9 Maui County students earn $36K in Takitani scholarships

The Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation, Inc. has named nine high school seniors from Maui County as scholarship recipients of its annual Legacy Scholarship Program, winning $36,000 in scholarships.

The students were among 60 recipients, one from each qualifying public, charter and independent school in the state, who received scholarships based on their excellent academic achievement, dedication to community service and financial need. In total, the Foundation awarded $220,000 to students throughout the state in its Legacy Scholarship Program this year.

“Mr. and Mrs. Takitani, founders of Hawaiian Host, knew that hard work, commitment to excellence, and a strong dedication to one’s community were key factors in their success,” said KSSK Radio personality Michael W. Perry, chairman of the Takitani Foundation Board. “The Takitanis wanted to recognize those same qualities in Hawaiʻi’s outstanding students with support to further their education.”

The Mamoru Takitani $10,000 Scholarship Awardee:

Winner of one of the Foundation’s highest awards, Joshua Mori of Maui High School is the son of Matthew and Misoo Mori. An AP scholar and recipient of noteworthy commendations and awards throughout high school, Mori spent many volunteer hours protecting the environment by promoting renewable energy, caring for endangered native Hawaiian species and working with NASA to monitor climate change. He also actively devoted his time on many service projects for Maui High School and the Maui community. Mentors credit Mori’s success with his “intellectual curiosity, leadership and devotion to his community.” Mori will attend the University of Pennsylvania this fall.

Additional Maui County awardees

$5,000 Award – Hawaiʻi Association of Independent Schools Finalist
The daughter of Jayson and Misty Vierra, Josie Vierra-Naleieha of Kamehameha Schools – Maui, aspires to become a physician with a long-term goal of making Hawaiʻi’s healthcare system more equitable for all. A National Honor Society member, Vierra-Naleieha is an active member of student government at Kamehameha Schools – Maui, the school yearbook and co-captain of the girls’ judo team. While maintaining a strong academic record throughout high school, Vierra-Naleieha volunteers at MALAMA Aquaponics and was a teacher’s assistant at Pukalani Elementary School during the summers. She will attend the University of Rochester this September.

$3,000 Awards – Maui District Public Schools

• Mikkel Bekkum of Hāna High School hopes to work in the medical field like his parents, Curtis and Miki Bekkum, to improve medical availability in Hāna. As a NALU Maui Nui program participant, Bekkum researched environmental issues on Maui and earned the respect of his mentors, who commented that Bekkum “blends academic knowledge with ability and dedication.” Bekkum also engaged in several activities to improve his community and started a beach cleanup club, “Malama Na Kahakai.” A tri-athlete and a member of the Hāna Canoe Club, Bekkum will enroll at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa this fall.
• Kaylee Miyamoto of H.P. Baldwin High School is an outstanding scholar dedicated to contributing to her community. The daughter of Mark and Jennifer Miyamoto, she is an active and respected member of the school band, several school clubs and the student council. Miyamoto devoted many hours to completing research projects with the NALU Studies program and tutored students there since her sophomore year. Miyamoto will work toward a degree in environmental science this fall at Brigham Young University – Hawaiʻi.
• King Kekaulike High School’s Kaisha MacKnight, the daughter of Halayudha and Chihiro MacKnight, is regarded by many as a natural-born leader. An AP scholar and winner of numerous academic honors, MacKnight focused her free time on environmental concerns with the school’s environmental club throughout high school, was the co-founder of King Kekaulike’s art club and served as a junior counselor at He Ola Ke Keiki, a Type-1 diabetic camp for youth. MacKnight desires to create more accessible, affordable medical technologies for diabetics by studying biomedical engineering at Stanford University in September.
• Vi Nguyen of Lahainaluna High School holds a distinguished academic record and is regarded as one whose “intellectual curiosity, leadership skills, commitment to service and genuine concern for others” earned her the respect of peers and advisors alike. The daughter of Nhut Nguyen and Lien Tran, Nguyen frequently volunteered for school and community service projects and, in the wake of the Maui fires, traveled to Japan as a member of the TOMODACHI Kibou for Maui program to study their recovery efforts. She intends to study economics at UCLA in September, focusing on more effective ways to recover from natural disasters and developing better emergency programs for the community.
• Rose Marie Cockett of Molokaʻi High School has been on the principal’s list and honor roll throughout high school, and was the recipient of the Harvard Book Award for her exemplary academic excellence and moral character, among other numerous awards. The daughter of Benjamin and Justine Cockett, Cockett is highly respected for her community service through the LEO Community Service Club and was the founder of the Police Cadet Leadership Club. Cockett will pursue a career in Hawaiian studies at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo this fall.
• Kīhei Charter School’s Tasanee Cogliandro, the daughter of Joseph and Janette Cogliandro, has enjoyed an outstanding academic and community service career. A United States Senate Youth Program finalist in 2024, Cogliandro was chair of all high school student councils for the Maui district, an officer in her school’s student government and served as president of the American Legion Auxiliary for Hawaiʻi, while actively participating in other clubs. Winner of several awards in national, regional and state taekwondo competitions, Cogliandro hopes to study ways to advance sustainability and cultural preservation at the University of Chicago.

$3,000 Award – Hawaiʻi Association of Independent Schools
Isabelle Brown of Seabury Hall earned many academic distinctions throughout high school. An AP scholar, Brown repeatedly won the Head of School Award by maintaining an outstanding academic average while completing 36 hours of community service each year. A member of Seabury Hall’s student council, Brown also enjoyed athletics, serving as JV and varsity captain of the volleyball team, was captain of the golf team and mentored younger team members of the school’s paddling team. The daughter of Jonathan and Karmen Brown, she will major in architecture at the University of Utah this fall.