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Teaching and inspiring communities to care for their treasured people and places
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2018 Scholars

We all know students who care for themselves and their community, honor their culture and their kuleana, and value their home place but rarely are there opportunities to publicly recognize these students. Most awards look at a student's potential for future success because of their grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities. The Islander Scholars Program is unique in that we are supporting students, not just for who they might become, but for who they are now.​

In this third year, principals from 40 public and charter schools from seven islands selected one outstanding junior to be their school’s Islander Scholar. Principals were given the autonomy and privilege of selecting one student for their character, compassion, resilience, wellbeing, aloha, and actions that demonstrate these values every day. From June 1 to 3, 2018, we will convene these students in an intensive and life-changing experience to connect them with one another, explore their kuleana, learn from distinguished community mentors, and meet Islander Scholars from the past two years. 

Islander Scholars  is coordinated by Islander Institute in partnership with Mālama Learning Center and a Dream Team of facilitators. For more information on this program, please contact Laurie(at)islanderinstitute.com.

​See the news release for the 2018 program.  Mahalo to Honolulu Civil Beat for writing a wonderful article about the Academy!

2017 Scholars

In the second year of the program, 28 students from six islands came together to form the 2017 Islander Scholars. 
The 2017 Class of Islander Scholars
Kauaʻi
  • D'Annalyn Helgen, Waimea High School
  • Michael Perreira, Kauaʻi High School

Oʻahu
  • Ufi Ale, Aiea High School
  • Lilianne Au, Kalani High School
  • Mahina Bachiller, Pearl City High School
  • Rayna Benzaken, Kaiser High School
  • Shane Enriquez, Kapolei High School
  • Rene Hutchins, Castle High School
  • Ma'alaea Kanealakala, Kaiser High School
  • Makani Kauweloa-Pilialoha, Nanakuli High & Intermediate School
  • Ku'umauliola Kawelo, Kula Kaiapuni Hawai'i 'o Kahuku Academy
  • Kamalei Krug, Ke Kula Kaiapuni 'o 'Anuenue
  • Karlee Manding, Waipahu High School
  • J-Zen Napierala-Rose, Kamaile Academy
  • Paisley Richards, Halau Ku Mana
  • Buddha Sana, Wai'anae High School
  • Duke Takeno, University Laboratory School

Lānaʻi
  • Milinanea Clarabal, Lānaʻi High & Elementary School

Maui
  • Camryn Ban, Maui High School
  • Lolo Bekkum, Hana High & Elementary School

Hawaiʻi Island
  • Roland Afaga, Jr., Honoka'a High & Intermediate School
  • Gabby Barrientos-Navalta, Laupāhoehoe Community Public Charter School
  • Loa Haleamau, Ke Kula 'Ehunuikaimalino
  • Izzy Kawasaki, West Hawaiʻi Explorations Academy Public Charter School
  • Johnna Marsh, Kanu o ka ʻĀina New Century Public Charter School
  • Treyson Moke, Ke Kula ʻo Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu
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2016 inaugural scholar class

In 2016, Mālama Learning Center, in partnership with our friends at Islander Institute, launched the inaugural year of Islander Scholars, a special honor for public high school juniors who exemplify the values that we love about Hawai'i!
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We invited public school principals at traditional and charter high schools statewide to select one junior in their school to be an Islander Scholar based on six comprehensive learning outcomes rooted in Hawaiʻi's culture and environment. These outcomes, called Nā Hopena Aʻo or HĀ, include a strengthened sense of Belonging; Responsibility; Excellence; Aloha; Total Well-Being; and Hawaiʻi, spelling out BREATH, which we know as HĀ. We asked principals to select students who exemplify these characteristics through their actions in school, community, and families to be their school's Islander Scholar.

For our first class, we selected 16 Islander Scholars from Kaua'i, Lāna'i, Hawai'i Island, and O'ahu who came together on June 3 to 5 at our home at Camp Pālehua for the culminating event of this program, the Islander Scholars Academy. There, they grounded themselves in the place and mo'olelo of Pālehua, explored their kuleana as individuals and together, and built lasting relationships. The students' diverse backgrounds, as well as the creative ideas of the seminar leaders, led to a deep, rich, and life-changing experience for everyone involved. Now seniors at their respective high schools, the Islander Scholars have the tools and support to lead their peers and even adults, as we all search for better ways to live as Islanders.

The 2016 Class of Islander Scholars
Kauaʻi
  • Robyn Acob, Waimea High School
  • Bailey Mackenzie, Kauaʻi High School

Oʻahu
  • Nathalie Alomar, Kapolei High School
  • Trey Garcia, Kamaile Academy
  • Austin Hashimoto, Waiʻānae High School
  • Camryn Kaina, University Laboratory School
  • Andrew Kaufusi, Kaiser High School
  • Josiah Nahinu, Nānākuli High & Intermediate School
  • Kaʻulawena Perez-Wasson, Kula Kaiapuni Hawaiʻi ʻo Kahuku Academy

Lānaʻi
  • Parker Szelag, Lānaʻi High & Elementary School

Maui
  • Alexandria Tyau, Maui High School
  • Patrick Williams, King Kekaulike High School

Hawaiʻi Island
  • Aurelia Hart, Kanu o ka ʻĀina New Century Public Charter School
  • Jaylyn Mahoe-Subica, Laupāhoehoe Community Public Charter School
  • Kamalukea Moke, Ke Kula ʻo Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu
  • Justin Texeira, West Hawaiʻi Explorations Academy Public Charter School
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Pauline Sato led an interpretive hike on the Palikea Trail for the Islander Scholars
P.O. Box 1662, Honolulu, Hawai`i, 96806
[email protected]
808-305-8287
Copyright © 2024 Mālama Learning Center, All rights reserved.
  • About
    • Vision and Mission
    • Our Approach
    • Who We Are >
      • Our Staff
      • Board of Directors
      • Our Interns
    • Meaning of Mālama
  • Programs
    • ʻŌpio (Youth)
    • Kumu (Teachers)
    • Kaiāulu (Community)
    • ʻĀina (Land)
    • Outside Hawaiʻi TV
  • Support
    • Donate Today
    • Volunteer
    • Me + Tree
    • Year-Round Sponsors
    • Grants and Donations
    • Join Our Team
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Newsletter Sign-Up Form