As peer mentors, Jamilyn Moriguchi and Sydney Burgher help other college students thrive. They were inspired by the at Kapiʻolani Community College program, which energizes non-traditional students to pursue higher education by providing a foundation, sense of belonging and confidence.

“I didn’t even want to go to college before I learned about the Lunalilo Scholars Program,” said Moriguchi, who earned an associate’s degree in psychology from Kapiʻolani CC in May, and now attends the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu. “It felt like my second home.”

Founded by Lester and Marian Kaneta in 2012, the Lunalilo Scholars Program has grown from its initial cohort of 22 students to an average of 60–90 recipients per year. More than 900 scholars have completed the program, demonstrating higher retention and graduation rates than comparable student groups.

Burgher said, “When I started the Lunalilo Scholars Program, I found myself in small groups with people I’d never met. But by the end of the weeklong Summer Bridge program, those strangers had become friends and that sense of connection inspired me to come back as a peer mentor.”

• Learn more about the Lunalilo Scholars Program

College is within reach

LaVache Scanlan, who has led the program since its inception, ensures every Lunalilo Scholar feels college is attainable.

“Our Summer Bridge program is really about breaking down perceptions,” said Scanlan. “Students explore how their personal experiences shape the way they see the world and one another. Our hope is to dispel the notion that college isn’t for them and ensure every scholar feels it’s within reach.“

Jennifer Wong-Ala, a member of the first cohort of Lunalilo Scholars who went on to earn a PhD, reflected on the program’s profound impact.

“When I learned I had been selected for the first-ever Lunalilo Scholars cohort at

Kapiʻolani Community College, I cried. That moment changed everything for me. The program gave me a foundation, a sense of belonging and the confidence to keep going.” Wong-Ala said. “The Lunalilo Scholars Program helped me find stability, purpose and a network of support that understood what it meant to start from scratch and keep going.”

Read more at the .

The transformative power of community and education continues to thrive at Kapiʻolani Community College thanks to a $1.5-million gift from the Kaneta Foundation to expand the . The donation will help more students access higher education and wraparound support services, with the program projected to reach more than 1,000 scholars by 2027.

“The Lunalilo Scholars Program opened doors I didn’t know was possible,” said Kapilialoha Kidder, a fourth-cohort scholar. “Beyond the scholarship, Lunalilo provided a community that helped me build confidence and lasting friendships—support that truly shaped my journey through college and beyond.”

Changing lives for 14 years

A robust philanthropic investment from the Kaneta Foundation helped to launch the program in 2012.

“When we started the program, I wasn’t as optimistic as Lester,” said Marian Kaneta. “I had my reservations at first. As I listened to that first cohort’s family stories and the hardships they’d endured, it was clear these were individuals living on the very edges of society—some just barely getting by.”

Now in its 14th year, the Lunalilo Scholars Program has grown from its first class of 22 students to about 60–90 participants each year. More than 900 scholars have completed the program, showing higher retention and graduation rates than comparable student groups.

“The Lunalilo Scholars Program is more than a financial aid scholarship,” said Lester Kaneta. “The program creates pathways to success for promising students from financially vulnerable backgrounds.”

Scholars give back

Centered on identity, community and mentorship, the program helps students transition to college through a summer bridge experience that fosters academic readiness and belonging. Scholars start as part of a cohort supported by peer mentors, and those who continue into their second year often return as mentors themselves—strengthening leadership skills and giving back to their peers.

“The Lunalilo Scholars Program reflects the best of who we are as a community,” said Chancellor Misaki Takabayashi. “Rooted in Native Hawaiian values, it gives students the guidance and sense of belonging they need to succeed in college and beyond. Through mentorship and shared experience, our scholars learn not only to achieve their goals but to lift others as they rise.”

For more information about supporting students at Kapiʻolani CC, visit .

Related stories:

• From lost to lifted: Kapiʻolani CC’s Lunalilo Scholars Program changed grad’s life
• Lunalilo Scholars alumni give back, complete virtuous cycle at Kapiʻolani CC
• $1.2M from Kaneta Foundation provides hope, support to underserved students

After nearly a decade of uncertainty, setbacks and searching for direction, Jamilyn Moriguchi is graduating from with an associate’s degree in psychology—and a transformed sense of self.

