriques of Kapa‘a High School, Kamalani Goo of Waimea High School and Joshua Dobashi of Island School, who each earned $3,000 awards.
These four Kaua‘i high school graduating seniors were among 59 recipients, one from each qualifying public and independent school in Hawai‘i, who received scholarships based on academic achievement, community service and financial need.
“Mr. and Mrs. Takitani founded Hawaiian Host (a chocolate company), and knew hard work, innovation and commitment to excellence were key factors in their success,” said KSSK Radio personality Michael W. Perry, the Takitani Foundation chairman of the board.“The Takitanis wanted to recognize those same qualities in Hawai‘i’s outstanding students with support to further their education.”
Chan is a Rotary Youth Leadership Award winner, served as a mentor in the Verizon Innovative Learning Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics program, and was a member of the Honors Band and the Red Raider tennis team. She is the daughter of Perry Chan and Fonda Chung and will attend San Diego State University in the fall.
Henriques is the son of Samantha and Manuel Henriques. A Health Occupations Students of America Chapter president, He participated actively in community service and health occupations sectors. He is a volunteer and web designer and will attend Ripon College in September.
Goo is the daughter of Jodi Nitta-Goo and Russell Goo. A Harvard Prize Book recipient, she earned a place on the Principal’s List for four years while in high school, and was one of the school’s tennis team leaders. She will attend the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa in the fall.
Dobashi is the son of Debra DeBusca and Corey Dobashi, and was the recipient of the Hawai‘i Association of Independent Schools $3,000 scholarship award. He was an active member of the school’s varsity boys volleyball and boys basketball teams, served as the class president and student body president, and was awarded a Margo Latif Memorial Scholarship during his junior year. He will attend the University of Notre Dame this fall.
Mamoru and Aiko Takitani founded Hawaiian Host, the manufacturer of Hawaiian Host chocolates, and established the Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation Inc. to give back to the community by providing the gift of education to the young people of Hawai‘i.
Since 1993, the foundation has annually presented scholarships to an outstanding student from every qualifying high school in the state, and has awarded more than $11 million to scholarship and academic enrichment programs throughout Hawai‘i.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
