Kaimana Scholarship Winners Bios

BIIF

Erin Carvalho, Kamehameha Schools Hawaii

Erin was captain of the cross-country team and participated in three state championship races. She represented Hawaii at the National Southeast Cross Country Conference in Australia and was a member of the track and field and swim teams. Erin was honored for her achievement in algebra and a member of the National Honor Society. She plans to study to become a teacher at UH Manoa.

Camille Ricketts, Konawaena High School

Camille was a member of the swim, tennis, cross-country, and cheerleading teams. She liked feeling challenged and trying new things, and with each new environment, pushed herself to emerge from her shell and achieve new goals. Camille plans to study nursing at the University of British Columbia.

Trevor Yamagata, Konawaena High School

Trevor was a member of the soccer and tennis teams, 4-H, the Leo Club, Japan Club, National Honor Society, and National Society of High School Scholars. For his Eagle Scouts project, he refurbished his school’s tennis courts. Trevor wants to pursue optometry so that he can help people of all ages have a quality life through healthy vision.

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ILH

Max Castanera, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama

Max was a member of the state championship volleyball team and played for the Hawaii Volleyball Academy, Division II, basketball team. Max was ranked No. 6 in his class of 450, speaks Hawaiian, and did volunteer work to help revive the Hawaiian land and culture. He plans to study aerospace engineering at the University of Washington.

Samantha Dacanay, Iolani School

Samantha was a senior prefect and captain of the Iolani girls soccer team. She also served as president and founder of the Iolani Pre Med Club and president of the Iolani Red Cross Club. Samantha volunteered for the Special Olympics and chaired the junior class’ fundraising booth, raising more than $200,000. She remained on the headmaster’s list throughout high school and plans to become an ophthalmologist.

Megan Herndon, Punahou School

Megan was a member of three state championship girls track teams, a member of the 2010 state champion 4 x 400 relay team, and a three-time finalist in the 300-meter hurdles. She was on the paddling team and began competitive horseback riding at age 8. She was recognized for excellence in English and chemistry. Megan will study communications at the University of Washington.

Kalei Hosaka, Hawaii Baptist Academy

Kalei served as team captain for both the Eagles basketball and Division II state championship volleyball teams. He was selected to the ILH Division II volleyball all-star first team in 2011 and named to the Division II state championship all-tournament team in 2012. Kalei also participated in track and field, maintained a 4.06 cumulative GPA, and won the state stock-market simulation in the growth division. He was also the National Honor Society president.

Leahna Luke, Iolani School

Leahna was on the volleyball team, track team, and basketball team. She was consistently on the honor roll, co-chair of the intramurals committee, and a member of the Mock Trial team. She also traveled to Europe and Peru to dance hula with her halau. Leahna founded a charity club that partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to support children with serious illnesses and plans to study pre-med at Texas Christian University.

Siena Simmons, Iolani School

Siena discovered her passion for track when she joined the Renegades Track Club in sixth grade. She was a member of the 4 x 400 ILH championship team and participated in the state tournament each year in high school. She considers her greatest accomplishment as growing physically and mentally as a runner.

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KIF

Kimberly Aguilar, Waimea High School

Kimberly was the team captain of the air riflery team and was named the most valuable player for air riflery and canoe paddling. She was the JROTC battalion executive officer, received the Citizenship Award scholarship from the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association, and traveled to Thailand on a missionary trip. Kimberly’s goals are to serve as a missionary in foreign countries and pursue a master’s degree in occupational therapy to help people abroad and on Kauai.

Garrett Beyer, Island School

Garrett was captain of the soccer team, a Kauai Interscholastic Federation all-star goalie, and co-captain of the tennis team. He made the honor roll and the high honor roll, placed in his school’s science fair, and was recognized for his achievement in geology. Garrett won first place at the regional Science Olympiad competition and is enrolled at Pepperdine University, where he plans to study mechanical engineering.

