Two Maui Students Receive Timeshare Association Scholarships

Bronson Maulupe-Kanae. Photo courtesy of ARDA-Hawaii.

By Sonia Isotov

Bronson Maulupe-Kanae and Chassidy Sakamoto, both Travel Industry Management (TIM) students at Hawaii Pacific University, were awarded American Resort Development Association of Hawaii’s (ARDA-Hawaii) Steve Hirano Memorial Scholarship Awards of $1,000 each.

“Bronson and Chassidy exemplify the kind of driven and ardent students and young professionals Hawaii needs in timeshare and travel industry management,” said ARDA-Hawaii Chair Daniel Dinell, in a written statement. “The generosity of the donors and sponsors who support the scholarship fund make it possible for us to continue helping students pursuing careers in our state’s most prominent industry.” Dinell is also Regional Vice President of Sales & Marketing Programs for Hilton Grand Vacations Club’s Asia/Pacific region.

Chassidy Sakamoto. Photo courtesy of ARDA-Hawaii.

ARDA-Hawaii established the scholarship to facilitate the education of students attending HPU and to provide an opportunity for students to pursue a career in the timeshare industry, especially those from Hawaii.

Each year, ARDA-Hawaii raises money from its annual golf tournament to support the Steve Hirano Memorial Scholarship fund, created as a tribute to the late public affairs executive and long-time supporter of the timeshare industry in Hawaii. Since its inception seven years ago, the ARDA-Hawaii Golf Tournament has raised more than $70,000 for the scholarship fund.

Maulupe-Kanae, of Kahului, graduated from Maui High School in 2009 and is scheduled to graduate from HPU with a bachelor’s degree in the Spring of 2013. His parents are Clarke and Miriam Maulupe-Kanae. Sakamoto, who also hails from Kahului, is a 2010 graduate of H.P. Baldwin High School and anticipates graduating from in the Spring of 2014. She is the daughter of Jason Sakamoto and Rosalind Kaholokula.

To qualify for consideration, applicants must be enrolled full-time in the TIM program with a Junior or Senior class status, and have a 3.20 minimum GPA.

Both were honored at the HPU Awards Banquet in late spring this year.

ARDA-Hawai’i is the local chapter of the American Resort Development Association, the national timeshare trade association.