KCC awards
Mary MacCheyne Scholarship

KCC awards
Mary MacCheyne Scholarship

Konawaena High School graduate Melina Kaupiko is the recipient of a $2K scholarship from Keauhou Canoe Club (KCC). The Miloli‘i resident received the club’s Mary MacCheyne Humanitarian Achievement Scholarship.

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The youth plans to attend Portland State University to pursue a degree in archaeology. Kaupiko hopes to focus on helping Native Hawaiian and other indigenous communities preserve and understand their cultural heritage.

“Growing up in Hawai‘i has given me a deep appreciation for the importance of protecting our ancestral knowledge and traditions,” the teen wrote on her scholarship application.

Kaupiko started paddling as a 13-year-old with Miloli‘i Canoe Club and more recently paddled with KCC. “Watching different teams compete and push themselves to excel inspired and showed me the power of dedication and perseverance,” she added. “These lessons from paddling have stayed with me through all my activities.”

Throughout high school, Kaupiko was also active in volleyball and says these experiences “further developed my teamwork skills and taught me how to balance multiple commitments while maintaining excellence in each.”

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The Mary MacCheyne Humanitarian Achievement Scholarship remembers KCC paddler and Kona coffee farmer Mary MacCheyne, who perennially exuded positivity and enjoyed a rigorous paddle until losing her fight against cancer.

“Mary valued hard work and could always be counted on to help with any task,” recalls KCC President Bill Armer. “She liked to yell a fun “whoo-hoo” cheer after we finished paddling a power 10 interval and I’m sure many of our paddlers miss hearing it.”

Over 30 local seniors have received scholarships totaling $53,500 from Keauhou Canoe Club since 2008. The club annually awards scholarships to west side Hawai‘i Island graduating seniors who have at least two years recent paddling experience in a school athletic program or paddling club.

For more info on KCC scholarships, visit www.keauhoucanoeclub.com.

Ka‘u seeking
volleyball coach

Ka’u High and Pahala Elementary School’s athletic program is accepting applications for the position of the head girls volleyball coach. Interested applicants may pick up an application at the Ka’u High and Pahala Elementary School office or contact athletic director Jaime Guerpo at 313-4161 or [email protected] for more information.

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Deadline to apply is 4:30 p.m. July 10.