Lauren Claypoole, Island School

Lauren served as the basketball team captain and played community league basketball and Kauai Interscholastic Federation volleyball. She was the school’s second singles player in tennis and team captain, and received the Coach’s Award for cross-country. Lauren was student government president and captain of the Mock Trial team. She participated in the National Honor Society and plans to attend Williams College in Massachusetts, majoring in neuroscience.

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MIL

Joni Lynne Sanchez Casio, King Kekaulike High School

Joni Lynne was a member of the soccer, softball, cross-country, and bowling teams. She plans to attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa, return to Maui, and work as a dental hygienist. Joni Lynne participated in many community volunteer activities through King Kekaulike’s Interact Club and also worked with special-needs students through the school’s Best Buddies Club.

Taylor Hori, Seabury Hall

Taylor was named Seabury Hall’s athlete of the month and competed as part of the 4-H Dirt Devils group, winning fourth place in the National Land and Range Judging Contest in Oklahoma. She was captain of the soccer team and a member of the cross-country and softball teams. Taylor plays the piano, dances hula, participated in the Maui Economic Development Board’s Focus Maui Nui Youth Alliance, and volunteered at Maui Memorial Medical Center.

Charisse Manley, Molokai High School

Charisse was a three-time state medalist in wrestling and was coached by her father. She was a member of the cross-country, track and field, and volleyball teams, and valedictorian of the class of 2012. Charisse wants to continue her family’s legacy of teaching by attending Azusa Pacific University in California and pursuing a degree in education.

Cheyenne Pico, Hana High & Elementary School

Cheyenne played volleyball and paddled. She was active in student government and served as senior class president. She maintained a 3.9 GPA while working as a maid, serving as a class officer, helping to care for her sibling, and taking hula. She plans to attend the University of Colorado, Boulder, and return as Hana’s first Hawaiian pediatrician.

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OIA

Heather Higashi, Mililani High School

Heather was captain of the Blue Division volleyball team and competed as a pole vaulter on the track and field team. This valedictorian was active in service clubs, including the National Honor Society Key Club and Helping Out Our Youth, and organized her school’s Brown Bags to Stardom talent fundraiser. Heather’s volunteer work included serving as an assistant coach at Ho‘olokahi Volleyball Club. She plans to attend Seattle University and become a physical therapist.

Shayna Hokama, Mililani High School

Shayna was a captain of the varsity tennis team that won the girls OIA championships for the past four years. She graduated with honors as a valedictorian, was vice president of the class of 2012 for three consecutive years, and a member of the Peer Mediation Club and National Honor Society. Shayna wants to pursue a career in education.

Caitlin Hooker, Kailua High School

Caitlin was the OIA East champion in the 1,500-meter and 800-meter track and field races, and the OIA Eastern Division female shooter of the year in air riflery. She was also a member of the varsity soccer team. Caitlin maintained a 4.05 GPA and was on the honor roll for four years, served as secretary in the National Honor Society, and was a member of the math league. She also volunteered at Castle Medical Center and at AYSO activities.

Travis Lefrandt, Moanalua High School

Travis was an Eagle Scout and competed in football, soccer, and judo. He received the Big Three Award for football and the Scholar Athlete Award for soccer. He was junior class marshal for his senior class, a Commended Scholar in the National Merit Scholarship Program, and on the Science Academic team. Travis won first place in the Hawaii Association of Insurance Professionals Essay Competition and he plans to attend Brigham Young University in Utah.

Penina Lima, Kapolei High School

Penina played soccer for Kapolei and Leahi Club Soccer, and was a member of the cross-country team. While in the Kamehameha Scholars program, Penina worked with kids at homeless shelters and created mandatory tutoring sessions for qualified student athletes so they could improve their grades and continue playing sports. She plans to double major in business administration and pre-law at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.

Sara McAllaster, Kalaheo High School

Sara was a valedictorian, captain of the soccer and water polo teams, and a member of the surf team. She also volunteered in a small Mexican mountain village, where she built water filters and painted. Sara plans to attend Chapman University, majoring in public relations while on a pre-med track.

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