“I’m most proud of how far I’ve come,” said Moriguchi. “I enjoy school now, and I honestly could never say that before.”

• Meet more amazing ����Ӱҵ spring graduates

Reluctant student

A 2015 Kalaheo High School graduate, Moriguchi started college reluctantly, struggling with the pressure to succeed despite not feeling ready.

“I wasn’t motivated at all,” she said. “I felt like I was forcing myself to attend college to meet others’ expectations instead of listening to what I needed. That led to poor performance and a complete lack of interest in college. I didn’t feel like I was moving fast enough or in the right direction, which discouraged me. I didn’t want to be there.”

Things began to shift in 2018 when she transferred to Kapiʻolani CC.

“When I first witnessed the support and community other students had built at Kapiʻolani CC, I started to realize that I could find my place in college,” she said.

After a challenging detour to Las Vegas in 2021 left her feeling adrift, Moriguchi returned to Hawaiʻi in 2022 and reconnected with . The program, funded by the Kaneta Foundation, offers scholarships, mentoring, and a strong support network for students who may not have initially planned to attend college.

Uplifted and valued

“From the start, this campus felt like home, a place filled with connection, community and support,” Moriguchi said. “Being accepted into the Lunalilo Scholars Program and becoming a peer mentor became one of my biggest goals. Both allowed me to restart and find purpose in my education. I felt a sense of freedom and control over my choices for my life and future.”

She credits the Lunalilo Scholars Program—and individuals such as Josiah OʻSullivan, Sydney Burgher, Kapilialoha Kidder, Colette “Aunty Coco” Andrade-Fujii and LaVache Scanlan—for helping her see her potential.

“I never felt discouraged or ignored,” she said. “I felt uplifted and valued. My grades began to improve, and I finally saw myself succeeding. The support was something I had never experienced before in school. They showed me that my past does not define me, and that I am much stronger than I once believed.”

‘Always a Lunalilo Scholar’

Moriguchi plans to continue her studies at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and hopes to keep mentoring others on their own journeys.

“Finding the right place and people makes all the difference,” she shared. “Surround yourself with those who believe in you and truly want to see you succeed.”

Her support system, rooted in the Lunalilo Scholars Program, is something Moriguchi will carry with her wherever she goes.

“Once a Lunalilo Scholar, always a Lunalilo Scholar,” she said. “No matter how far I go, I’ll always have a home here.”

–By Lisa Yamamoto

Colette Andrade Fujii, also known as Coco or Aunty Coco, a student support specialist for the at , is spreading holiday cheer by sharing her family’s recipe for holiday punch. The festive beverage in a bowl serves as a centerpiece of celebration where friends and family can crowd around to enjoy the refreshing flavors and “talk-story.”

This holiday punch recipe was passed down to Coco through her mother-in-law, Grandma Carol, and is a staple at the Andrade Fujii holiday parties.

Check out holiday recipes from previous years

“This holiday punch is enjoyed by family and friends during our Christmas party every year,” said Fujii. “Grandma Carol wanted a tasty punch for her party and threw things together. She modified the punch over the years to perfect it. My children fight over this holiday drink every year. The ice cream is the best part.”

The recipe includes a list of ingredients and charges the preparer with achieving the right balance.

“While you look at the ingredients, Grandma Carol does not believe in giving exact measurements,” added Fujii. “She believes that you should trust your taste buds!”

Ingredients

Approximately 1-to-1 ratio Malolo strawberry syrup mixed with water
¼–½ liter 7-up or Sprite
To your liking Vanilla ice cream
To your liking Passion Orange Guava juice (POG)
Ice
Frozen strawberries
Sliced oranges

Directions

1. Follow the instructions for mixing Malolo strawberry syrup and water.
2. Add POG juice and 7-up or Sprite to taste.
3. Add vanilla ice cream and ice.
4. To top it off, add the frozen strawberries and sliced oranges. Enjoy!

Nine students, accompanied by three faculty members, journeyed to Ireland last summer as part the first study-abroad cooperation between the —a one-year bridge program that builds a supportive community for underrepresented students throughout their first year at Kapiʻolani CC—and the Paul S. Honda International Center (HIC).

