The 24th annual KTA Roy Fujimoto Senior Scholarship winners were recently announced by the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF).

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The 24th annual KTA Roy Fujimoto Senior Scholarship winners were recently announced by the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF).

Four Big Island senior student athletes were selected based on their excellence in their respective sports and school communities. The winners were awarded $1,500 each, which has been often used to offset the costs of college tuition, books and boarding expenses.

The 2026 scholarship winners are Lehia Akau, Taliya Nishida, Gabriella Tuson and Shaniah-Lee Ferreira.

Lehia Akau

Growing up in Waimea, Hawaii Prep 2026 graduate Lehia Akau learned the importance of community.

Through volunteer work and dancing in multiple local festivals, Akau was exposed to many acts of giving back to her hometown. Serving others has always been a core part of who she is, which is part of why Akau chose to study nursing at Cumberland University this upcoming fall.

“Growing up in my community, I learned the importance of showing up for people through acts of care and support,” Akau wrote in her application. “As a student-athlete, I have developed qualities that connect deeply to nursing — qualities like discipline, teamwork, resilience and the ability to stay calm under pressure.

“Choosing my major wasn’t only about the values I have, but also about something I’m passionate about.”

Akau was a three-sport athlete with Ka Makani — being named an All-BIIF member in girls soccer and flag football and team captain in volleyball. After her first year of playing flag, she received multiple offers from collegiate programs — ultimately deciding to play for Cumberland while she completes her studies.

In her senior season, Akau caught three touchdowns in the BIIF Flag Football DII Championship against Honoka‘a last month.

Akau’s top athletics highlight came when she was named the 2025 BIIF Flag Football Defensive Player of the Year, she wrote.

“(Flag football) has opened so many doors for me to continue playing the sport I love,” Akau wrote. “I’m excited to see where this next chapter takes me.”

Taliya Nishida

She was state finalist in girls pole vault and volleyball, but perhaps Kamehameha graduate Taliya Nishida grew the most as a player and person in wrestling.

Starting the sport as a freshman, Nishida improved gradually each season, becoming a BIIF champion her junior year. While the achievement was monumental, Nishida felt a greater responsibility to become a team leader and example of excellence during her senior season.

“In the wrestling room, I made it a priority to help maintain a supportive and positive environment,” Nishida wrote. “I encouraged my teammates, especially underclassmen, to stay motivated, pushed them during practice and made sure everyone felt included and valued regardless of their skill level.

“I wanted our team culture to be one where we built each other up and improved together.”

While Nishida did not accomplish everything she wanted to on the mat as a senior, she acknowledged that the memories made with her teammates will long outlast her own individual results.

“I stayed engaged with my team — supporting teammates at practice, encouraging them during matches and demonstrating commitment despite adversity,” Nishida continued. “Instead of only focusing on winning, I learned to appreciate the opportunity to compete and uplift my teammates regardless of the outcome.

“Wrestling has shown me how to overcome adversity, and these lessons will continue to guide me beyond athletics.

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Nishida’s leadership abilities were also demonstrated outside of sports, as she was a member of her school’s National Honor Society, Life Saver’s Club and the Holopono Academic Success Center. Outside of school, Nishida was a plaintiff of Navahine v. Hawaii Department of Transportation at age 12, which was the world’s first youth-led constitutional climate case — reinforcing her beliefs of youth moments and protecting her homeland. Nishida has also led Hawaii-focused activities at Mauna Lani Resort.

She will attend Colorado State University this fall to study psychology.

Gabriella Tuson

For Waiakea graduate Gabriella Tuson, connecting to her roots has always been important.

After helping the Warriors girls soccer team win two BIIF titles with her leadership and superb play, Tuson was selected through a rigorous process to represent her culture on the American Samoa National Women’s Soccer Team, which is currently competing to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Being a second-generation Samoan in the U.S., Tuson wasn’t around Samoan speakers growing up, but decided to connect to her heritage even further — taking Samoan language classes at UH Manoa starting her sophomore year. As a way to connect to her mother’s childhood language, she wrote stories in the course that she routinely shared with her. The course also allowed Tuson to connect with her aunt in Panama.

Tuson has worked her way towards fluency — delivering speeches and carry complete conversations as a way to prepare for her visit to American Samoa this summer.

“My mom used to tell me that each language you learn gives you a new soul,” Tuson wrote. “I found that sentiment silly as a child, but now, I notice myself change when I speak Samoan.

“Through this class, I learned that academic value is defined by how I apply the knowledge — not by how others perceive it.”

In addition to her involvement in American Samoa culture, Tuson has helped run food drives, collected and donated over 2,000 books, helped set up houses for people aging out of foster care and attended RYLA leadership camp.

Outside of soccer, Tuson competed in track and was named a two-time Special Teams MVP and Scholar Athlete of the Year in tackle football.

Tuson will attend the University of Chicago this fall to study mathematics.

Shaniah-Lee
Ferreira

Waiakea graduate Shaniah-Lee Ferreira experienced the thrill of victory many times as a three-time BIIF champion wrestler and multi-time state qualifier, but she also came to understand something deeper — how quickly that feeling can be taken away.

Ferreira missed 90% of her junior season due to injury and then tore her labrum right before her senior year. While the setbacks were both mentally and physically challenging, Ferreira developed a new appreciation for sports medicine and athletic training — which ultimately helped her decide on pursuing a career in orthopedic medicine.

“Wrestling pushed me to my limits, but injury forced me to grow in a different way,” Ferreira wrote. “I had to develop patience, trust the recovery process and find motivation — even when progress felt slow.

“These experiences taught me that growth comes from perseverance, humility and the ability to turn setbacks into motivation.”

While Ferreira’s wrestling resume is impressive, the most defining moment of her career was when she came up short in the 2024 state tournament. While the pain of losing in the finals was difficult, Ferreira wrote that she learned an invaluable lesson while competing on the mat.

“That day, I learned that greatness doesn’t come from recognition or validation,” Ferreira wrote. “It comes from the relentless pursuit of your goals, even when no one else is watching.

“Even if it didn’t go as I imagined, I made it to the state finals — I was Waiakea’s first finalist since 2012. I stood on that podium not because others carried me, but because I carried myself. Wrestling not only taught me how to carry myself, but it also taught me how to help others learn to carry themselves.”

Ferreira additionally competed in judo throughout high school, where she became a two-time BIIF champion and state finalist. Outside of sports, she was involved heavily in the Waiakea school and local community — being a member of the National Society of High School Scholars, wellness club, fellowship of Christian athletes club and more.

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Ferreira will major in pre-med at West Liberty University this fall.