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The Maui News
KAHULUI--The Lahainaluna High School Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of its various scholarship awards from Lahainaluna High School's Class of 2024, along with previous graduates receiving their renewable awards.
The scholarship awards presentation was done in-person on May 8, 2024, in Hale Pa'ina (the school cafeteria) for the second time since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. The annual event is coordinated by the school's College and Career Center directed by Ginny Nakata Yasutake with assistance from Kristy Arakawa. Seniors and their parents/guardians and administrators and staff and special guests were in attendance.
The Lahainaluna High School Foundation presented 76 scholarships to 52 seniors from the Class of 2024 totaling $119,750.00 in awards (including initial renewables only), while an additional 12 Alumni renewable scholarships totaling $67,875.00 in awards were presented to previous graduates for a grand total of $190,750.00 through the nonprofit, 501(c)(3) Foundation.
Two $1,000 continuing education scholarship by alumnus Dr. James Kumagai (Class of 1952) was also awarded to Lahainaluna teachers Michelle Abad Brummel and Nicholas "Niko" Miller to further their studies. A LHS Foundation Staff Scholarship of $1000.00 was also awarded to Debralyn Andres Arellano.
Executive Director Art Fillazar announced the recipients with a number of the scholarship sponsors present to assist with the presentation. Board President Mark Tillman and Board Members Joel Navarro, Rob Shelton, Betty Sakamoto, and Laurie DeGama also assisted with the presentation of the awards along with a lei for each student receiving Foundation scholarships.
Listed below are the Foundation Donor/Sponsor Scholarships, with the scholarship amount in parentheses, along with the student's name(s):
5-A Rent-A-Space ($1,000): Michella Camille Cabingas.
Maureen S. Ariyoshi (Travel & Hotel Industry) Memorial ($1,000): Cheira Cappal.
Luly and Vaughn Baker ($1,000): Carlos Cabrera-Lopez.
Credit Unions of Maui offered five $2,000.00 awards for 2024 (and for 2025) from their Lahaina Wildfire Relief Fund: Sophia Abut, Benedict Cailao, Shari Peralta, Denise Quintero-Solorzano, Chelsea Ramos.
CVC Health Pharmacy ($3,250 each): M. Jee Abara, Carmela Mei Bonifacio, Samantha Monnett, Lavinia Tuavao-Tupou.
Mark Ellman Memorial ($1,000): Benedict Cailao.
Ebrahim Albert Gabbay, MD Memorial ($1,000): Edralin Sam Ceon.
Kihachiro J. Hotta Memorial ($2,000): Christine Chung.
Shigeru (Class of 1921) & Toyoko (Class of 1941) Ichiki Memorial ($15,000 renewable-four years): Kaulana Tihada.
Blaze Kalilikane (Class of 2010) Memorial ($1,000): Sanalio Vehikite.
Kapalua Maui Charities ($1,000): Jasmine Lagazo.
Brian Kelly Memorial ($1,000): Kaohulani Tanabe.
Lahaina Hawaiian Civic Club Hawaiian Ancestry ($500 each): Ezekial Dela Cruz, Hanale Kauhaahaa, Kuola Watson.
Lahaina Hawaiian Civic Club Hawaiian Immersion Scholarships ($500 each): Ezekial Dela Cruz, Guiness Ruiz-Rockett, Kuola Watson.
Lahainaluna HS AG Program ($1,000): James Makoa Vitcovich; ($500): Winshell "Shelle" Aguinaldo.
Lahainaluna Boarders Association in memory of Earl "Chief" Kukahiko ($1,000): Christine Chung.
Lahainaluna HS Class of 2001 ($1,000): Allyson Duran.
Lahainaluna HS Merit Scholarship (renewable $1,250.00 four-years): Carla Mae Agrade.
LHS Foundation General Scholarships ($1,000 each): Kalia Hendrickson, Khasmir Cate Lopez, Adiatu Rieth.
LHS Foundation Travel Industry Scholarship ($1,000): Cheira Cappal.
LHS Foundation Henry "Bruno" Ariyoshi Memorial ($1,000): Christopher Leslie.
Makana Aloha Foundation ($7,500 renewable-two years; 26-28 amt TBA): Emily Hegrenes.
Makana Hawaii Incentives (Whitney Niemi/Lauren Otomo Manuel (LHS 2000) ($1,000 each): M. Jee Abara, Chester Albiller, Keith Nove Baniqued, Edralin Sam Ceon, Judy Dela Cruz.
