Lahainaluna High School Foundation awards over $217,000 in scholarships for 2025
ART FILLAZAR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LAHAINALUNA HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION
(808) 661-5332 (or (808) 281-4170) P.O. BOX 11617, LAHAINA, HI 96761 EMAIL: [email protected]
LAHAINA — The Lahainaluna High School Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of its various scholarship awards from Lahainaluna High School’s Class of 2025, along with previous graduates receiving their renewable awards.
The scholarship awards presentation was done in-person on May 7, 2025, in Hale Pa’ina (the school cafeteria. The annual event is coordinated by the school’s College and Career Center directed by Ginny Nakata Yasutake with assistance from Kristy Arakawa, Early College Coordinator. Seniors and their parents/guardians and administrators and staff and special guests were in attendance.
The Lahainaluna High School Foundation presented 89 scholarships to 55 seniors from the Class of 2025 totaling $217,750.00 in awards (including four-year renewables), while an additional fourteen alumni will receive their renewable scholarships for the next academic school year totaling $79,000.00. for a grand total of $296,750.00 through the nonprofit, 501(c)(3) Foundation.
Four $1,000 continuing education scholarships by alumnus Dr. James Kumagai (Class of 1952) were also awarded to Lahainaluna staff members: Jalen Baraoidan, Nicole Heinlein, Nicholas Miller, and Malia Shimomura. Two additional alumni staff members will also be awarded a $1000.00 scholarship pending confirmation of their reassignment to Lahainaluna.
Executive Director Art Fillazar announced the recipients with several of the scholarship sponsors present to assist with the presentation. Board President Mark Tillman and Board Members Susan Yap, Joel Navarro, and Laurie DeGama also assisted with the presentation of the awards along with a lei for each student receiving Foundation scholarships.
Listed below are Donor/Sponsor Scholarships given through the Lahainaluna High School Foundation, with the scholarship amount in parentheses, along with the student’s name(s):
Fuzzy Sr and Glorin Alboro Memorial ($1,000): Taika Swearingen
Luly and Vaughn Baker ($1,000): Dhennico Cabading
Central Pacific Marine ($1,000): Jake McGill
Credit Unions of Maui offered special five $2,000.00 awards for 2025 (and for 2024) from their Lahaina Wildfire Relief Fund: Zyon Auwae, Asher Becker, Sarah Cariaga, Althea Badua, and Sophia Topinio.
CVC Health Pharmacy ($1,000 each): Mobihema Adovas, Karisa Bayudan, Mauka Hoang Do, and Jarett Koyama.
Mark Ellman Memorial ($1,000): Nina Louisa Cabasag
Ebrahim Albert Gabbay, MD Memorial ($1,000): Reynason Topinio
Aunty Lori Gomez-Karinen Memorial ($1000 each): Jackson Hussey, Kawailani Kaonohi Ah Loo, Mau’alina Montgomery
Mousa Hassan (Class of 2003) ($1,000 each): Ralph Matias, Jervy Jem Ramos, Marie Claire Ramos
Colonel (Ret) Richard Hirata Memorial, Class of 1950 ($2000): Noa Oliveira
Shigeru (Class of 1921) & Toyoko (Class of 1941) Ichiki Memorial ($15,000 renewable-four years): Vi Tuong Nguyen
Sam Kadotani (Class of 1941) Memorial ($1,000): Karisa Bayudan
Ka Hale Hoaka (Kalani Ho NIkaido, 1994 and Tanya Ferreira Naehu, 1992) ($500): Jackson Hussey
Blaze Kalilikane (Class of 2010) Memorial ($1,000): Joshua Nerona
Lahaina Hawaiian Civic Club Hawaiian Ancestry ($500 each): Shansi Boaz-Vasquez and Samantha Shibao
Lahainaluna Boarders Association in memory of Earl “Chief” Kukahiko ($1,000): Aleyah Falelili-Jenkins
Lahainaluna HS Class of 2001 ($1,000): Mau’alina Montgomery
Lahainaluna HS Merit Scholarship (renewable $1,250.00 four-years): Aleyah Falelili-Jenkins (photo attached)
LHS Foundation General Scholarships ($1,000 each): Tischa Joy Bagusto and Jake McGill
LHS Foundation Henry “Bruno” Ariyoshi Memorial ($1,000): Enoka Balinbin
LHS Foundation Kitachiro J. Hotta Memorial ($1,000): Kawailani Kaonohi Ah Loo