For 10 days, the Kapiʻolani CC students learned about the history, culture, food and unique connections between Hawaiʻi and Ireland. The fixed, low cost of the trip opened the door for underserved students, some of whom had never left Oʻahu, to gain an invaluable experience halfway around the world.

“I’ve just been really immersed in some of the lessons that have been taught to us,” said student Niccalis Cruz.

Consisting of students from three cohorts of the Lunalilo Scholars (2019, 2020 and 2021), the group journeyed from Honolulu to Dublin to Donegal County in the northwestern corner of Ireland. There, they packed in days of learning and exploring, starting each morning with formal lectures by Niamh Hamill, director of the Institute of Study Abroad Ireland, before journeying out to a site visit.

“(I’m) So lucky to be here and to experience the excitement and the learning and the awe that the students are experiencing,” said LaVache Scanlan, director of the Lunalilo Scholars Program. “The smiles on their faces, the ‘aha’ moments, and all of that is just really cool to experience.”

Ireland, Hawaiʻi connections

Each day was focused on a unique topic; one lecture was given on Irish civil rights, social justice and conflict resolution before an afternoon guided visit to Derry City in Northern Ireland and a walk within the old historic walls dating back to the early 17th century. Another day focused on women’s rights, and another on sustainability and discussions on Irish welfare and healthcare systems all while tying them back to social, political, environmental and economic issues that Lunalilo Scholars have witnessed and experienced in Hawaiʻi. Students also got their toes wet with surf lessons in the chilly North Atlantic Ocean.

“They’re all at different stages of development, and this experience will help them learn about themselves and also the world and how they can maybe contribute as citizens to the world,” Scanlan said.

The lectures pointed out the parallels between Ireland and Hawaiʻi, from the treatment of Indigenous people there and Native Hawaiians here and the impacts of colonization.

“I thought it was interesting to learn about the similarities within the colonization of Hawaiʻi and how closely it’s connected to the colonization of the Irish people and also many other Indigenous peoples around the world,” said student Kaulanakealoha Aipa-Dolan. “So (I’m) just really grateful to expand on that topic and get to know more about what other people go through.”

Lunalilo, Queen Kapiʻolani scholarships combine

The was privately funded through the scholarships at Kapiʻolani CC. Lester and Marian Kaneta, founding donors of the , generously supported the travel opportunity to help expand the horizons of the students’ perspectives. The second source of funding came from the , established by a donation from Chancellor Louise Pagotto in 2019. She envisioned for students’ educational journeys to go beyond the books. This unique partnership across scholarships enabled the college to “flat-rate” the trip and cover the majority of the cost (program cost, airfare, hotels, meals) for awardees, with students only needing to pay $100 toward the cost of the program, $25 for mandatory health insurance and $130 for trip insurance.

“This is the first time a ����Ӱҵ study abroad program has been ‘flat-rated,’ and it is our intention to continue to partner with our community and donors to make programs such as this a reality for underserved and underrepresented students at Kapiʻolani CC,” said Shawn Yacavone, an international educational specialist with HIC.

Lunalilo Scholars and HIC are planning a study-abroad trip to Ireland in summer 2023.

Scanlan said, “We’re hoping that this can inspire us to do something like this again and give other students the opportunity to experience another country, another culture, just to have a life-changing moment for them.”

—By Kim Baxter

Some of the almost 600 Lunalilo Scholars, who have benefited from a free transformative first-year college experience at over the past decade, are giving back in a big way.

Alumni of the at Kapiʻolani CC recently honored philanthropists , who have supported the life-changing program for more than 10 years, by announcing a crowdfunding campaign to endow a scholarship in their name. Inspired by their generosity, the new will fund a second year of studies for a Lunalilo Scholar at Kapiʻolani CC.

“Scholars have an eternal gratitude for the donors because they are taking a chance on them without even knowing them,” said LaVache Scanlan, program director. “Students have shared time and time again about how amazing the donors are to give in this way. They have a sense of pride in this program and make a commitment to represent the program in a positive way.”

