Recipients

Ho'omau Foundation's scholarship program supports Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (NHPI) attending vocational school, 2 year o 4 year college and are active in the NHPI community, through mentorship and networking opportunities. Through our support for both academic success and the perpetuation of culture, we will help recipients succeed in their endeavors while maintaining and growing their cultural ties and identity. We aim to support their transition to vocational school or college, nurture their cultural identity, and ensure they, along with more NHPIs, have opportunities and representation in prestigious fields.

We are excited to announce that we are awarding nineteen scholarships for the school year 2026-2027! We are renewing scholarships for eleven returning students and awarding eight to new recipients. In total, we've awarded seventy-eight scholarships in seven academic years.

Our Recipients are receiving the Kamery Lee Jr. Scholarship for demonstrating dedication to perpetuate the NHPI culture, entrepreneurship, perseverance, and aloha.

Bella Amey

A rising freshman at the University of California, Berkeley, Bella plans to major in Media Studies while competing as a member of Berkeley's beach volleyball team. She is passionate about the intersection of design, storytelling, and entrepreneurship, and hopes to build a career that combines creative marketing with innovative business ventures.

Before beginning college, she played a key role in a four-year cultural preservation project to repatriate and create a replica of an ʻahuʻula (Hawaiian feather cloak). Working alongside fellow students and cultural practitioners, she helped craft the replica using traditional methods and over 3,000 feather bundles. The completed cloak was presented to the Berkshire Museum in Massachusetts where it will be displayed while the original ‘ahu’ula has been repatriated and returned to Kaua’i.

Inspired by her mother, an artist, and her father, an entrepreneur who leads a veterans organization and two nonprofits, she has developed a love for both creativity and business. She has already applied those interests through Kula Manu, the featherwork organization, where she serves as Creative Director and creates the organization's visual branding. As she begins her college journey, she looks forward to expanding her skills in media, design, and entrepreneurship while continuing to use storytelling to strengthen and celebrate her community.

Haylie Tuiasosopo

Haylie hails from American Samoa. She is entering her junior year at the University of Arizona, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with interests in public policy and grant writing. She plans to graduate in 2028.

Passionate about public service, Haylie previously interned in a congressional office in American Samoa, where she gained firsthand experience in government and community advocacy. Her long-term goal is to build a career in communications or public relations within the nonprofit sector or the federal government, using her skills to serve and uplift local communities.

Transitioning from American Samoa to the mainland came with its challenges. Thanks to leadership programs she attended in high school, Haylie was introduced to American culture before college. Arriving at the University of Arizona with a familiar roommate from home and intentionally building relationships within the Pacific Islander community helped ease the transition. Today, she has found a strong support network and values the sense of belonging it provides.

Grounded in her Samoan heritage and committed to giving back, Haylie hopes to mentor the next generation of Pacific Islander students, encouraging them to pursue higher education while remaining connected to their culture and community.

Ranell Sioloa

Ranell is a rising senior at the University of Southern New Hampshire, where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business. A first-generation college student, Ranell returned to school with a commitment to completing her degree while balancing her roles as a mother, wife, grandmother, employee, and community leader.

Born and raised in Hilo, Ranell has dedicated her life to serving her community. She works for Kamehameha Schools, where she supports the mission of uplifting Native Hawaiian learners and families. Through her education, she hopes to strengthen her ability to serve in her role and expand opportunities for families who may not have access to the full resources available through Kamehameha Schools.

A lifelong cultural practitioner, Ranell is a Kumu Hula and has taken over leadership of her family’s hālau following the passing of her uncle. What began as a responsibility she never expected has become a calling. Under her guidance, the hālau has grown from fewer than 30 students to more than 100, providing a space where students can connect with Hawaiian culture, language, and traditions.

Ranell has performed at the prestigious Merrie Monarch Festival and continues to perpetuate the legacy entrusted to her by her ʻohana. She shares that becoming a mother helped her recognize the importance of preserving and passing on Hawaiian culture. Through her work at Kamehameha Schools and as a Kumu Hula, Ranell is committed to uplifting Native Hawaiian students, strengthening families, and ensuring that future generations remain connected to their culture.

Matalasi Pascua

Born in Oregon and raised in Hawaiʻi, Matalasi is an incoming freshman at California State University, Long Beach, where she will pursue a bachelor's degree in Social Sciences with a concentration in Sociology.

Her passion for community and relationship-building has been shaped by her experiences growing up in Hawaiʻi and through her involvement with her high school's Polynesian Club, where she deepened her connection to her culture and found a strong sense of belonging. Those experiences reinforced her belief in the power of relationships and community to shape individual growth and well-being.

