Four Troop 23 Scouts attain rank of Eagle Scout

Travis Puleo, 19, Kalif Leung, 19, Kaden Lau, 18, and Kaipo‘i Murray, 17, were presented the Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank of Eagle Scout by Scoutmaster Byron Fujimoto at a court of honor on Jan. 28 at Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin’s Sangha Hall.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused Puleo’s and Leung’s courts of honor to be postponed.

Fewer than 4% of all Scouts in the U.S. currently reach the coveted Eagle rank since the inception of the Scouting program in 1912. An Eagle Scout exhibits superior leadership qualities and selfless behavior toward others.

As a scout, Puleo served as a scribe, patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader and senior patrol leader. He competed the National Youth Leadership Training program at Camp Honokaia in Honokaa, and his Eagle Scout Service Project was renovating and creating an outdoor gazebo classroom at the Kalanianaole Elementary and Intermediate School in Papaikou. This structure now serves as an educational center for the school’s agriculture classes. Puleo passed the Eagle Scout Board of Review on Dec. 14, 2021.

Leung, whose official Eagle rank was accomplished on Oct. 12, 2021, served as a patrol leader and assistant senior patrol leader after he completed the National Youth Leadership Training program at Camp Pupukea, Oahu. His Eagle Scout Service Project was constructing four raised planter boxes out of recycled materials for Keaau High School.

Lau, a student at the Calvert Academy School, passed the Eagle Scout Board of Review on Dec. 28, 2022. A National Youth Leadership trained scout, Lau has served as a scribe, patrol leader and outdoor ethics guide as well as participated as a teaching staff member of Scout Summer Camps at Camp Maluhia on Maui and at Camp Honokaia in Honokaa. Lau’s Eagle Scout Service Project consisted of removing invasive trees and planting kukui nut trees along the pathways of the Hilo Bay soccer fields.

Murray currently serves as the senior patrol leader of BSA Troop 23 after having served as a patrol leader and assistant senior patrol leader. He completed National Youth Leadership training at Camp Pupukea on Oahu in 2021. Murray’s Eagle Scout Service Project consisted of constructing planter boxes for crown flower trees to create a butterfly garden at the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center’s educational garden.