ʻAhahui Kaʻahumanu Awards Scholarships to 4 Maui Students

ʻAhahui Kaʻahumanu scholarship recipients (clockwise from top left): Nahenahe Anmei Norton-Tolentino; Daniel Kuiokalani Shigeo Quenga; Kekoa Burton Meanor; and TJ Makoa Kanichi Idemoto. Courtesy photos.

By Maui Now Staff

The ʻAhahui Kaʻahumanu Chapter IV Wailuku announced the award this weekend of $500 scholarships to four students aspiring to futures in dance, Hawaiian language and sustainability.

The recipients, all recent graduates of Maui secondary schools, are: Baldwin High alumnus TJ Makoa Kanichi Idemoto; Seabury Hall graduate Nahenahe Anmei Norton-Tolentino; and Kekoa Burton Meanor and Daniel Kuiokalani Shigeo Quenga, both alumni of the Kamehameha Schools Maui.

The ʻAhahui Kaʻahumanu is a Hawaiian women’s society with more than 500 members in nine chapters across the state. Its mission includes the promotion of native Hawaiian language, history, culture and traditions.

The Wailuku chapter formed in 1923 and currently has more than 100 members.

During significant events, the group wears the society’s signature regalia of a black muʻumuʻu, hat, gloves and shoes, plus gold lei hulu, or feather neck lei.

Background information on scholarship recipients:

Nahenahe Norton-Tolentino: plans to major in psychology and minor in Hawaiian studies and language at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She was in Hawaiian Language Immersion at Pāʻia Elementary and Kalama Intermediate schools before receiving a four-year scholarship to attend Seabury Hall in Makawao. While there, she was a vocalist and ʻukulele player with the Hawaiian Music Ensemble.

Daniel Quenga: will pursue mechanical engineering and play Division I soccer at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.  He earned UOP Regent’s and Dean’s scholarships totaling more than $12,000 after having achieved a 3.85 cumulative grade-point average at Kamehameha Maui. Quenga also earned Eagle Scout honors.

Kekoa Meanor: competed in varsity football, track and outrigger canoeing while at Kamehameha Maui, and continues to paddle for Hawaiian Canoe Club. Meanor will study environmental science at the University of Hawaiʻi-Hilo with plans to promote renewable energy benefiting isle residents.

TJ Idemoto: will pursue a bachelor of fine arts degree in dance theater at the AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Los Angeles. Idemoto earned the 2007 Master Keiki Hula award and other titles under the direction of kumu hula Iola Balubar. He was active for four years in drama, music and dance with the Baldwin Performing Arts Learning Center. Idemoto also participated in performance-arts ministries while on King’s Cathedral missions throughout Hawaiʻi and the US Continent, and in Japan, Germany and Russia.