Scholarships
East Hawaii Hiroshima Kenjin Kai
The East Hawaii Hiroshima Kenjin Kai presented $1,000 scholarships to Waiakea High School seniors Jairus Iwasaki and Deylen Nekoba for their excellence in academic, co-curricular and extracurricular achievements.
The EHHKK scholarship awards were presented to Iwasaki and Nekoba on May 1 at the Waiakea High School Senior Awards Assembly by EHHKK President Jon Arizumi.
Iwasaki was the senior class of 2018 treasurer and a member of Waiakea High School’s Warrior Band program and air rifle team. He has held leadership positions in WHS class and student government and chaired various activities.
He also was a delegate to the Hiroshima International Youth Exchange 2016, a 10-day educational and cultural program in Hiroshima, Japan.
Iwasaki is the son of EHHKK members Patsy and Alan Iwasaki. He plans to attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa in the fall to major in elementary education.
A senior class valedictorian, Nekoba has held numerous leadership positions with the WHS class and student government, Leo Club, Math League and Japanese Club. He received the Scholastic Achievement Award and the Athletic Award as a member of the WHS golf team. Nekoba serves as treasurer for the Hilo Hongwanji Betsuin Junior Young Buddhists Association and received special recognition as a student of the Hilo Hongwanji Japanese school.
Nekoba was selected as a delegate to the Hiroshima International Youth Exchange 2017.
He is the son of EHHKK members Lori and Darrell Nekoba and will attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa in the fall to pursue a mechanical engineering degree.
The educational scholarships are awarded by the EHHKK to eligible children and grandchildren of East Hawaii Hiroshima Kenjin Kai members.