Hilo Boy Scout Troop 19 is flying high with the addition of three more Eagle Scouts in its ranks.
Maka Marote, Jayke Sakai and Ian Sanborn received their Eagle badges during a court of honor ceremony earlier this year.
Marote is a senior at Waiakea High and enrolled in the Early College Program at Hawaii Community College. He is the Waiakea judo team captain (and a member of the Puna Hongwanji Judo Club), ran cross-country and participated in male cheer competitions.
For his Eagle Scout Service Project, Marote enhanced Reed’s Bay Beach Park in Hilo by leading a contingent of Scouts, adult leaders and family members in constructing two wooden picnic tables, planting six large milo trees and removing more than four large trash bags full of sleeping grass and other weeds from the lawn areas.
Marote plans to pursue a career in the Navy. He is the son of Rusty Marote of Keaau and Eydie (James) Komata of Hilo.
Sakai also is a senior at Waiakea High and in the Early College Program at HCC. He was a member of the high school bowling team and the Interact and Genius clubs.
Sakai’s Eagle Scout project consisted of improvements at the Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin Preschool’s playground that included fabrication and installation of two portable steel benches with composite seats, a safety barricade at the preschool’s swing set and improved the perimeter chain-link fencing and gates.
Sakai also plans to join the Navy. He is the son of Kevin and Janet Sakai of Kurtistown.
Sanborn, a senior at Kamehameha Schools Hawaii, is captain of the school’s track and field team, played on the football team and is a member of the National Honor Society, Kamehameha Genius Bar and Lifesaver’s Club. He serves on the Hawaii Meth Project Teen Advisory Council, an organization taking a stand against meth abuse in Hawaii, and is a junior leader for the Hui Okinawa Children’s Day Camp.
Sanborn’s Eagle project involved the design and construction of a 10-by-10 sandbox with a custom screen cover for the students of ABC Fun Preschool.
Sanborn plans to continue his education in the fields of forensic science and sociology. He is the son of Lloyd and Corrine Sanborn of Hilo.
All three Eagle Scouts said they are thankful for the opportunities provided them through Scouting, such as learning life and survival skills and the importance of volunteerism and giving back to their community.
Scoutmaster Glenn Sako and BSA committee chairman Jeff Tsue officiated the court of honor ceremony. The troop is sponsored by the Waiakea Lions Club and supported by United Community Church in Hilo.
