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student testemonies
Alice Kawakami and Esther Kawakami-Williams hear student testimonies.

Kauaʻi Community College’s Waiʻaleʻale Project received a $3,000 contribution from NF Kawakami, HS Kawakami and Minoru Furugen family funds administered by the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation.

Kawakami family representatives Alice J. Kawakami, Esther Kawakami-Williams and State Representative Derek Kawakami, along with Darcie Yukimura, senior philanthropic services officer for the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, visited Kauaʻi CC to hear first-hand testimonies from Waiʻaleʻale Project students about their college experiences. These students are striving to obtain degrees in liberal arts, science, education, business education, health education, Hawaiian studies and trades technologies.

The Kawakami family fund, established in 2011, continues the family legacy of helping great causes on Kauaʻi.

“The support from local community-based foundations is very significant because it clearly demonstrates their belief in our program,” said Kimo Perry, coordinator of the Waiʻaleʻale Project. “It’s critical that the community is behind what we are doing, and so we are extremely appreciative of the support given to our students—our residents of Kauaʻi.”

For more, read the Kauaʻi CC news release.

More about the Waiʻaleʻale Project

The Waiʻaleʻale Project started in fall 2010 and in May 2013, the first group of Waiʻaleʻale students received associates degrees. The program currently services 185 students.

“These students move from not even considering college to thriving in this environment. This opens doors for them and their families for the rest of their lives,” said Chancellor Helen A. Cox.

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