Transforming lives

The Lunalilo Scholars Program is an opportunity for students to transform their lives through education. The program was designed to uniquely serve and support students who demonstrate academic potential, but lack the family and financial support to attend college. Besides tuition, scholars receive the means and personalized support they need to start a new life during their first year of college at Kapiʻolani CC.

Many start the program with little more than a strong desire to work hard and get ahead. Some are near the brink of homelessness, or stuck in low paying jobs without possibilities for career advancement. Once admitted to the program, Lunalilo Scholars gain confidence, peer support and skills. They begin to see hope, and realize they can take steps to break the poverty cycle, find their purpose, and give back to their community.

The Lunalilo Scholars Program started in 2012 with 21 students. Since then, it has transformed close to 600 lives. Scholars outperform their peers in the number of degrees and certificates awarded and the number of transfers to a University of Hawai‘i four-year institution. There are at least five alumni who are working toward or who have earned a master’s degree and there is one PhD. candidate. The Lunalilo Scholars take more credits, have higher grade point averages, and are more likely to finish their first year and complete their second year.

Hope, love and faith

The program is deeply personal to Scanlan.

“A scholar and I discussed how to describe the Lunalilo Scholars Program as it has always been hard to find the right words because so much of it is about how it makes you feel. She created the phrase, ‘The cycle of hope, love and faith,’ and we’ve used it ever since,” Scanlan said.

Scanlan explained the program provides a sense of hope for the future—hope for something better. The Lunalilo Scholars Program is about removing barriers, solving problems and moving forward. Love is symbolic of all the people in the program, faculty and staff at Kapiʻolani CC, the scholars, and creating a sense of family and community, beginning with the Summer Bridge. Faith describes the students taking a leap of faith when they enter the unknown world of college. The Lunalilo Scholars Program provides a strong foundation, so the scholars know they can do anything they set their minds to. In turn, they then help to set that foundation for other scholars.

“We have a saying, ‘Once a Lunalilo Scholar, always a Lunalilo Scholar.’ The scholars see themselves as connected to each other and they inspire each other to give back,” Scanlan said. “It’s the cycle of hope, love and faith.”

Read more about the Lunalilo Scholars Program at ����Ӱҵ News.

A program that has already changed more than 500 students’ lives recently received a $1.2 million boost from the visionary family foundation that seeded it a decade ago.

In 2012, a robust philanthropic investment launched the (now referred to as the Lunalilo Scholars Program), giving 21 Hawaiʻi residents the chance to receive a transformative first-year college experience for free. Since then, a whopping 31% of Lunalilo Scholars have been the first in their families to attend college.

Current student Apenisa N. Saulekaleka, who goes by “Nisa,” credits the Lunalilo Scholars Program with helping him rise from graduating from high school with a 1.3 cumulative grade point average to graduating from Kapiʻolani CC as a valedictorian.

“All of that would not have been possible without Lunalilo instilling determination and hope especially to help me strive further,” Saulekaleka said.

Now celebrating its tenth year, the Lunalilo Scholars Program continues to change the life trajectory of students facing a wide range of socio-economic challenges by providing access to higher education and a comprehensive array of services to support them.

• Kapiʻolani CC’s Lunalilo Scholars Program receives $90,000 gift, January 26, 2016
• $1 million challenge grant for Lunalilo scholarships, May 29, 2015
• Lunalilo Scholars Program tackles college barriers, September 21, 2012

That initial cohort of 21 students has since evolved into a program that has served more than 500 students, with a high of 101 scholars enrolling in fall 2018. The Kaneta Foundation made the new $1.2 million gift to promote the program’s growth.

“During this pandemic, so many of us are filled with concerns and are isolated from family and friends. This is how many of our scholars lived prior to the pandemic. The Lunalilo Scholars Program helps to heal this feeling of separation. We bring students together for the common purpose of improving lives while creating generational change,” said Lester Kaneta. “We believe the Lunalilo Scholars Program is even more important today and that is why we are making this gift so we can support and encourage real people. There is no greater gift than the gift of hope to those in need.”

Making college possible

The project helps students who had not previously considered higher education a viable option due to financial and other barriers. Participants gain valuable college preparation through activities such as its Summer Bridge program and other support provided during their first-year experience at Kapiʻolani CC. The Lunalilo Scholars Program actively collaborates with public high school counselors and agencies working with adults who have little or no college background to identify people who will benefit the most from this innovative program.

