May 2025 Grads

Celebrating Hoʻohila and Alex – Hoʻomau Foundation Graduates Lighting the Way Forward

As graduation season unfolds and lei are lovingly draped over the shoulders of our rising leaders, we’re proud to celebrate two remarkable women: Hoʻohila and Alex, both recipients of the Kamery Lee Jr. Scholarship through the Hoʻomau Foundation, who are graduating from Cornell University and Columbia University, respectively.

These young wāhine have not only excelled academically but have carried their Hawaiian values with them—leading, mentoring, and inspiring others every step of the way.

Hoʻohila – From Cornell to Hawaiʻi’s Coastlines

We are thrilled to honor Hoʻohila, a four-year Kamery Lee Jr. Scholarship recipient and proud Native Hawaiian, as she graduates from Cornell University with a degree in Environment and Sustainability. Her academic focus: food sovereignty—a passion deeply rooted in her cultural identity and kuleana (responsibility) to community.

At Cornell, she was an active member of the water polo team and brought a strong presence to the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) community on campus, all while remaining grounded in the traditions and values of home.

Now, her journey comes full circle.

This summer, Hoʻohila will return to Hawaiʻi to begin working in coastal resource management, based on Oʻahu. She’ll engage in addressing some of the most urgent environmental issues affecting Hawaiʻi today.

A major focus of her work will integrate indigenous knowledge systems, especially the ahupuaʻa model—an ancestral framework of land and water stewardship that honors the interconnection between mountains, freshwater, sea, and people. Her commitment to food sovereignty will guide efforts to bridge cultural practices with modern conservation and restore both ecosystems and local food systems.

And when she’s not working, she’ll be spending all of her time diving in Kāneʻohe Bay and reconnecting with her paddling team—bringing balance and joy back into her life at home.

Ho'ohila offered a personal reflection on her experience with Hoʻomau Foundation: 

 "The support provided to me by the Ho'omau Foundation across my entire college career has been key to my success! It has allowed me to stay connected to my home and remain true to Hawai'i in my studies"--Ho'ohila

Empowered & Educated: Alex’s Next Chapter Begins 

We are equally proud to celebrate Alex, a recent graduate of Columbia University, where she earned her degree in Neuroscience with a concentration in Public Health. 

A Kamery Lee Jr. Scholarship recipient, Alex embodies the Hoʻomau spirit through her unwavering commitment to community, leadership, and cultural stewardship.

After gaining experience through internships and shadowing in various healthcare settings across Oʻahu to better understand healthcare in Hawaiʻi, Alex will be working full-time at a Honolulu dermatology office over the next year while applying to medical school—a step that reflects her passion for healthcare and serving others.

At Columbia, Alex played an active role in building community for fellow Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students as a leader in the NHPI club. She served as the Co-President and Hula Director where she enjoyed organizing events and teaching her classmates hula as a way to stay connected to culture and tradition, while sharing it more broadly with the university and NYC community. She also enjoyed mentoring incoming freshmen, especially those transferring from Hawai‘i, helping them stay grounded and supported far from home.

Alex reflected on her journey with the Hoʻomau Foundation:

“I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the Hoʻomau Foundation for supporting my education journey and welcoming me into a thriving and uplifting NHPI community. It has been an honor to meet and learn from the incredible mentors and fellow students who have supported me and continue to inspire me to pursue my career goals.”--Alex

The Ripple Effect of Support

The journeys of Hoʻohila and Alex—from Hawaiʻi to New York and back—are beautiful examples of why the Hoʻomau Foundation exists.

Through scholarships, mentorship, and community support, we invest in Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students as they grow into leaders who uplift their communities, preserve their culture, and inspire the next generation.

To our donors and supporters: mahalo for believing in their futures.

📣Help us empower more students like Hoʻohila, Alex and many others to pursue their dreams and return home ready to lead. Learn more about becoming a donor or sponsor: www.hoomaufoundation.org/donor

#HoomauFoundation #ScholarshipSuccess #CornellGraduate #ColumbiaGraduate #HawaiianLeadership #MarineConservation #Ahupuaa #FoodSovereignty #AlohaʻĀina #IndigenousKnowledge #PacificFutures