HMSA awards $75,000 in scholarships to 15 high school seniors; $13,500 to outstanding high schools

The Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association celebrated its 19th class of the HMSA Kaimana Awards & Scholarship Program recipients at Oʻahu Country Club on Sunday. The awards ceremony recognized 15 outstanding Hawaiʻi high school seniors for their achievements and nine local high schools for all-around excellence in academics, athletics, community service, healthy activities and sportsmanship.

Maui recipients are Madison Strand of King Kekaulike High School and Jasmyn Yoshikawa of Baldwin High School. Winning schools on Maui are Maui Preparatory Academy for small school, and Kamehameha Schools Maui in the large school division.

“This program is an investment in Hawaiʻi’s future. For 19 years and counting, it’s been an honor to support some of the best and brightest graduating seniors in Hawaiʻi, as well as select schools that work tirelessly to nurture the next generation of leaders,” said HMSA President and Chief Executive Officer Mark M. Mugiishi, M.D., F.A.C.S. “Many of our scholarship recipients continue to make meaningful contributions to our communities and we’re grateful to play a small part in their journey.”

HMSA has sponsored the Kaimana Awards & Scholarship Program in partnership with the Hawaiʻi High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) since 2005.

At the awards ceremony, 15 students across the state received scholarships worth $5,000 each. Nine high schools were recognized for achieving the highest program scores in their league (classified by enrollment), in academics, athletics, community service, healthy activities and sportsmanship. The nine highest-scoring schools received $1,500 each.

To be eligible for a scholarship, student recipients had to graduate from a Hawaii high school in 2024 with a GPA of 2.75 or higher, participate in at least one HHSAA league-sanctioned sport, and demonstrate involvement in community service throughout their high school career. Recipients can use their scholarships to help pay for higher education, including tuition, books, computers, and room and board.

Dr. Mugiishi presented the awards and was joined by emcees Steve Uyehara and Liz Chun Uyehara. Uyehara is an anchor at Hawaii News Now and Chun Uyehara is the director of communications at Hawaii Pacific Health.

The scholarship selection committee included Katie Chang, executive director, Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders; Jenn Diesman, senior vice president of government policy and advocacy, HMSA; Debbie Nakanelua-Richards, director, government and community relations, Hawaiian Airlines; Dave Reardon, sports columnist, Honolulu Star-Advertiser; and Steve Uyehara.

The students and winning schools include:

2024 HMSA Kaimana Awards & Scholarship Program: Winning Students

Big Island Interscholastic Federation

• Marissa Boerner, Kealakehe High School
• Andrew Paresa, Waiakea High School

Interscholastic League of Honolulu

• Sydney Endo, Punahou School
• Kylee Hamamoto, Punahou School
• Diyora Kamilova, ʻIolani School
• Elle Mizue, ʻIolani School

Kauaʻi Interscholastic Federation

• Talen Koerte, Kauaʻi High School
• Shyloh McCann, Kapaʻa High School

Maui Interscholastic League

• Madison Strand, King Kekaulike High School
• Jasmyn Yoshikawa, Baldwin High School

Oʻahu Interscholastic Association

• Kayuga Jade de Guzman, Waialua High and Intermediate School
• Rafael Firme, Campbell High School
• Ahryanna McGuirk, Kalaheo High School
• Catalina Naki-Alforte, Nānākuli High and Intermediate School
• Eve Nawahine, Kahuku High and Intermediate School

2024 HMSA Kaimana Awards & Scholarship Program: Winning Schools

Big Island Interscholastic Federation

• Small School (fewer than 500 students): Parker School
• Large School (500 students or more): Keaʻau High School

Interscholastic League of Honolulu

• Small School (fewer than 400 students): University Laboratory School
• Large School (400 students or more): Hawaiʻi Baptist Academy

Kauaʻi Interscholastic Federation

• Waimea High School

Maui Interscholastic League

• Small School (fewer than 350 students): Maui Preparatory Academy
• Large School (350 students or more): Kamehameha Schools Maui

Oʻahu Interscholastic Association

• Small School (fewer than 1,300 students): Kalaheo High School
• Large School (1,300 students or more): Moanalua High School

To learn more about the HMSA Kaimana Awards & Scholarship Program, visit hmsa.com/kaimana.