The average age of a scholar is 21, but the oldest to date has been 68. The program helps traditionally underserved groups as 57% are Native Hawaiian and 12% are Pacific Islander.

Lunalilo Scholars Program Coordinator LaVache Scanlan said, “Lester and Marian Kaneta have been the visionaries behind this program. Their support at the beginning got the program launched, and this new donation will help us continue giving students a new start in life and the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Lunalilo Scholars are more likely to re-enroll from fall to spring and persist to the second year of college than other first-year students, who are not in what’s known as a 13th-year program. Native Hawaiian Lunalilo Scholars earn better grades and graduate and transfer at higher rates than other Native Hawaiian first-year students within the ����Ӱҵ System.

“We are most grateful to the Kaneta family for their innovative approach to building equity and educational aCCess for our community,” said Kapiʻolani CC Chancellor Louise Pagotto. “This program has been so suCCessful in transforming the lives of scholars and promoting student engagement, learning and achievement, it has become one of our signature programs!”

Other contributors who have partnered with ����Ӱҵ to support the program include the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation, Kamehameha Schools and individual donors.

The has granted $90,000 to fund scholarships for students who have completed their first year in the Lunalilo Scholars Program at . Their goal is to encourage students to participate in the peer mentor component of the program and nurture the cycle of learning and giving back.

“The grant to the Lunalilo Scholars Program fulfills the mission of the foundation to provide scholarship aid and assistance to those who would not otherwise have the opportunity for a quality education,” said Cathy Ching, granddaughter of Clarence T.C. Ching and trustee of The Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation. “The foundation is proud be a part of the innovative Lunalilo Scholars Program that recognizes the benefits of mentoring for both returning students as mentors and for the first year student mentees.”

Related

• ����Ӱҵ Foundation
• May 29, 2015
• September 21, 2012

About the Lunalilo Scholars Program

Launched in 2012, the Lunalilo Scholars Program provides financially at-risk students with one-year of tuition combined with an intensive support system, mentoring, and tutoring to help them overcome personal and academic challenges in their first year of college.

“The peer mentoring component of the Lunalilo Scholars Program benefits the new scholars by giving them access to role models that are invested in the program and want to see them succeed. It is also beneficial for those doing the mentoring,” said Director of the Lunalilo Scholars Program LaVache Scanlan.

Kapiʻolani Community College Chancellor Leon Richards added, “Many of our Lunalilo Scholars have done extremely well in their first year, frequently against the odds. This scholarship represents essential financial support and emotional encouragement. It tells them that important organizations like The Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation believe in them and want to see them fulfill their dreams.”

Getting involved

This gift was spurred by the ’s $1 million matching gift challenge in support of the Lunalilo Scholars program. To date $123,450 has been raised to meet the matching challenge.

“Donors like the Kanetas and The Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation play a key role in eliminating the educational inequality that exists across our state by bringing programs and support services to our most vulnerable students who want to create a better life for themselves and their families,” said President and CEO Donna Vuchinich

Learn more about how you can support the Lunalilo Scholars Program by contacting Senior Director of Development Linh Hoang Poe at (808) 734-9570, email or .

For more, read the .

Philanthropists Lester and Marian Kaneta have pledged $1 million for a challenge grant to help raise funds to sustain the at , and double the number of students enrolled in this successful program. Launched in 2012, the Lunalilo Scholars Program at Kapiʻolani Community College serves and supports financially at-risk students.

Kapiʻolani Community College Chancellor Leon Richards said, “Kapiʻolani CC is constantly striving to increase student success, not just in terms of achieving a degree. Students come from all walks of life, with many real challenges they must overcome. We seek creative ways to engage, excite and motivate students to reach for their dreams.”

“That’s where our special donors Marian and Lester Kaneta come in. With their support, we launched a scholarship program unlike any other. Now with their $1 million challenge grant, we can support more students and their families in their efforts to improve their lives,” said Richards.

