Kaimana Scholarship Program Recipients

Hawaii County

Scholarship Recipients

Giselle Minez-Cruz

Kealakehe High School

Athletic highlights: Competitive swimmer for a decade who served as a varsity swim team captain. Won first place overall at the 2023 Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) championship and first place at the 2024 BIIF championship in 200-medley relay. Also swam with the Kona Aquatic Club and coached at Kona Dolphin Swim Club.

Academic highlights: The Gates Scholarship finalist, one of 1,500 from nearly 50,000 applicants. Representative on the Kealakehe Ohana Council, collaborating with peers to plan school events. Earned the Seal of Biliteracy award in English and Spanish and won a Hawaii Regional Silver Key for her oil pastel artwork.

Community service highlights: Volunteer with her church’s ministry and at the Ironman World Championship. Co-founded a mentee program at Kealakehe High School, which pairs mentors with elementary school students who may be experiencing challenges with feeling connected or included.

What’s next? University of Hawaii at Manoa to study education. “My goal is to return to Kona as an elementary school teacher,” she says, “This is important to me because I want to show my gratitude to the community that supported and believed in me.”

Aysha Pham

Makua Lani Christian Academy

Athletic highlights: Competed in BIIF girls tennis singles, maintaining a positive attitude and embracing challenges along the way.

Academic highlights: Graduated as valedictorian with a 4.0 GPA, received six teacher recognition awards, and completed five advanced placement courses in one year. Served as student government president and head of the winter ball and prom committees.

Community service highlights: Founder and president of the school’s charity baking club, donating desserts to a homeless shelter, fire station, church, and school. Performed in multiple live theater productions and assisted with community theater stage refurbishment.

What’s next? University of California San Diego, where she plans to study mathematics with a focus on probability and statistics. She says, “Being involved in the community has redefined my priorities as I’ve met and learned from many amazing people. These connections have shaped my personal philosophy of ‘humanity first,’ which I plan to carry forward in everything I do.”

Honolulu County

Scholarship Recipients

Joseph Abreu

St. Louis School

Athletic highlights: Played football all four years of high school, earning best offensive lineman honors and winning a state championship with the team. Also competed in paddling and played baseball.

Academic highlights: Member of the National Honor Society, graduating with a 4.0 GPA. Selected as a Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii Youth of the Year candidate.

Community service highlights: Volunteer with the Boys & Girls Club and Koloa Church, supporting fundraisers, youth community outreach, and food distribution efforts. Participated in team‑led community service projects, including work at the Alakoko Fishpond, beach cleanups, and fundraisers.

What’s next? Southern Nazarene University in Oklahoma, where he’ll play football and major in engineering science. “The lessons I’ve learned through school, football, and community service have taught me perseverance, discipline, and commitment,” he says. “These values will guide me as I work toward giving back to Hawaii and its people.”

Sahana Ahmed

Kamehameha Schools Kapalama

Athletic highlights: Captain of the girls varsity golf team.

Academic highlights: Represented her school on the math team at the national Mu Alpha Theta math competition, placing in statistics and pre-calculus. Selected as a semifinalist for the Coca-Cola Scholars program from a large pool of applicants. Earned second place in physics and astronomy at the Hawaii State Science Fair.

Community service highlights: President and founder of the Kula Manu Organization, leading Hawaiian feather cloak repatriation, featherwork education, and habitat restoration projects at five sites. Dedicated volunteer with Kahala Summer Fun, contributing more than 200 total hours. Junior leader and teaching assistant with Awana Clubs at Waiokeola Congregational Church, leading meetings for preschool and middle school students and their families.

What’s next? Stanford University, majoring in biology on a pre‑medicine track. She says, “I hope to establish a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing health care access for Native Hawaiians and other local communities.”

Mia Ha-Rozewski

Pearl City High School

Athletic highlights: Competed in volleyball for four years, served as co-captain her senior year, and helped lead the team to the Oahu Interscholastic Association (OIA) semifinals.

Academic highlights: Achieved a Science Olympiad national gold medal in Bioprocess Lab, a competition focusing on life science and biology lab processes. Completed the Hawaii Pacific Health summer internship program at Pali Momi Medical Center. Three time state qualifier at the Hawaii Regeneron Science Fair, earning an award for behavioral health research.

Community service highlights: Founder and president of her school’s Sapling Club, where she worked with elementary students who experienced social and emotional challenges. Coach for Highlands Intermediate Science Olympiad, mentoring middle school students. Student presenter with the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, collaborating with partners to deliver presentations at a national conference on youth partnership.

What’s next? University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she’ll study health policy and management. “I believe that every person has the potential for success with the right support,“ she says. “I hope to return to the islands as a mentor, helping students in the same ways that allowed me to pursue my ambitions.”

Zaira-Marley Marcellino

Halau Ku Mana PCS

Athletic highlights: Four year paddling athlete. Competed in flag football and canoe racing with Na Opio Canoe Racing Association.

Academic highlights: Maintained a 4.0 GPA. Interned at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children, gaining hands on experience with patient care and the health care field.

