East Hawaii Hiroshima Kenjin Kai presents scholarship awards

The East Hawaii Hiroshima Kenjin Kai presented two $1,000 scholarships to Waiakea High School seniors Kiaria Zoi Nakamura and Caitlin Tsuchiya for their excellence in academic, co-curricular and extracurricular achievements.

The EHHKK scholarship awards were presented to Nakamura and Tsuchiya on May 9, during the Waiakea High School senior awards assembly, by Byron Toma, EHHKK secretary and scholarship committee member.

A senior class valedictorian, Nakamura also is a recent recipient of the Waiakea High School Na Koa Pookela award for academics and service. She had numerous leadership positions in student government and was a member of the Key Club, East Hawaii 4-H Federation, Shooting Stars 4-H Club and Junior Young Buddhist Association.

She also is an accomplished dancer with the Island Dance Academy.

Nakamura is the daughter of EHHKK members Bruce and Leslie Nakamura and will attend the University of Hawaii at Hilo in the fall to pursue a major in English and dance.

Tsuchiya was a member of Waiakea High’s AVID program, air rifle and tennis teams and Japanese Club. She also had leadership positions in student government and chaired various activities.

Tsuchiya was historian and secretary for the Junior Young Buddhist Association of Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin and was a delegate to the Hiroshima International Youth Exchange 2016, a 10-day educational and cultural program in Hiroshima, Japan.

Tsuchiya is the daughter of EHHKK members Burt and Amy Tsuchiya and the granddaughter of EHHKK member Lillie Tsuchiya. She plans to attend the University of Hawaii at Hilo in the fall to major in marine biology and minor in Japanese studies.