Maui’s Sons and Daughters of the Nisei Veterans / Maui AJA Veterans award 10 scholarships

Ten scholarships of $1,000 were presented to graduates of high schools on Maui by the Maui’s Sons and Daughters of the Nisei Veterans / Maui AJA Veterans Scholarship Program.

The recipients are:

• Taylor Jade Deocares, Baldwin High School, daughter of Shane and Clarissa Deocares.
• Kelsie Tamayose, King Kekaulike High School, daughter of Chad and Janelle Tamayose.
• Lilinoe Quitazol, King Kekaulike High School, daughter of Mapu and Francis Quitazol.
• Cadence ‘Oani Lived Ako, Lahainaluna High School, daughter of Preston and Charlene Ako.
• Vi Nguyen, Lahainaluna High School, daughter of Nhut Nguyen and Lien Tran.
• Dylan Arisumi, Maui High School, daughter of Michael and Kris Arisumi.
• Michelle Lennie D. Castillo, Maui High School, daughter of Ken Castillo.
• Lia Kagehiro, Maui High School, daughter of Russell Kagehiro.
• Kalia R. Kaneta, Maui High School, daughter of Carroll Kaneta and Justin Rouleau.
• Joshua Mori, Maui High School, son of Matthew and Misoo Mori.

The awards were presented June 14 at the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center Stanley Izumigawa Resource Center in Kahului. A bento lunch from TJ’s Warehouse was served.

The Maui AJA Veterans Inc. established the scholarship program, and gave the first award in 1951. Scholarships are awarded annually based on academic achievement, extracurricular activities, an essay and financial need.

The major source of scholarship funding has been the annual Chrysanthemum Festival, formerly known as the Chrysanthemum Ball. 

The Maui AJA Veterans ran the Chrysanthemum Ball since 1953, and provided hundreds of scholarships over the years. The veterans turned the event over to the Maui’s Sons and Daughters of the Nisei Veterans in 2007.

When Maui AJA Veterans Inc. dissolved in 2016, it distributed its funds to the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center and to Maui’s Sons and Daughters of the Nisei Veterans.

The MSDNV pledged to use its share to continue the tradition of providing scholarships to worthy Maui high school graduates. They honor Maui AJA Veterans Inc. by retaining its name in the title of the scholarship.