Kapa Curious Scholarship

Community Contributed
By Keo Hanapi-Hirata

“Without our kupuna we would have forgotten our culture, without our ‘opio there will be no one to perpetuate our culture” a humble reminder from the creator, artist, and business owner of Kapa Curious, Kekai Daunhauer along with her ‘aina kupuna ‘Ohana o Ahupua’a o Ahaino.

On May 8, Molokai High School held their annual scholarship ceremony of which Kapa Curious and ‘Ohana Hanapi annually participates to award scholarships to our Molokai ‘opio that are graduating. This year the Kapa Curious scholarship and the Ahaino Scholarship gave six, $500 scholarship awards to graduating Molokai opio.

Keo Hanapi-Hirata along with her daughters, Hina and Kahenawai, presented their ‘Ohana scholarship awards. Quoting Keo’s speech, “Today, we gather not just to celebrate your academic achievements, but to honor the deep-rooted wisdom and resilience that define you as graduates of Molokai High School. You are more than scholars, you are the living embodiment of this land, its stories, and its future. Growing up on Molokai has gifted you something rare and invaluable: ‘aina- based knowledge of the kind of wisdom that cannot be taught in textbooks alone. You understand the rhythms of our ocean, the language of our winds, and the lessons of our lo’i kalo. You carry the common sense of generations who knew how to adapt, to care for one another, and to thrive with what our ‘aina provides. This is your foundation, and it is your superpower. We have faith that you will carry the spirit of Molokai with you, that you will honor your roots even as you reach new heights, and that you will one day return, in person or in purpose, to help pave the way for those who follow. Our ‘aina has prepared you. Your kupuna have prepared you. Now, it’s your turn to show the world what Molokai can do. E ho‘omau i ka hana pono.”

Our 2025-2026 scholarship recipients are Enzo Kansana, Leila-Ann Hooper-Phifer, Rose Marie Cockett, U’ilani Dizon, Ka’ulalani Puaa and Logan Oshiro.