“It has been incredible to watch the students gain confidence, taking pride in their ability to succeed on and off campus, and truly changing the trajectory of their lives! When they begin to feel hopeful, they begin to realize they can break the poverty cycle and give back to their community,” said Lester and Marian Kaneta. ”The success rates for these students are outstanding. We are excited to see what happens in the next five years as the program grows through expanded private support and accepts more students. We can’t do this alone and need partners!”

Lunalilo scholar success

The Lunalilo scholars achieve greater success when compared to their Kapiʻolani CC peers—the Lunalilo scholars take more credits, have higher grade point averages, are more likely to finish the first year and complete the second year.

The Lunalilo scholar students receive one-year of tuition at Kapiʻolani CC, combined with an intensive support system designed to help students overcome many personal and academic challenges.

“Many students start the program with little more than a strong desire to work hard and get ahead. Some are near the brink of homelessness, or stuck in low paying jobs,” said Lunalilo Scholars Program Director LaVache Scanlan. “We not only give them tuition support, but we then teach them goal setting, budgeting, and financial literacy so they learn critical life skills, and assist them in applying for grants and scholarships that will pay for the remainder of their college degree.”

Get involved

To help the Lunalilo Scholars Program expand to 100 students go to the .

A new program at is making it possible for students, who had not previously considered higher education a possibility due to financial or other barriers, to pursue a college degree.

The King William Charles Lunalilo Scholars Project, established through the generous support of the , provides a summer bridge program and first-year experience program for students at Kapiʻolani Community College. In its first year, 21 Hawaiʻi students are currently enrolled in the program.

“We hope to change students’ lives through the Lunalilo Scholars Program,” said Kapiʻolani CC Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Mona Lee. “By offering this opportunity to individuals who have high academic potential, but had never enrolled in college because of economic or personal barriers in their lives, the Lunalilo Scholars program will focus on persistence through the first year.”

Kapiʻolani administrators anticipate that the students will maintain their commitment to their academic and personal goals after completing the one-year program and continue on to earn an associate degree or transfer to a baccalaureate campus.

“Because we know that financial issues are a great concern to our students, the college’s financial aid program will supplement what students receive from our donors’ generous gift commitment to reduce the need for them to take out loans or work additional hours at their jobs,” said Lee.

“The King William Charles Lunalilo Scholars Project gives Marian and me the opportunity to combine our support of human services and community development with that of educational support through scholarships,” said Lester Kaneta, co-founder of the Kaneta Foundation. “Most of us have plans to go to college from a very young age. It is ingrained in us through our parents, teachers, friends and relatives. But there are a number of folks who do not receive this kind of support. They are told that they lack the funding, or that they are not smart enough, or that they ‘just don’t have what it takes.’ Through this new program, lives will be changed. We are grateful to be part of this project.”

A 2010 College Board study has shown the benefit of the 13th year of education increases lifetime earnings by as much as 11 percent beyond the level of high school graduates.

Transforming students’ lives

Here are some quotes from a few of the Lunalilo Scholars on what the program has meant to them:

“I am from Oʻahu, Palolo Valley born and raised. I am very family oriented and have a 4 year old son. I attended Kaimuki High School and graduated in 2001. If I had not been selected for this program, I would probably still be working my part-time retail job, which will not let me move closer to a career. I had to overcome working dead-end minimum wage jobs that would not let me climb up the corporate ladder. Also having to be a single parent for some time, I had to learn how to work around my child’s schedule. I am very thankful for this opportunity and so honored to be a part of this scholarship program.”

“I live in Kalihi Valley and work as a transport in Straub Hospital. If I hadn’t received this scholarship, I would still be working as a transport, working construction as my second job, and saving money until I would be able to attend college. Through this program, I am hoping to become a radiologist.”

“I graduated from a school where a lot of people underestimated us. They underestimated me because of where I’m from (Waimanalo) and I feel that I proved a lot of them wrong because I was on the Honor roll from sophomore year until I graduated. During my senior year I worked for the majority of the year and still kept up my grades. This scholarship has been extremely helpful financially and educational wise. It’s helping me to brush up on my math and writing skills. I have also been learning about my Hawaiian culture and it makes me feel proud to attend KCC. I hope to one day become a physician specializing in either geriatrics or oncology and be someone my family and friends can be proud of.”

— Adapted from a ����Ӱҵ Foundation .