This page lists all of the scholarships that Keauhou Canoe Club has given out and includes scholarship name, year, name, which high school, where the student will attend college, and what they will study.

Scholarships have been given out for 2025.  To apply for a 2026 scholarship, please submit your scholarship application by March 1.

The scholarship application can be found here: Scholarship Application.pdf

2025 Scholarship Winners

Konawaena High School graduates Abram Ikaika Mahalo Utrera and Slayde RK Thompson join Joselyn Conae of Hawaii Technology Academy as the three recipients of 2025 scholarships from Keauhou Canoe Club (KCC). These graduating seniors recently received their $2,000 scholarships during a KCC potluck celebration. 

Receiving the James F. Rodgers Academic Achievement Scholarship is Abram Utrera who plans to attend UH-Manoa to study kinesiology. With a 3.7 GPA, the honors student was active in numerous school and club activities, including judo, wresting, track and field, paddling and Polynesian Dance Club. A teacher noted Utrera exhibited a high level of hard work and perseverance “and goes out of his way to help others through mentorship or encouragement, fostering a positive environment for all around him."

The Mike Haines Merit Achievement Scholarship is awarded to Slayde RK Thompson. The 3.5 GPA student plans to study automotive technology at UH Community College with a goal to become a skilled automotive mechanic and own his own business. Thompson served as the team captain and strength of the high school swimming team while his paddling coach credited this youth as a dedicated and consistent paddler “who has grown into an exceptional young man and inspiring team leader.”

Jocelyn Conae is the inaugural recipient of KCC’s new Mary MacCheyne Humanitarian Achievement Scholarship. She will study science/EMT at UH-Manoa. “Jocelyn is graduating with academic honors, maintaining a remarkable 3.9 GPA while pursuing advanced courses in the University of Hawai‘i's Running Start program by completing college level classes while still in high school,” noted one of her teachers. “She has been class president, member of the Student Leadership and Activities Club since 9th grade, originator of various programs and total school opportunities at the brand new Hawaii Technology Academy.” 

We wish them both all the best on their future studies and endeavors. Your tax deductible donations support these scholarship opportunities. 

Thirty seniors have received scholarships totaling $51,500 from Keauhou Canoe Club since 2008. The club annually awards scholarships to West side of Hawaii Island graduating seniors who have at least two years recent paddling experience in a school athletic program or paddling club. 

Recipients of Keauhou Canoe Club James F. Rogers Academic Achievement Scholarship 

2008 Ryan Daugherty, Konawaena High School, University of Hawaii-Manoa, Engineering, $1000 
2008 Malia Kalamui-Patton, Kohala High School, Hawaii Community College, Hawaiian Studies, $1000 
2009 Todd Yamakawa, Kealakehe High School, University of Hawaii-Manoa, Electrical Engineering, $1000 
2010 Patti Connors, Honokaha High School, University of Puget Sound, Journalism, $1000
2011 Pomaika'ilani Ascino, Kealakehe High School, University of Oregon, Accounting/Business $1000 
2012 Lorelei Lehuanani Nakagawa, West Hawaii Explorations Academy, Hawaii Community College, Liberal Arts, $1000 
2013 Sean Duim, Kamehameha Schools-Oahu, University of Northern Colorado, Business, $1000 
2014 Grant Nair, Parker School, Ohio State University, Engineering, $1000 2015 Reiko Ikeno, Konawaena High School, Portland State University, Undecided Major, $1000 
2016 Madeline Foo, Kealakehe High School, UCLA, Medicine, $1500 2018 Wynter Ah Mow, Kealakehe High School, San Diego State University, Interior Architecture, $1500 
2019 Darby Muromoto, Kealakehe High School, Creighton University, Physical Therapy, $1500 
2020 Desiree Camacho Kealakehe High School, California State University, Aeronautical Engineering, $1500 
2021 Dannia Andrade, Kealakehe High School, University of Hawaii Manoa, Pre-Med $2500 
2022 Teige Lorenzo-Akamu, Kohala High School, Grand Canyon University. Early Child hood education, $2000 
2023 Kianni Dodson, Kealakehe High School, Hawaii Pacific University. Nursing.  $2000 
2024 Kelson Omori, Konawaena High School
2025  Abram Utrera,Konawaena High School, UH-Manoa Kinesiology. $2000

Recipients of Keauhou Canoe Club Mike Haines Merit Achievement Scholarship 

2011 Micah Tanoai, Hawaii Preparatory Academy, Palmer Community College. Fire Science, $1000 
2011 Melanie Wheeler, Konawaena High School, University of Hawaii-Hilo, Zoology, $1000 
2012 Matelita "Lita" Tamoefolan, Ke Kula O Ehunuikaimalino, Hawaii Community College, Hawaiian Studies, $1000 
2013 Kalama Freitas, Ke Kula O Ehunuikaimalino, Hawaii Community College, Hawaiian Studies, $1000 
2014 Reid Daugherty, Konawaena High School, University of Hawaii-Manoa, Meteorology, $1000 
2015 Bethany Barangan, Konawaena High School, Olympic College, Business, $1000 2016 Aaliyah Butler, Konawaena High School, Hawaii Community College--Palamanui, Business, $1500 
2017 Mikki Fujimoto, Konawaena High School, Hawaiʻi Community College - Pālamanui, Nursing, $1500 
2018 Kiana Ng-Ibarra, Konawaena High School, University of Hawaii-Hilo, Undeclared Major, $1500 
2019 Trinity Ballesteros, Kealakehe High School, Hawaii Community College-- Palamanui, Diesel Mechanics, $1500 
2020 Keilana Crane, Konawaena High School, Hawaii Community College--Palamanui, Liberal Arts/Psychology, $1500
2021 Anastasia "Kahina" Benbouzid Hewitt, Ke Kula Ehunuikaimalino High School, University of Hawaii Hilo Environmental Studies and Hawaiian Studies $2500 2022 Lily Matsuoka, Kealakehe High School, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Nursing $2000 
2023 Noa Riznyk, West Hawaii Explorations Academy, University of Nevada, Reno.  Major in business mangament and minor in environmental studies. $2000.
2024 Brendon-Lee Cordero, youth paddler for Keauhou, works at KTA $2000
2025 Slayde RK Thompson, Konawaena High School, auto tech at UH Community College $2000

Recipients of Keauhou Canoe Club Mary MacCheyne Humanitarian Achievement Scholarship 

2025, Jocelyn Conae, Konawaena High School, science/EMT at UH-Manoa $2000