HCFCU Announces 2023 Scholarship Recipients

HCFCU Announces 2023 Scholarship Recipients

KAILUA-KONA, HI – Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union (HCFCU) is proud to announce the recipients of their annual scholarship program. Now in its 37th year, the program grew from eight awardees to ten in 2023. Each of the 2023 recipients will receive a $3,000 scholarship to attend a two or four-year institution of higher learning in the coming school year. 

To be eligible for a scholarship, applicants must be a graduating senior or post graduate from any Hawaiʻi Island high school and plan to attend a two or four-year college as a full-time student in the next school year.

The ten scholarships are named after distinguished volunteers and managers who have made significant contributions to HCFCU. The 2023 awardees are:

• The John Y. Iwane Scholarship was presented to McKenzie Tim Sing, a graduate of Ke Kula ʻO Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu Iki LPCS. McKenzie plans to attend Chaminade University of Honolulu where she will major in Environmental Studies. 
• The Peter T. Hirata Scholarship was awarded Sienna Chanhmany, recent graduate of Waiakea High School. Sienna plans to attend the University of San Francisco where she will study Business.
• The Albert Akana Scholarship was presented to Ciara Blaber, a graduate of Kealakehe High School. Ciara plans to study Economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
• The Katsumasa Tomita Scholarship was awarded to Puʻuwaihaʻa Kalauokaʻaeʻa-Kahele, graduate of Hilo High School. Puʻuwaihaʻa plans to pursue a degree in Public Health at Lewis & Clark College. 
• The Frank Ishii Scholarship was presented to Sophia Burgess, a graduate of Konawaena High School. Sophia plans to continue her academic career at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she will study Environmental Studies and Governmental Policy. 
• The Mitsugi Inaba Scholarship was awarded to Ava Leilani Shimabuku, recent graduate of Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi. Ava plans on studying Sociology at Grand Canyon University. 
• The Michael Asam Scholarship was presented to Adriana Leitch, a graduate of Kohala High School. Adriana plans on pursuing a degree in Psychology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa.
• The Yasunori Deguchi Scholarship was awarded to Shyla Williams. Shyla is currently attending the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and is a Nursing major.
• The recipient of the Ichiro Shikada Scholarship is Kristine Domingo-Peregrino. Kristine is a recent graduate of Honokaʻa High School and plans to study Dental Hygiene at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
• The Edwin Ueda scholarship was awarded to Vaihere Otare, a nursing student currently attending Hawaii Community College.

These deserving students have demonstrated exceptional academic achievements, community involvement, and a strong commitment to their future goals. The 2023 Scholarship Program reaffirms HCFCU’s commitment to investing in Hawaiʻi Island keiki and creating opportunities for educational advancement.

Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit, federally insured financial institution owned by its 46,700 members. HCFCU’s branches are located in Hilo, Honokaa, Kailua-Kona, Kaloko, Kealakekua, and Kohala. Additionally, HCFCU has Student Credit Unions in Hilo, Honokaʻa, Kealakehe, Kohala, and Konawaena High Schools. HCFCU provides service minded financial professionals that will help facilitate mortgage, land, construction, small business, education, personal and auto loans. HCFCU also offers complete checking and savings services, drive up tellers; credit and debit cards with rewards; online and mobile banking; investment services and youth programs. HCFCU also supports numerous Hawaii Island non-profit organizations and community events. Membership in Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union is open to all Hawaii Island residents.