Rotary Club of Upcountry Maui recognizes two outstanding students

The Rotary Club of Upcountry Maui has recognized Brayden Kitagawa of King Kekaulike High School and Kaui Joaquin of Kamehameha Schools Maui as its Students of the Month for August.

Club President Mary Albitz presented the awards at the club’s meeting on Aug. 14.

More on the students:

Brayden Kitagawa — King Kekaulike High School

Kitagawa, a senior, carries a course load that includes AP Physics, AP Calculus and AP Japanese, and competes in Science Olympiad. He leads the trumpet section of the school’s jazz band and earned a cultural exchange trip to Japan.

An Eagle Scout, Kitagawa serves as Lodge Chief for Scouting America, a youth leadership role spanning the Hawaiian Islands and American Samoa. He has contributed numerous hours of community service, volunteering at Aloha Council Summer Camp, the Makawao Stampede, Maui Matsuri and the Makawao Hongwanji Obon and Garage Sale.

After graduation, Kitagawa plans to study mechanical or electrical engineering.

“From AP Physics to Eagle Scout Lodge Chief, Brayden is a true powerhouse leader,” Albitz said. “He exemplifies what it means to lead with heart, dedication and Service Above Self. We are continually blown away by the achievements, humility and ambition of our local haumāna, and honoring Brayden’s remarkable journey reminds us just how bright the future is for Upcountry Maui.”

Kaui Joaquin — Kamehameha Schools Maui

Joaquin serves as Publicity Chair for ASKS, the student leadership organization at Kamehameha Schools Maui, where she has become a driving force on the leadership team. She has produced award-winning media for the school and competes in soccer and flag football—a record that has earned her multiple opportunities to compete at the NCAA Division I collegiate level. Her teachers, coaches, teammates and friends describe her as dependable, kind and resilient.

“Kaui is the kind of student you can always count on — the first to respond and the last to leave,” Kamehameha Schools Maui said in its nomination. “Responsible, ʻeleu, makaʻala, hardworking and positive, she gives her whole heart to everything she does. Whether she is creating award-winning media, serving her school, leading alongside ASKS, or being an absolute hammah on the soccer and flag football fields, Kaui shows up.”

The Rotary Club of Upcountry Maui through its Youth Services program the club recognizes a Student of the Month from King Kekaulike High School and Kamehameha Schools Maui throughout the school year, and supports scholarships, service projects and youth leadership across Upcountry Maui. Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self.”

For more information, visit upcountrymauirotary.org.