2020 Kaimana Awards & Scholarship winners


Fifteen student-athletes representing 14 schools were awarded as recipients of the 2020 HMSA Kaimana Awards & Scholarship Program:

  » Catherine Chow, Keaau - Cross Country (Dartmouth)
  » Izabell Izzi, Waianae - Volleyball (UH Hilo)
  » Mauhia Kimata, Punahou - Track & Field, Football, Paddling (Portland/George Fox)
  » William Kepler, Kihei Charter - Cross Country, Paddling (Hawaii)
  » Jaymie Kunitomo, Konawaena - Tennis, Soccer, Bowling (Gonzaga/Portland)
  » Pearl Lee, Kalani - Football, Soccer, Track & Field (Lehigh)
  » Asha McGinnis, Kapaa - Swimming & Diving, Cross Country, Track & Field (Cal Poly)
  » Samantha Ono, Kaimuki - Soccer, Softball, Basketball
  » Isabelle Pescaia, Waialua - Water Polo, Swimming & Diving (Montana State)
  » Lindsay Sasaki, Hawaii Baptist - Cross Country, Track & Field (Seattle Pacific/Creighton)
  » Kylee Takanishi, Iolani - Cross Country, Swimming & Diving, Track & Field (Hawaii/Creighton)
  » Shirfei Tay, Moanalua - Tennis, Water Polo, Swimming & Diving (Santa Clara/Bentley)
  » Kassidy Trang, Hawaii Baptist - Tennis, Cheer (Hawaii/Creighton)
  » Kallen Wachi, Waimea - Diving & Swimming, Cross Country, Air Riflery, Track & Field (North Dakota)
  » Ameera Waterford, Seabury Hall - Basketball, Track & Field (Stanford)

Each recipient will receive a $5,000 scholarship that can be used for tuition, room and board, airfare, laptop/desktop computers or books for education after high school.

The program honors graduating high school seniors for excellence in academics, athletics, community service, healthy activities and sportsmanship. Applicants must have held a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75, participated in at least one league-recognized sport and been involved in community service projects in addition to school activities. Special consideration was given to students who played in lower-profile sports.


In addition, nine schools were honored with a Kaimana School Award:

  » Big Island Interscholastic Federation
     - Small school (fewer than 200 students): Parker School
     - Large school (200 or more students): Keaau
  » Interscholastic League of Honolulu
     - Small school (fewer than 400 students): University Lab
     - Large school (400 or more students): Hawaii Baptist
  » Kauai Interscholastic Federation
     - Waimea
  » Maui Interscholastic League
     - Small school (fewer than 350 students): Maui Prep
     - Large school (350 or more students): Kamehameha-Maui
  » Oahu Interscholastic Association
     - Small school (fewer than 1,300 students): Kahuku
     - Large school (1,300 or more students): Moanalua

Schools were awarded based on the highest point totals in academics (percentage of student-athletes with a GPA of 2.75 or higher), athletics (percentage of total student body that participated in a team sport), community service (number of collective hours students worked), healthy activities (various activities that engaged student-athletes with the community) and sportsmanship (points deducted for varying levels of unsportsmanlike conduct) from each of their respective leagues — based on school enrollment. 

Information about the HMSA Kaimana Awards & Scholarship Program along with bios of the award recipients can be found on the HMSA website.