Makuakane family establishes scholarship
Makuakane family establishes scholarship
The family of Daniel and Lydia Makuakane have made a pledge of $100,000 to establish the Daniel and Lydia Makuakane Endowed Scholarship in honor of their parents for their contributions to the preservation and perpetuation of Hawaiian language and cultural practices. The scholarship is intended to help increase the number and proficiency of Hawaiian speakers. It will support eligible undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the University of Hawaii at Hilo Ka Haka Ula o Keelikolani College of Hawaiian Language.
“Our parents lived at a time and in a place where Hawaiian language and culture were dominant,” said one of their daughters, Teresa Makuakane-Drechsel. “They knew, however, that our experiences would be different and made sure that our core identity, values and practices were ohana-focused and kanaka Hawaii. At the same time, they understood the need for us to learn from the diverse teachings of others outside the ohana. This endowment honors their vision of a culturally and linguistically dynamic Native Hawaiian community.”
Makuakane-Drechsel and her husband, Emanuel Drechsel, are making an additional gift to the Daniel and Lydia Makuakane Endowment through their revocable living trust to ensure that scholarships are available in perpetuity for eligible students enrolled at UH-Hilo Ka Haka Ula o Keelikolani College of Hawaiian Language.
To support UH-Hilo programs and students, contact Mariko Miho at mariko.miho@uhfoundation.org or 932-7692 or gift online at www.uhfoundation.org/givetouhhilo.
Student wins national fire prevention award
In August, an over 4,000-acre wildfire threatened homes and businesses in the Kawaihae area. Nearly a week later, heavy rainfall swept the exposed, loose, post-fire soil and debris through stream channels and roads, creating flash flood conditions. The connection between wildfires, flooding and smothering of coral reefs during the event led Waimea-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, to create a YouTube video titled “Kawaihae Fire and Flood — Mauka to Makai Impacts.”
With recent wildfires and El Nino predictions in mind, HWMO assembled a group of five students from Waimea Middle School who completed a community wildfire prevention or preparedness project. Kyren Martins, Zakahry Murakami-Mattos, Kawehi Bell-Kaopuiki, Zariah Rivera and Jamin-Quinn Lee Rillanos joined the Youth Wildfire Prep Team in November, working on projects they developed and executed on their own. Martins and Rillanos each created their own wildfire prevention signs; Murakami-Mattos is currently creating a “good versus bad defensible space” video; and Bell-Kaopuiki and Rivera teamed up to remove flammable plant debris from the Malaai Culinary Garden.
The action team was originally inspired by a National Fire Protection Association national call to action for youth from ages 13 to 22. Students from around the country were urged to implement their own wildfire
prevention or preparedness project between Sept. 1 and Nov. 15 with the chance of being selected as a $500 “TakeAction” community service funding award recipient. Martins was selected as one of 10 national recipients. Martins, whose family was directly affected by the Kawaihae fire and subsequent floods in August, made and installed a wildfire prevention sign at the edge of his home, which is visible from the road. Martins has elected to use the reward for future educational costs.
Info: pablo@hawaiiwildfire.org, 885-0900.