Matalasi hopes to one day attend law school and return home to Hawaiʻi as a family law attorney. She is especially passionate about advocating for Pacific Islander families and youth, using her education to strengthen communities and create meaningful opportunities for future generations.

Macalum Araneta

Macalum is an incoming freshman at Walla Walla University in Washington, where he will pursue a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. Raised in Waiʻanae and Makaha and a graduate of Kamehameha Schools Kapālama, he hopes to return home after graduation to build a career improving Hawaiʻi's infrastructure while protecting the natural and cultural resources that make the islands unique.

An avid paddler and ocean enthusiast, Macalum developed a passion for engineering through his interest in creating sustainable solutions for Hawaiʻi's communities. Originally drawn to engineering for its technical challenges, his studies at Kamehameha Schools, particularly in Hawaiian language, history, and culture, deepened his commitment to designing systems that serve both people and the ʻāina. He is especially interested in improving transportation and infrastructure in ways that strengthen local communities.

Macalum believes education is most meaningful when it is shared. He looks forward to giving back by supporting future Pacific Islander students, sharing his experiences, and helping strengthen the communities that have invested in him.

Anora Lee

Anora Lee is pursuing a Master of Public Policy at the University of Southern California, specializing in Social Justice and Nonprofit Management. She earned her bachelor's degree from Oberlin College in Environmental Studies and Law & Society, with minors in History and Comparative American Studies. Through her academic and professional experiences, she has become passionate about using public policy, nonprofit leadership, education, and the arts to expand opportunity and advance equity.

Born in the Bay Area and raised in Texas, Anora has remained deeply connected to her Native Hawaiian heritage while learning from the diverse communities she has called home. Her cultural background and experiences have shaped an intersectional approach to justice, inspiring her to advocate not only for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities but also alongside Black, Brown, and global Indigenous communities. Throughout her work in museum education, nonprofit arts programming, and legislative advocacy, Anora has explored how grassroots organizing and institutional change can work together to create meaningful impact. She believes lasting change comes from addressing racial equity, education, cultural preservation, and community development as interconnected.

With a long-term goal of leading community-centered nonprofit and public sector initiatives, Anora hopes to bridge advocacy and policymaking to create lasting social change. She is especially passionate about investing in BIPOC youth through culturally affirming education, arts and cultural programming, and community-based organizations that expand opportunity, strengthen representation, and empower communities to shape their own futures.

Chance Flavin-Kaho'okaulana

Chance will attend WyoTech in Wyoming, where he will study Diesel Technology and complete an additional fabrication program. His passion for mechanics grew from helping his papa maintain tractors in their family's loʻi (taro farm) and through an internship at a local farm on Hawaiʻi Island.

After completing his training, Chance plans to return home to support Hawaiʻi's farming communities by repairing and maintaining the tractors and heavy equipment they rely on. He hopes to become a trusted resource for local farmers as they navigate ongoing challenges, including limited resources and threats to agriculture.

Beyond mechanics, Chance enjoys working with children and sharing Hawaiian culture, sustainability, and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. He is committed to using his skills to serve his community and help strengthen the future of Hawaiʻi agriculture.

Samantha “Sami” Birmingham-Babauta, MPH

Sami is a Public Health PhD candidate in the Community-Based & Translational Research Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where her research is focused on integrating Pacific Islander cultural concepts into public health methods for achieving improved health outcomes. Originally from Saipan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Sami's roots deeply intertwine with her Chamorro heritage and Pacific Islander identity, shaping her distinctive perspective in the realm of public health research.

As a proud Micronesian scholar, Sami is committed to ensuring Pacific Islanders are recognized beyond the broad AAPI designation. She actively mentors students and emerging professionals and promotes scholarship and health career opportunities throughout the Micronesian islands, As both a Gates Millennium Scholar and Obama Asia-Pacific Leader, she has helped connect students from the CNMI with transformative opportunities while inspiring more youth from Micronesia to pursue their academic and professional goals.

Through research, mentorship, and advocacy, Sami is dedicated to creating healthier, more equitable futures for Pacific Islander communities and ensuring that Micronesian perspectives are represented in the policies, programs, and decisions that impact their lives.

Returning Recipients

Maming Bacxa

Maming is a rising sophomore at Tulane University in New Orleans, where she is majoring in Biology with aspirations of becoming a cardiologist. Since arriving on campus, she has remained deeply connected to her Hawaiian and Polynesian roots and has taken steps toward building a stronger Pacific Islander community.

