9 Hawaiʻi Island Students receive $29,000

The Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation, Inc. has named ten high school seniors from Hawai’i Island as scholarship recipients of its annual Legacy Scholarship Program.

The students were among 60 recipients, one from each qualifying public and independent school in the state, who received scholarships based on academic achievement, community service and financial need. In total, the Foundation awarded $219,000 to students throughout the state in its Legacy Scholarship Program this year.

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

• District Finalist – $5,000 scholarship award
  Kaylee Yamada of Hilo High School is the daughter of Leanne and Wayne Yamada. In her sophomore and junior years, Yamada was the recipient of the Underclassmen Award for service. She also served as vice president of the Key Club and was recognized as Outstanding Athlete of the Year in Tennis, both in the 11th grade. Yamada will attend the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington next fall.
  
• Hawaiʻi District Public Schools – $3,000 scholarship awards
  • Torrance Satta-Ellis of Konawaena High School is the son of Molly Satta-Ellis and Bobby Ellis. Satta-Ellis was on the Konawaena Academic Honor Roll and a member of the National Honor Society. He also was named the State of Hawai‘i High School Heisman Winner in 2022 and will attend Pacific University in Oregon.
    
  • Landon Yanagisawa of Waiakea High School is the son of Penny Yanagisawa and will attend Chapman University in California next Fall. Yanagisawa has served as SGA class Secretary in the 9th and 10th grades, and as SGA Class vice-president in the 11th and 12th grades.
    
  • Kimverly Mateo of Honoka‘a High and Intermediate School is the daughter of Magielyn Mateo. She received first place among Hawaii Island winners in the 23rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, Peace Poetry Contest. Mateo will attend the University of Hawai`i at Manoa.
    
  • Crystal Quigley of Ka’u High School is the daughter of Lorraine Quigley and Richard Quigley, and will attend the University of Hawai`i at Manoa in the Fall. Quigley was recognized for her self-activating rain catchment system engineering project at the 2019 Hawaii State Science & Engineering Fair.
    
  • Jyxzel Rhodz Bagaoisan of Kea‘au High School is the son of Rodel Bagaoisan and Baby Aurea Bagaoisan. He received recognition for his writings in the Eddie Aikau Essay Contest, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Audio-Essay contest, and also the Fromet Foundation Scholarship.
    
  • Mehana Resetnikov of Kealakehe High School is the daughter of Lindsay Resetnikov andYurik Resetnikov. She will attend the University of San Francisco in the Fall. Resentnikov is a member of her school’s National Honor Society and the “Surf for Special Needs” organization, assisting those with disabilities to participate in various ocean activities.
    
  • Hailey Kauanoe-Galdones of Kohala High School is the daughter of January Kauanoe. She will attend Northern Arizona University in the Fall. Kauanoe-Galdones has been a member of the Honor Roll since the 9th grade and on the Principal’s List in the 12th grade. She also serves as the Future Farmers of America, Kohala chapter President.
    
• Hawaiʻi Association of Independent Schools – $3,000 scholarship award
  • Ciana-Lei Bence of Kamehameha Schools Hawai‘i is the daughter of Charmelei Bence and Brian Bence. She will attend Yale University.
    As a senior, Bence was awarded observing time with the W. M. Keck Observatory for observation study on the emission line spectra of active galactic nuclei with the Institute for Astronomy at the University of Hawai‘i, Hilo.

Mamoru and Aiko Takitani founded Hawaiian Host, manufacturer of Hawaiian Host chocolates, and established the Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation, Inc. to give back to the community by providing the gift of education to the young people of Hawaiʻi.

Since 1993, the Foundation has annually presented scholarships to an outstanding student from every qualifying high school in the state and has awarded over $11 million to scholarship and academic enrichment programs throughout Hawaiʻi.