LHS Foundation Kapalua Maui Charities ($1,000): Alexis Peligrino-Hayase
LHS Foundation Brian Kelly Memorial ($1,000): Danielle Caguioa
LHS Foundation Michael M. Nakano Leadership Award ($1,000): Taika Swearingen
LHS Foundation Recognition Scholarship ($1,000. each): Hazany Barbosa, Quade Oberheim, Christian Prones, James Queja, Gabriel Raguindin, Jayden Ragusa, Heather May Ricardos, and Sadie Spencer; also with $500 scholarships: Jaeden-Ian Pascua and Samantha Shibao
Makana Aloha Foundation ($7,500 renewable-two years; 26-28 amt TBA): Chase Yasutake
Makana Hawaii Incentives (Whitney Niemi/Lauren Otomo Manuel (LHS 2000) ($1,000): Hoken Hironaka
Makana Hawaii Ohana Imua (Niemi, Manuel, and Nestor Ugale, Jr.) ($1,750.): Mauka Hoang Do
Maui County Federal Credit Union ($1,000 each: Bryson Aquino, Michelle Arzaga, Zyon Auwae, Asher Becker, Princess Jazyen Tumamao
Maui Pono Foundation (Joel Navarro) ($2,000 each): RJ Caipal Arconado, Danielle Caguioa, Sarah Cariaga, Jordan Gomez, Kayla Mabalot Del Castillo,Afnan Oleiwan, Ever Tempo, Reynason Topinio, Sophia Topinio, Janice Yabo
Jim Riley Memorial ($1,000): Michelle Arzaga
Roy (Class of 1960) & Betty Sakamoto ($1,500 renewable-four years): Dylan Paul Lat
Chad Santiago (Class of 1997), State Farm Insurance Scholarship ($1,000): Chealsea Acio
Alfred Fred Sarian Memorial ($1,000): Simione Olakauatu
Shelton ‘Ohana ($2,000): Janice Yabo
Steven R. Strong, MD Memorial ($2,500): RJ Caipal Arconado
Territorial Savings Bank ($1,000): Ever Tempo
Phoebe Toshikiyo Takenaga Legacy Scholarship ($3,000): Chase Yasutake
Denis Toshikiyo Memorial Scholarship ($3,000.): Noa Oliveira
Ted Toshikiyo Memorial Scholarship ($3,000): Ever Tempo
Eugene and Phoebe Toshikiyo Takenaga Academic Excellence Award ($6,000): RJ Caipal Arconado
TS Restaurants (Duke’s, Hula Grill, Kimo’s, Leilani’s) ($2,000 each): Jordan Gomez (Duke’s) and Vi Tuong Nguyen (Leilani’s)
UFO Chutting of Hawaii, aka as UFO Parasail ($1,000): Afnan Oleiwan
UFO Fishing ($1000): Noa Oliveira
Valley Isle Federal Credit Union ($500 each): Jaeden-Ian Pascua
Clyde Wakida Memorial by the Wakida ‘Ohana ($2,000 each): Cadence Ako, Shansi Boaz-Vasquez, Dylan Paul Lat, Alexis Peligrino-Hayase, Marie Claire Ramos
West Maui Community Task Force ($1,000 each): Nyles Ines and Kayla Mabalot Del Castillo
Wo Hing Society ($1,000): Cadence Ako
Also, being awarded their renewable four-year scholarships were the following alumni, with their graduation year in parentheses:
Shigeru & Toyoko Ichiki ($15,000 each, renewable): Kailani Medeiros-Sodetani (2022), Vincent Nguyen (2023), Lincoln Kaulana Tihada (2024)
Makana Aloha Foundation ($7,500 each, renewable ‘24 and’ 25; amt tba ‘26): Kamele Detweiler (2022), Lance LJ Morikawa (2023), Emily Hegrenes (2024)
Steven T. Nishimura Memorial ($2000 renewable): Madison Yu-Cua (2023)
Roy & Betty Sakamoto ($1,500 each, renewable): Angelina Lai (2022), Haley Mahoe (2023), Devyn Gruber (2024)
Chad Santiago State Farm Insurance ($1,000 renewable): Kathleen Baniqued (2023) and Arianna Castuillo-Medina (2024)
Lahainaluna HS Merit Renewable ($1250 each, renewable): Lance LJ Morikawa (2023) and Carla Agrade (2024)
This is the foundation’s 24th 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. 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. continue to rally and offer their financial support to the Class of 2025”. Fillazar further noted that “this is another strong and resilient class as they started their high school careers with Covid precautions and now ending their senior year surviving the traumatic and historical devastation from 2023.”
He furthered offered directions for alumni, classes, businesses or other groups wishing to offer scholarships to contact him via e-mail at [email protected], or clearly leave your name and call back number at (808) 661-5332 or check later on the Foundation website (currently being updated): www.