Before college, Maming was a teacher's assistant for her school's Polynesian Club, helping teach more than 250 students while developing an appreciation for the diverse traditions of Samoan, Tongan, Tahitian, and Hawaiian cultures. She hopes to one day combine her passion for medicine with cultural advocacy, promoting greater representation and understanding of Polynesian communities in healthcare.

Through her future career in medicine, Maming hopes to improve the health of underserved communities while serving as a role model for the next generation of Indigenous students.

Kailena Akau

Kailena is a returning Hoʻomau Foundation recipient, joining us as a senior at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo while continuing her academic journey as a graduate student in Kahuawaiola Indigenous Teacher Education, a teacher preparation program leading to P-12 Hawaiian language teaching licensure. She is dedicated to the perpetuation of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and preparing the next generation of Hawaiian language learners.

Throughout her academic journey, Kailena has remained committed to serving her community through teaching and cultural practice. As a student teacher at a Hawaiian language immersion school, she is gaining hands-on experience while sharing her passion for ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi with future generations. Inspired by the educators who shaped her own path, Kailena hopes to create learning environments where students can develop a strong sense of identity, culture, and belonging.

A passionate cultural practitioner, Kailena is also an accomplished hula dancer who has performed at the prestigious Merrie Monarch Festival. She has represented Hawaiʻi internationally in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and Japan, sharing Native Hawaiian culture while learning from the traditions of other Indigenous communities. Through education, hula, and language revitalization, Kailena is committed to strengthening the cultural foundation of Hawaiʻi and ensuring that ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi continues to flourish for generations to come.

Frances Fakasiieki

Frances is a rising junior at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, where she is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Communications. A natural leader, she has been deeply involved in multicultural and Pacific Islander student organizations, serving as a public relations officer, historian, and event organizer.

Passionate about storytelling and community engagement, Frances hopes to use communications to amplify Pacific Islander voices and create opportunities for greater representation. She is interested in building platforms that highlight the stories, cultures, and experiences of Pacific Islanders while strengthening connections within and beyond her community.

Grounded in her Tongan heritage, Frances is committed to using her education to uplift others, preserve her culture, and inspire the next generation of Pacific Islander leaders. Through leadership, advocacy, and meaningful communication, she hopes to make a lasting impact in her community and beyond.

Lehiwa Keo

Lehiwa is a rising sophomore at Brigham Young University on O’ahu, where she is majoring in Hawaiian Studies with a minor in Entrepreneurship. Deeply rooted in her Native Hawaiian heritage, her passion for ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi began through Hawaiian language immersion education and continues to flourish through hula, music, and cultural practice.

Lehiwa is a dedicated volunteer at a local cultural preservation site, where she combines scientific inquiry with ʻike Hawaiʻi to support environmental stewardship. She enjoys mentoring others in cultural practices and sharing the importance of sustainability, native species, and the reciprocal relationship between people and the ʻāina.

Looking ahead, Lehiwa hopes to build a career that empowers Native Hawaiian entrepreneurs and small businesses. Whether through founding or leading a nonprofit organization, she is committed to expanding access to mentorship, financial literacy, and culturally grounded business development so Native Hawaiian communities can thrive for generations to come.

Koa Chang

Koa is a rising senior at Stanford University, where he is majoring in Computer Science and plans to graduate in 2027. A passionate advocate for STEM education and dedicated mentor, he is driven by a mission to expand access to educational opportunities and resources for underserved communities.

He founded WorksheetWizz, an open-source tutoring platform that provides free, downloadable worksheets to help students learn independently. Originally created to support his own tutoring sessions, the platform has grown into a resource available to learners and educators everywhere.

Koa is also the creator of Kumubot, an AI-powered platform that bridges technology with cultural preservation. Kumubot features a growing collection of tools designed to support and celebrate the Hawaiian language and culture, and Koa continues to expand its capabilities to serve Native Hawaiian communities.

With an entrepreneurial mindset and a deep commitment to service, Koa is working to close educational resource gaps for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. Through technology, mentorship, and innovation, he hopes to create more equitable pathways for future generations.

Tehani Kekuawela

Tehani is a rising junior at Chapman University in California, where she is majoring in Theater Performance and minoring in Anthropology . Passionate about storytelling and her Native Hawaiian heritage, she is committed to bringing authentic Hawaiian voices and narratives to the stage and screen while using the arts to educate, inspire, and celebrate Hawaiian culture.

At Chapman, Tehani has performed in leading roles while using her platform to elevate Indigenous stories and representation.

Tehani's commitment to her community extends beyond the theater. In high school, she founded the ʻĀina Keiki Club, an initiative that connects youth to the land through environmental stewardship, cultural education, and mālama ʻāina. The club continues to thrive, reflecting her dedication to empowering the next generation through culture, service, and the arts. Through her work on and off the stage, Tehani hopes to inspire greater appreciation for Hawaiʻi's people, stories, and traditions.

