Please join us in congratulating Turtle Bay Foundation’s 2023 scholars! To mark our 10th anniversary supporting our North Shore and Ko‘olauloa communities, Turtle Bay Foundation, the charitable arm of Turtle Bay Resort, awarded our largest scholarship package to date: fifty students received a total of $150,000 to pursue higher education.
“Over the past ten years, Turtle Bay Foundation has supported hundreds of students as they pursue their dreams, and we are thrilled to celebrate this milestone by awarding our most significant scholarship package to date,” said Kiele Muraco, director of the Turtle Bay Foundation.
Turtle Bay Foundation has awarded 434 scholarships and 70 grants, amounting to nearly $1.1 million since its inception.
“Turtle Bay Foundation’s incredible impact uplifting our North Shore communities would not be possible without the many contributions of our volunteer board members and the significant financial support of Turtle Bay’s owner, Blackstone,” said Tom Donovan, president of Turtle Bay Foundation.
This year, the Turtle Bay Foundation introduced new scholarship opportunities, recognizing ‘Ilima, Maile, Lehua, and Hala recipients with $10,000, $5,000, $3,000 and $1,000 toward their education, respectively.
Five students were named ‘Ilima Scholars, including:
- Isabella-Amataupu Akanoa is a Kahuku High and Intermediate School senior and will attend Stanford University.
- Kirah Evile is currently studying business and environmental studies at Cornell University.
- Siosifa Latu, an upcoming Kahuku High and Intermediate School graduate, plans to attend Brigham Young University – Idaho to study political science.
- Stryder Williams is pursuing his degree in biology at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.
- Zoe Bryan, who will graduate from Waialua High & Intermediate School, will attend California Polytechnic State University to study biochemistry.
“These scholars represent the best of the North Shore and Ko’olauloa community,” said Muraco. “We’re happy to provide them with the resources they need, so they can focus on their academic pursuits and, one day, bring that knowledge back to uplift our communities.”
Within the ‘Ilima category, Akanoa received the Alayna & Tony Finau Scholarship in recognition of her dedication to volunteering to support her community. Turtle Bay Foundation established the namesake scholarship in honor of PGA Tour professional golfer Tony Finau and his wife, Alayna. Finau generously supported the Foundation’s 2022 golf tournament and trains on the iconic Arnold Palmer golf course.
“I am very grateful for the support of organizations and families such as the Turtle Bay Foundation ‘ohana, who help local students like me reach their potential to achieve their highest of goals,” said Akanoa, who plans to study English and become a lawyer one day. “I hope in the future I can give back to my own community here in Hawai‘i and influence other local students to pursue an education which will offer them a wide range of opportunities.”
In partnership with the Friends of Sunset Beach’s mission to “keep the arts alive” in schools on the North Shore, Rihannon Shumay received $1,000 from the foundation due to her dedication to the arts and volunteering throughout high school.
The Foundation selects recipients based on academic performance, financial need, extracurricular activities and community involvement.