Maui County Federal Credit Union ($1,000 each): Sophia Abut, Keith Nove Baniqued, Allyson Duran, Ayva Rose Gazmen, Jasmine Lagazo, Denise Quintero-Solorzano, Talan Toshikiyo.
Michael M. Nakano Leadership Award ($1,000): Angelika Simon.
Michael M. Nakano Boarders Scholarship ($1,000): James Makoa Vitcovich.
Paradise Lahaina, Mousa Hassan (Class of 2003) ($1,000): Mia Rose Roberts.
Jim Riley Memorial ($1,000): Ikaika Gonzales.
Roy (Class of 1960) & Betty Sakamoto ($1,500 renewable-four years): Devyn Gruber.
Chad Santiago (Class of 1997), State Farm Insurance Scholarship ($1,000 renewable-four years): Arianna Okilani Castillo-Medina.
Alfred Fred Sarian Memorial ($1,000): Michella Camille Cabingas.
Shelton 'Ohana ($2,000): Cheira Cappal.
Steven R. Strong, MD Memorial ($2,500): Kalia Hendrickson.
H & K Takenaga Legacy ($1,500): Mekayla Bandy.
Territorial Savings Bank ($1,000): Angelika Simon.
TS Restaurants (Duke's, Hula Grill, Kimo's, Leilani's) ($1,000 each): Robbie Alcantara (Duke's), Keith Nove Baniqued (Hula Grill), Nyles Nava (Duke's), Ricardo Perez Ramirez (Leilani's).
UFO Chutting of Hawaii, aka as UFO Parasail ($1,000 each): Blessy Calapit, Edralin Sam Ceon, Juan Carlos Ruiz Carrillo.
Valley Isle Federal Credit Union ($500 each): Mikaila Acosta, Ikaika Gonzales, Shari Peralta, Chelsea Ramos, Guiness Ruiz-Rockett.
Friends of Clyde Wakida Memorial ($750.00 each): Marianne Torricer and Paolo Van Bramer and ($1000) to Angelika Simon.
Clyde Wakida Memorial by the Wakida 'Ohana ($2,000 each): Carla Agrade, Blessy Calapit, Judy Dela Cruz, Cecelia Steiner, John Tumpap.
West Maui Community Task Force ($1,000 each): Carmela Mei Bonifacio and Chester Albiller.
Wo Hing Society ($1,000): Hanale Kauhaahaa.
Also, being awarded their renewable four-year scholarships were the following alumni, with their graduation year in parentheses:
Shigeru & Toyoko Ichiki ($15,000 renewable): Kokoro Yamazaki (2021), Kailani Medeiros-Sodetani (2022), Vincent Nguyen (2023).
Makana Aloha Foundation ($7,500 renewable '24 and' 25; amt tba '26): Cael Yasutake (2021), Kamele Detweiler (2022), Lance LJ Morikawa (2023).
Steven T. Nishimura Memorial ($2000 renewable): Madison Yu-Cua (2023).
Roy & Betty Sakamoto ($1,500 renewable): Jumar Dela Cruz (2021), Angelina Lai (2022), Haley Mahoe (2023).
Chad Santiago State Farm Insurance ($1,000 renewable): Kathleen Baniqued (2023).
Lahainaluna HS Merit Renewable ($1250): Lance LJ Morikawa (2023).
This is the foundation's 23rd year of awarding scholarships. The Lahainaluna High School Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by a group of community members and alumni whose mission is to support the Lahainaluna 'Ohana by providing opportunities and resources and to preserve and perpetuate Lahainaluna's unique culture, history, and traditions.
Foundation Executive Director Art Fillazar remarked, "We are grateful for the tremendous and generous support of the donors who have given so much towards the educational future of the Lahainaluna haumana. This year, I am also grateful to the alumni who accepted the challenge 'to give back' by means of offering scholarships and financial assistance through the foundation. The legacy of Lahainaluna lives on with the alumni. In light of the wildfire tragedy, the alumni, community, businesses, etc, still rallied and offered their financial support to the Class of 2024". Fillazar further noted that "this is a strong and resilient class as they started their high school careers with Covid precautions and now ending their senior year surviving this traumatic and historical devastation."
He furthered offered directions for alumni, classes, businesses or other groups wishing to offer scholarships to contact him via e-mail at lhsf08@yahoo.com, leave a message for a call back at (808) 661-5332 or check later on the Foundation website: www.lahainalunahighschoolfoundation.org.