PRINCEVILLE — With the help of the Steve and Janine Hunt Family Foundation, a golf tourney and Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami, the Kaua‘i North Shore Lions Club celebrated its $50,000 goal for scholarships that were shared by 29 North Shore students on Wednesday.
“For the past 19 years, the Kaua‘i North Shore Lions Club has been raising money for deserving North Shore students in the form of a Scholarship Program to assist with school expenses,” said Lions Club member Stuart Cain in a release.
“The club runs a golf tournament each year on the second Saturday of January as a primary fundraiser to build the scholarship funds. The golf tournament, with the help of our title sponsor, Aloha Roofing Supply and partnering with the Princeville Makai Golf Club, has grown over the past several years. The tournament is a popular event on the North Shore with sellouts of more than 100 golfers each year.”
The scholarship presentation got help from Kawakami, who helped Lions Club, and Steve and Janine Hunt, who hosted a get-together at their North Shore residence.
Together they distributed scholarship certificates to a group represented by the Lions Club’s top five recipients — Tyler Tanaka, Robbin Mizushima, Echo Rohner, Kailea Danielson and Sonrisa Stepath.
These students include Stepath, who is an art teacher and school club coach at Kilauea Elementary School. Stepath earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Hawai‘i-Hilo and is starting a two-year program for a master’s of education in teaching in order to become a licensed teacher.
Tanaka, whom Kawakami remembers when he was a little boy, will be starting his sophomore year at Pacific Lutheran University with the intention of becoming a registered nurse. He was the valedictorian of his class at Kapa‘a High School and is planning on returning to Kaua‘i to serve his community.
Danielson is going to be a second-year student at Emery-Riddle Aeronautical University, where she is interested in rocketry with the intention of designing space vehicles and flight systems. Born in Tahiti and living there through Grade 6, Danielson is fluent in French and English.
Mizushima, recently graduating from Kapa‘a High School, will start at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University this fall to pursue flight training on his way to his goal of becoming a pilot. When not in school, Robbin plays the piano, most notably as the lead piano at the Church of the Pacific’s weekly service.
Rohner, recently graduating from Island School, will be attending Hawai‘i Pacific University in the fall with her intended area of study being psychology with a minor in theater arts. Theater has been a focal point for Rohner throughout high school, being cast in leading roles at Island School and community theater musicals.
“We are very fortunate to receive financial support from our local community who understand why supporting the education of our North Shore residents is very important,” Cain said.
“The Hunt Family Foundation has been very generous the past few years, and along with local businesses and individuals that allow us to raise more than $50,000. This money was awarded to 29 deserving North Shore scholarship recipients. “
The Kaua‘i North Shore Lions Club strives to continue growing the fundraiser golf tournament so it can give the gift of education to deserving students. Students are encouraged to apply each year while they are still in school and keep their home address on the North Shore of Kaua‘i.