Community service highlights: Active participant in local community cleanup efforts to improve and maintain a one road valley community. Helped clear a local stream ahead of major storms to prevent flooding and protect homes. Supported the restoration of an old taro patch in Manoa Valley, contributing to the preservation of local culture and agriculture.

What’s next? University of Redlands in California, where she will pursue a degree in nursing. “I’m committed to serving Hawaii and its people by returning to the community that raised me. I hope to work in local hospitals and clinics, where I’ll aim to provide culturally respectful and compassionate care,” she says.

Maria Pineda

Pearl City High School

Athletic highlights: Competed in air riflery, placed among the top 20 athletes in the OIA and top 40 at the Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) Sporter Air Rifle Championship.

Academic highlights: Graduated as valedictorian with academic honors and a 4.2 GPA. Graduated a year early through advanced placement and early college classes. Active leader in student government, serving as class president and student body president. Member of the George B. Carter Serteens Club of Hawaii for gifted and talented students statewide.

Community service highlights: Secretary and cohort leader for the school’s Sapling Club, mentoring elementary students in social and emotional development. Vice president of the Interact Club, where she spearheaded an initiative creating hundreds of holiday cards for hospitalized children, and founder of her school’s community garden. Volunteers at Puuloa Beach Park, supporting restoration and cleanup efforts.

What’s next? Simmons University in Massachusetts, where she will pursue a degree in nursing. “Nurses stand at the intersection of science and humanity, translating complex medical information with clarity and reassurance,“ she says. “My goal is to provide culturally responsive care to communities in Hawaii, where language, tradition, and family dynamics deeply influence health care decisions.”

Soleil Soares

Le Jardin Academy

Athletic highlights: Competed in volleyball for four years, serving as junior captain.

Academic highlights: Maintained a 4.0 GPA while pursuing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, a rigorous two-year international curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, writing, and global awareness. Member of the National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society.

Community service highlights: Leader and junior counselor with Wild Kids, mentoring students through outdoor forest programs focused on environmental awareness. Board member of the Hawaii Center for Youth Philanthropy, leading youth-led initiatives that address community needs. Hawaiian culture practitioner and conservation volunteer with the Kawainui Stewardship Program, contributing to marshland restoration efforts and promoting long-term sustainability.

What’s next? Pitzer College in California, where she’ll major in biology with the goal of becoming a physician assistant. She says, “I’ve learned so much from my family, teachers, mentors, peers, and community. I look forward to continuing my academic and professional journey in this exciting new chapter.”

Anna Steed

Kapolei High School

Athletic highlights: Four-year soccer athlete who competed in track, cross country, and swimming. Overcame an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructive surgery and went on to compete in the 2025 Honolulu Marathon. Received nine official college soccer offers.

Academic highlights: Member of the National Honor Society, earned a placement on the principal’s list every quarter, and graduated as valedictorian. Member of Health Occupations Students of America, competing in anatomage (3D medical visualization technology) and health care photography. Served on the student board of directors as a health academy representative and student leader.

Community service highlights: Patient ambassador at Shriners Children’s Hawaii, advocating for pediatric patients and supporting hospital events. Served as a keynote speaker for the board of trustees and helped raise funds in support of hospital programs.

What’s next? University of Hawaii at Manoa, where she will pursue nursing through the High School Direct Entry Nursing Program. “I’m committed to becoming a nurse who gives back to Hawaii by caring for its people with empathy, strength, and heart. That is how I was raised, and how I choose to serve,” she says.

Vera Wang

Henry J. Kaiser High School

Athletic highlights: Competed in air riflery throughout high school and served as team captain her senior year.

Academic highlights: Member of the National Honor Society, Inter‑Club Council, and math team. Discovered a novel fungi with the potential to degrade sunscreen chemicals as the sole high school research intern at the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Pacific Sustainable Society Biosciences Research Center. Two‑time national Stockholm Junior Water Prize finalist, recipient of the James L. Condon Recognition for Environmental Stewardship, and qualifier for the International Science and Engineering Fair, the world’s largest precollege research competition.

Community service highlights: Founder and president of her school’s Sustainable Society club, where she organized more than 20 monthly service events and dedicated over 250 volunteer hours to restoration work at Keawawa wetland.

What’s next? Massachusetts Institute of Technology where she plans to study astrobiology and/or astrobotany. She says, “By making my own path and guiding aspiring younger student scientists, I’ve realized that legacy isn’t what we leave behind, but what we help others begin.”

Wes Yamaguchi

Punahou School

Athletic highlights: Competed in cross‑country for four years, serving as team captain and placed second at the HHSAA Cross Country State Championship. Competed in swimming and track and field for four years as team captain. Also trained for and completed the Honolulu Marathon.

Academic highlights: Recipient of the principal’s award and BigFuture’s National Hispanic Recognition Award for academic achievement. Member of the National Honor Society and Key Club, serving as grade director and helping organize service initiatives.

