COURTESY HAWAI‘I LODGING & TOURISM ASSOCIATION
In front: public high school graduates Keslyn Higa, left, Sarah Lorenzo, Rhema Wong, Macy Luke, Fanglin Xu, Janisse Precious Ibana, Kari-Ann Akasaki, Kailee Chun, Taylor Ledgerwood and Emily Quach. In back: state Sen. Kurt Fevella, left, Chris Tatum, Mufi Hannemann and Glenn Vergara.
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Ten public high school graduates who intend to
pursue tourism-related college degrees have been named inaugural recipients of the Ho‘oilina Scholarship.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority and Hawai‘i Lodging &Tourism Association earlier this year established the new scholarship, which is funded by transient accommodations tax money.
Recipients, who plan to
attend college at the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s School of Travel Industry Management or Hawaii Pacific University’s Hospitality Academy, will receive $12,000 per year for four years.
Recipients were chosen on the basis of grades, leadership skills, volunteer service and internship experience. They will be required to take Hawaiian culture or language classes, perform tourism-related community service and participate in a hospitality internship program.
Selectees were recognized Sunday at a luncheon at Wolfgang’s Steakhouse at the Royal Hawaiian Center. They include Kari-Ann Akasaki (Pearl City High School), Kailee Chun (Kalani High), Keslyn Higa (Aiea High),
Janisse Precious Ibana (Waipahu High), Taylor Ledgerwood (Kaiser High), Sarah Lorenzo (Kaiser High), Macy Luke (Moanalua High), Emily Quach (Moanalua High), Rhema Wong (Kaiser High) and Fanglin Xu (Moanalua High).
Information on the program is available at hawaiilodging.org/scholarships.html.
