Kenjin kai awards scholarships

The East Hawaii Hiroshima Kenjin Kai presented two $1,000 scholarships to East Hawaii high school seniors Kera Akiyama and Kellie Iwasaki for their excellence in academic, co-curricular and extracurricular achievements.

The EHHKK scholarship award was presented to Iwasaki on May 2 at the Waiakea High School Senior Awards Assembly by past-President Kenneth Ikemori and to Akiyama on May 14 at the Kamehameha Schools Hawaii High School Senior Awards Assembly by President Delbert Nishimoto.

Akiyama is a member of the Kamehameha Schools Hawaii National Honor Society, Ambassadors of Ke Alii Pauahi and was a song conductor during her junior year. She received the Lama Award for Most Outstanding Student in Hawaiian Language during her sophomore year. She is a member of the varsity soccer, track and field, cross country and volleyball teams at Kamehameha and is active in community sports and service.

Akiyama is the daughter of Keith and Raenelle Akiyama and will attend Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona in the fall to pursue a career in education.

Iwasaki is the Student Government President of Waiakea High School, captain of the Girls’ Air Rifle team, Executive Board member of Key Club and a member of the National Honor Society, Class Council and was a delegate to the Secondary Student Legislative Conference during her junior year.

She has served in numerous executive positions in 4-H and has traveled to Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, Ga., through 4-H, and to Asia with other leadership and cultural programs.

Iwasaki is the daughter of Alan and Patsy Iwasaki and plans to attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa in the fall with a major in biology and a minor in Asian studies. These educational scholarships are given by the EHHKK to eligible children and grandchildren of East Hawaii Hiroshima Kenjin Kai members.