Community service highlights: Founded the school’s annual multicultural fair to celebrate diversity and inclusion. Member of Advocacy Out Loud, a student music group that serves the community by performing at nonprofit events. Leader of Go Blue Communities, promoting sustainable agriculture practices and local food systems.

What’s next? University of Maryland, College Park, majoring in biochemistry with the goal of researching and developing pharmaceuticals. “As the son of a home health nurse, I know many families that suffer from limited access to clear, accurate information about the importance and proper use of medications,” he says. “By becoming a professional in the health sciences, I can help educate my community about health safety and advocate for disadvantaged communities in Hawaii.”

Kauai County

Scholarship Recipients

David Braman

Kauai High School

Athletic highlights: Four‑year cross‑country runner on a Kauai Interscholastic Federation championship‑winning team. Completed the Kauai Half Marathon for three consecutive years.

Academic highlights: Maintained a 4.0 GPA. Founder of Kauai High Unified Athletics, bringing high school athletes together with students with special needs to foster relationships through sports. Served as president of Kauai High Unified Club, promoting inclusion for students with and without intellectual disabilities across campus.

Community service highlights: Youth ambassador and unified partner with Special Olympics North America and senior leader of the Special Olympics Hawaii youth activation committee. Active volunteer with the Boys & Girls Club and the Serteens Club of Hawaii, supporting community events such as the American Heart Association Heart Walk and school health fairs. Volunteered at the Kauai Marathon keiki run and middle school fundraising events. Member of the Essential Access Health Title X Committee, providing youth and minority perspectives on sexual and reproductive health.

What’s next? University of Missouri, where he’ll major in health sciences with a focus on rehabilitation services. He says, “My goal is to one day establish my own physical therapy clinic and make a difference in the lives of as many people as possible, embracing inclusion and advocacy for those with disabilities.”

Brynn Lee Hirata

Waimea High School

Athletic highlights: Competed in air riflery, bowling, and golf. Recognized as most valuable player on the golf team in the 2024-25 season. Competed in the HHSAA David Ishii Girls Golf Championships, a statewide competition.

Academic highlights: Student council secretary, National Honor Society treasurer, and member of Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC). Selected as the national spokesperson for the 2026 National Rural Electric Cooperatives of America (NRECA) Youth Leadership Council. Interned at Wilcox Medical Center and John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) Neighbor Island Medical Scholars Program delegate. Recipient of the Harvard Prize Book Award and the General Eric K. Shinseki Award for Outstanding Leadership and Character.

Community service highlights: Participated in Project Na Manu through the NRECA Youth Leadership Council, supporting efforts to preserve endangered seabird species. Contributed to the restoration of Hale Puna and supported the Waimea town celebration through JROTC service projects.

What’s next? University of Hawaii at Manoa, where she plans to major in ethnic studies on the pre-medicine track. She says, “I’m committed to contributing to solutions that expand opportunity, strengthen community resources, and ensure that future generations can live, work, and serve in Hawaii with both purpose and kuleana.”

Maui County

Scholarship Recipients

Jeremiah Jacinto

Baldwin High School

Athletic highlights: Competed in volleyball and weightlifting and powerlifting.

Academic highlights: Governor-appointed chairperson of the Hawaii State Youth Commission, where he advised the Hawaii Legislature and executive branch on youth policy and worked alongside legislators to support the development of health and wellness initiatives. Served on the leadership council for the Coalition for a Tobacco‑Free Hawaii, chaired the Inter‑Club Council, and helped found his school’s Model United Nations team.

Community service highlights: President of the school’s Key Club, leading a 65‑member service organization and coordinating 36 projects annually. Served as a Kanu Hawaii ambassador and executive council member for Pledge to Our Keiki, working with 25 youth ambassadors to expand an environmental stewardship pledge to thousands of participants worldwide. Regular volunteer with Feed My Sheep, supporting community food distribution efforts.

What’s next? Harvard University, where he’ll study government with a focus on policy and public service. “I hope to build a career designing equitable systems of governance that help to ensure young people and underrepresented communities are not just heard, but meaningfully included in the decisions that shape their futures,” he says.

Timika McLaurin

Molokai High School

Athletic highlights: Competed in volleyball, cheerleading, soccer, and paddling. Captain of the track and field team.

Academic highlights: Graduating with academic, career & technical education, and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) honors. Senior class president of the Molokai High School Student Association. Vice president of Health Occupations Students of America, where she led and organized club activities while promoting health care awareness in the community. Earned certified nursing assistant (CNA) certification and successfully managed dual enrollment college coursework while in high school.

Community service highlights: Volunteered with Maui Food Bank. Served as a junior counselor at Molokai Christian Youth Camp, mentoring young campers while completing more than 200 hours of volunteer service.

What’s next? University of Hawaii at Hilo, where she’ll pursue exploratory health sciences with a pre‑nursing focus. “My ultimate goal is to return home equipped not just with clinical knowledge, but with compassion, cultural understanding, and a deep commitment to service,” she says. “I want to care for the kupuna who paved the way for me and help strengthen the future of health care on Molokai.”