When the HMSA Kaimana Awards & Scholarship Program started 20 years ago, the name “Kaimana,” or diamond in Hawaiian, was meant to represent the multifaceted talent of scholarship recipients who excelled in academics, athletics, community service, and sportsmanship. The program was also designed to support students statewide from public and independent schools in five interscholastic leagues.
From 2005 to 2025, HMSA has awarded 361 scholarships to students pursuing higher education. Today, Kaimana scholars are doctors, educators, engineers, nurses, scientists, and professionals working to make the world a better place. In celebration of the milestone anniversary, we caught up with seven scholarship recipients and asked them what winning a Kaimana Scholarship has meant to them.
All in the family
Trevor (Kaimana 2012) and Cory (Kaimana 2015) Yamagata are not only Kaimana scholars – they’re brothers who are committed to teamwork and personal excellence.
Trevor graduated from Konawaena High School in 2012, attended Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, and earned a degree in biology. He’s currently a sports optical wear product developer and designer for Nike.
Trevor at work. Photo courtesy Yamagata family
Cory graduated from Kealakehe High School in 2015 and received a degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Santa Clara University in California. He travels around the world, working as a mechanical engineer.
Cory, left, at a work conference. Photo courtesy Yamagata family
They both still remember what an impact the Kaimana Scholarship had on their lives. “The Kaimana Scholarship not only provided the financial support to help me pursue higher education but also reduced my student loans,” Trevor says.
“The Kaimana Scholarship gave me the confidence to push forward, knowing that I had a solid foundation to build upon,” Cory says. “As I continue to grow in my career, I carry with me the lesson that sacrifice is an essential part of achievement.”
The Yamagata brothers on the green. Photo courtesy Yamagata family
A love of aina and community
Helping others and staying active has always played an important part of Kailee Jackson’s (Kaimana 2019) life. While attending University Laboratory School, Jackson was a member of the aina-based service group Na Kelamoku, Hokulea’s youth initiative. “It opened my eyes to the importance of of mālama aina and further deepened my connection to Hawaii and our culture,” says Jackson.
In addition to Jackson receiving an athletic and academic scholarship to Gonzaga in 2019, the Kaimana Scholarship provided the extra financial push to help her attend her dream school. As a member of the women’s rowing team and president of its Student Athlete Advisory Committee, it was at Gonzaga where Jackson found the experience and confidence to pursue a career in physical therapy.
After graduation, Jackson will further her education with Hawaii Pacific University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program this fall.
“The Kaimana Scholarship and HMSA’s support have led me to the path I am on today, pursuing a career in physical therapy where I will one day get to give back to and serve the people of Hawaii,” says Jackson. “Mahalo HMSA, the Kaimana Scholarship was truly life-changing for me!”
Kailee, left, volunteering at Malama Honua. Photo courtesy Kailee Jackson
Going the distance
A high school cross country runner and swimmer, Kapaa High School alumna Alia Tseng (née Weiss) (Kaimana 2010) knows what it’s like to be part of a team. After graduating in 2010, Tseng enrolled in the University of Hawaii’s nursing program, where she continued to learn the importance of teamwork, while working in small groups with nursing, medical, and pharmacy students.
“The Kaimana Scholarship was integral to my educational journey,” says Tseng. “It provided financial momentum heading into my first year of college. It also made me feel supported by my community.”
Tseng recently received her master’s in nursing. As a nurse practitioner, Tseng is part of the Valve and Structural Heart program team at The Queen’s Medical Center, specializing in minimally invasive valve replacement and repairs. “The structural heart industry continues to develop rapidly,” she says. “I’m thrilled to be a part of the innovative procedures being offered to our community.”
Alia at graduation. Photo courtesy Alia Tseng
Tseng also enjoys spending free time with a different type of team – her husband and two sons, ages 3 and 1. The family stays active by taking turns running up Koko Crater stairs, going to the beach, and hiking or jogging with a stroller in tow.
Bringing it home
When he graduated from Molokai High School in 2015, Luke Kikukawa (Kaimana 2015) dreamed of improving the health and well-being of his rural community through a career in health care. Receiving a Kaimana Scholarship helped him achieve that dream. “Kaimana exemplifies the core values of sportsmanship, altruism, camaraderie, and responsibility,” he says. “These are the pillars of the community that I grew up with and have taken me far in life.”
After earning a degree in molecular biology from Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont, Kikukawa worked in an immunology lab in New Orleans, Louisiana. “I researched the immunology and chronic infections involved with cystic fibrosis at Tulane University,” he says. “I also helped on projects involving gene therapy and vaccine development.”
Luke working in the lab. Photo courtesy Luke Kikukawa
In May, Kikukawa was excited to return to Hawaii after 10 years to participate in the University of Washington MEDEX physician assistant program, which has a campus in Kona. “Their focus on primary care and rural health is what interests me the most,” he says. “I can take what I learn and bring better access to care on Molokai.”
Inspiring continuous improvement
While graduating from Waipahu High School and Leeward Community College concurrently with a 5.0 grade point average might be the apex of academic achievement for most students, it was just the beginning for Maverick Yasuda. He just completed his sophomore year at Harvard College where he’s a government concentrator, exploring entrepreneurship courses at Harvard Business School, and taking Japanese language courses to reconnect with his roots. “College is expensive and receiving a Kaimana Scholarship allowed me to focus on my academics instead of worrying about the financial side of things,” he says.
Maverick’s first day at Harvard. Photo courtesy Maverick Yasuda
Yasuda also founded the Harvard Undergraduate Kaizen Club. “Kaizen translates to ‘continuous improvement’ in Japanese, which is a big approach to my day-to-day life,” he says. “The club aims to foster a culture of holistic self-improvement, inclusivity, and positivity to promote collective growth and competence among Harvard community members.”
He and fellow 2023 Kaimana alumnus Chancen Law stayed in touch from the Kaimana luncheon and ended up becoming roommates and potential business partners. “I’m involved in investing and entrepreneurship student organizations on campus,” Yasuda says. “The goal is to pursue startup work in the health-tech/nutrition space with Chancen. It’s amazing that we met thanks to Kaimana.”
Reaching for the stars
Since he was a child, Devin Chu (Kaimana 2010) has always been fascinated by the stars. So it’s no surprise that after he graduated from Hilo High School, he earned degrees in physics and astronomy from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, and a Ph.D. in astronomy and astrophysics at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). “Any amount of assistance for higher education was helpful,” Chu says. “And I’m grateful for the Kaimana Scholarship.”
For more than 10 years, Chu worked as a researcher at the UCLA Galactic Center Group, advancing his career while studying telescope technology. Then, in 2025, he landed his dream job as astronomer in residence at the Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo. “It feels incredibly rewarding to return to the place I grew up and give back to the community that helped shape the person I am today,” he says.
Devin at the Imiloa Astronomy Center entrance. Photo by Ethan Tweedie
Chu couldn’t ask for a better place to work. “'Imiloa is an incredible center, focused on exploration. I’ve enjoyed bringing my knowledge of astrophysics to the museum while learning more about Polynesian navigation and Hawaiian culture and language,” Chu says. “It’s been wonderful connecting with the faculty at the University of Hawaii system and the Mauna Kea observatories. I look forward to being a mentor to future explorers and seeing what the next generations will discover.”
Celebrate 20 years
Meet this year’s Kaimana scholars and schools and learn more about the Island Scene 2025 summer issue cover, featuring past Kaimana scholar Devin Chu. Plus, read about the two HMSA representatives credited with getting the program off the ground 20 years ago in hmsa kaimana awards: 2025 recipients and legacy.
Thumbnail image by Ethan Tweedie
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