Jada Lee

Jada is a returning Hoʻomau Foundation recipient, joining us as a rising sophomore while continuing her graduate studies in the Master of Science in Instructional Design program at San Francisco State University. She is passionate about expanding educational access through culturally responsive learning and is committed to advancing equitable education and affordable housing opportunities for Native Hawaiian communities. Her long-term goal is to serve in a leadership role within the nonprofit sector, creating lasting community impact.

While at UC Berkeley, Jada co-led the redesign of an elective course centered on Native Hawaiian curriculum, now entering its third successful year. The course weaves together moʻolelo (storytelling), Hawaiian language, and culture, providing students particularly those living away from Hawaiʻi-with meaningful opportunities to reconnect with their heritage and strengthen their cultural identity.

Beyond the classroom, Jada created NativeDiscover.com, a digital database of Native Hawaiian plants and animals that serves as an educational resource for university students and elementary learners on Oʻahu. She also founded the Kulia Project, an initiative that connects Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students with academic opportunities, scholarships, and financial resources.

Through innovation, advocacy, and a deep commitment to cultural preservation, Jada continues to create pathways that empower Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities while helping shape a more equitable future.

Ilihia Pohano

Ilihia is a rising junior at the University of Hawaiʻi, West Oʻahu, where she is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Creative Media. Already building a career in filmmaking, she works with ʻŌiwi TV and has directed productions for ʻŌlelo Community Media, using visual storytelling to celebrate and uplift Native Hawaiian culture.

Passionate about the power of film and photography, Ilihia is committed to sharing authentic Native Hawaiian stories with broader audiences while increasing Indigenous representation in media. She has also launched her own creative media platform, where she showcases her photography and short films that capture the beauty of Hawaiʻi, its people, and its culture. Grounded in the values of aloha, tradition, and ʻike kūpuna, she believes storytelling is a powerful way to preserve cultural identity and strengthen connections across generations.

Through her creativity and leadership, Ilihia hopes to inspire future generations of Native Hawaiian storytellers while ensuring that the voices, histories, and perspectives of her community continue to thrive on screen and beyond.

Kawika Naweli

Kawika is a rising senior at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where he is majoring in Computer Science. Passionate about using technology as a force for good, he is especially interested in applying innovation to environmental conservation and addressing socio-economic challenges affecting Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities.

Kawika envisions Hawaiʻi as a future technology hub where local talent can thrive, create meaningful solutions, and build careers while remaining connected to their home communities. Through his academic work, technology internship, and community involvement, he continues to develop the skills needed to bring this vision to life.

His passion for combining technology and culture is reflected in projects like Hawaiian Wordle, a digital game that celebrates ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi while introducing new ways for people to engage with the language. Through creativity and innovation, Kawika is working to bridge cultural heritage with the digital future and help create a Hawaiʻi where both community and culture continue to thrive.

Christina Young

Christina is a PhD candidate in the Nutritional Sciences program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and is expected to graduate in 2027. She is preparing to defend her dissertation this academic year, with research focused on how the pae ʻāina (Hawaiian archipelago) can serve as a puʻuhonua (safe haven) for hānai waiū (breastfeeding) practices among Kānaka ʻŌiwi wāhine (Native Hawaiian women). Through her work, Christina uplifts traditional knowledge and supports the reclamation and normalization of Indigenous infant feeding practices.

A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Lactation Counselor, Christina combines clinical expertise with cultural knowledge to advance health and wellness in Indigenous communities. She contributes to community-based efforts that strengthen food security through the cultivation of staple foods and supports nutrition programming and policy initiatives with Native Hawaiian health organizations.

Following graduation, Christina hopes to continue a career in education and research focused on improving health outcomes for Indigenous communities by integrating traditional foods, cultural practices, and evidence-based nutrition. Her dedication to weaving ancestral knowledge with modern science makes her a powerful advocate for holistic health and the well-being of the lāhui (Native Hawaiian community).

Carly Rose Raquino

Carly is a rising senior in the Nursing Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Directly admitted as a freshman, she has excelled in the program while remaining committed to integrating ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and traditional Native Hawaiian healing practices into modern healthcare.

Driven by a deep sense of kuleana (responsibility), Carly hopes to focus her nursing career on addressing homelessness, advocating for marginalized individuals, and reducing the health disparities that disproportionately affect underserved communities across Hawaiʻi.

Through her work, Carly is committed to advancing culturally grounded, compassionate, and equitable healthcare while empowering the people and communities she serves.

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