2025 Takitani Scholarship Winners
Honoring Excellence, Service, and Legacy
The Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation, Inc. (Takitani Foundation) has awarded $220,000 in scholarships to 60 exceptional seniors from every qualifying public, charter and independent high school in Hawaiʻi as part of its Legacy Scholarship Program. Two students received Outstanding Student Awards of $10,000 each, one student received a Distinguished Student Award of $8,000, one student received the Directors’ Award of $6,000, nine students received $5,000 District Finalist Scholarships, and 47 students were awarded $3,000 scholarships. Nominated by their respective schools, the award winners received scholarships based on their strong academic achievement, dedicated community service and financial need.
Recipients of the Outstanding and Distinguished student awards are as follows:
Joshua Mori of Maui High School was awarded the Mamoru Takitani Outstanding Student Award of $10,000. He is the son of Matthew and Misoo Mori and will attend the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in the medical field.
Elayna Henderson of Parker School was awarded the Aiko Takitani Outstanding Student Award of $10,000. She is the daughter of Scot and Jill Henderson. An accomplished scholar-athlete, Henderson will attend Tufts University to study environmental conservation.
Elizabeth Nguyen of Damien Memorial School was awarded the Karen Uno Distinguished Student Award of $8,000. She is the daughter of Do Tu and Bao Tran Hong and will attend Washington University in St. Louis. She aspires to be a pediatrician.
Louis Perroy of Waiakea High School was awarded the Directors’ Student Award of $6,000. He is the son of Ryan Perroy and Sharon Dansereau. Perroy co-founded the HISE program for local students to promote science education and will study at Williams College.
District Finalists and recipients of $5,000 scholarships are as follows:
Zoe Aoki of Hilo High School is the daughter of Shadan Aoki and Doreen Manuel.
Sarah Ganiko of Kailua High School is the daughter of Amy Takatsuka.
Skyler Rivera of Kalani High School is the son of Alvin and Kumiko Rivera.
Josie Vierra-Naleieha of Kamehameha Schools - Maui is the daughter of Jayson and Misty Vierra.
Kanoe Haneberg of Kapaʻa High School is the daughter of Milo and Carleen Haneberg.
Jewel Guillermo of McKinley High School is the daughter of Jonathan and Juliet Guillermo.
Charlize Choban of Moanalua High School is the daughter of Charles and Wilma Choban.
Sarah Thai of Radford High School is the daughter of Larry Thai and Ngoctuyet Pham.
Joelle Angelica Evasco of Waiʻanae High School is the daughter of Anabel Jane Evasco.
Recipients of $3,000 scholarships are as follows:
Honolulu District: Viane Nicole Ines of Farrington High School; Victoria Brown of Kaiser High School; Ashley Yu of Roosevelt High School; and Noah Mirkay of the University Lab School.
Central O‘ahu District: Pia Morielle Paa of Aiea High School; Faith Perez of Leilehua High School; Malia Wagatsuma of Mililani High School; Lily Paz of Waialua High and Intermediate School; and Annabella Kimitch of Hawaiʻi Technology Academy.
Leeward O‘ahu District: Isabella Chanel Mateo of James Campbell High School; Annabella Floyd of Kapolei High School; Erica Marie Fulgencio of Nanakuli High School; Kyson Nishitomi of Pearl City High School; and Shiloh Julia Bayudan of Waipahu High School.
Windward O‘ahu District: Kylie Paris of James B. Castle High School; Sione Pasi of Kahuku High & Intermediate School; and Mackenzie Brammer of Kalaheo High School.
Hawai‘i County: Banyan Pensa of Hawaii Academy of Arts and Sciences; Tanalei Rivera of Konawaena High School; Melanie Ignacio of Honokaʻa High School; Jared Saludares of Keaʻau High School; Malia Bacxa of Kealakehe High School; and Eden Perez of Kohala High School.
Maui County: Mikkel Bekkum of Hana High School; Kaylee Miyamoto of H.P. Baldwin High School; Kaisha MacKnight of King Kekaulike High School; Vi Nguyen of Lahainaluna High School; Rose Marie Cockett of Molokaʻi High School; and Tasanee Cogliandro of Kihei Charter School.
Kaua‘i County: Shousei Kai of Kauai High School; Margarita Lomongo of Waimea High School; and Sage Chaney of Hawaiʻi Technology Academy - Lihue.
Hawai‘i Association of Independent Schools (HAIS): Theodore Stringer of Assets School; Rylee Lapenia of Hanalani School; Ethan Nouchi of Hawaiʻi Baptist Academy; Wayan Johna Sejati of Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy; Kaelyn Pacpaco of ʻIolani School; Michaela Meuldijk of Island School; Kamahao Halemanu of Kamehameha Schools - Hawaiʻi; Trena Waterhouse of Kamehameha Schools – Kapālama; Kai Malie Medeiros of Le Jardin Academy; Erika Leong of Mid-Pacific Institute; Riho Umitani of Pacific Buddhist Academy; Joanna Sato of Punahou School; and Isabelle Brown of Seabury Hall.
Hawai‘i Catholic Schools (HCS): Anna Casupang of Sacred Hearts Academy and Shea Yamaguchi of Saint Louis School.