After nearly a decade of uncertainty, setbacks and searching for direction, Jamilyn Moriguchi is graduating from Kapiʻolani Community College with an associate’s degree in psychology—and a transformed sense of self.
“I’m most proud of how far I’ve come,” said Moriguchi. “I enjoy school now, and I honestly could never say that before.”
Reluctant student
A 2015 Kalaheo High School graduate, Moriguchi started college reluctantly, struggling with the pressure to succeed despite not feeling ready.
“I wasn’t motivated at all,” she said. “I felt like I was forcing myself to attend college to meet others’ expectations instead of listening to what I needed. That led to poor performance and a complete lack of interest in college. I didn’t feel like I was moving fast enough or in the right direction, which discouraged me. I didn’t want to be there.”
Things began to shift in 2018 when she transferred to Kapiʻolani CC.
“When I first witnessed the support and community other students had built at Kapiʻolani CC, I started to realize that I could find my place in college,” she said.
After a challenging detour to Las Vegas in 2021 left her feeling adrift, Moriguchi returned to Hawaiʻi in 2022 and reconnected with Kapiʻolani CC’s Lunalilo Scholars Program. The program, funded by the Kaneta Foundation, offers scholarships, mentoring, and a strong support network for students who may not have initially planned to attend college.
Uplifted and valued
“From the start, this campus felt like home, a place filled with connection, community and support,” Moriguchi said. “Being accepted into the Lunalilo Scholars Program and becoming a peer mentor became one of my biggest goals. Both allowed me to restart and find purpose in my education. I felt a sense of freedom and control over my choices for my life and future.”
She credits the Lunalilo Scholars Program—and individuals such as Josiah OʻSullivan, Sydney Burgher, Kapilialoha Kidder, Colette “Aunty Coco” Andrade-Fujii and LaVache Scanlan—for helping her see her potential.
“I never felt discouraged or ignored,” she said. “I felt uplifted and valued. My grades began to improve, and I finally saw myself succeeding. The support was something I had never experienced before in school. They showed me that my past does not define me, and that I am much stronger than I once believed.”
‘Always a Lunalilo Scholar’
Moriguchi plans to continue her studies at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and hopes to keep mentoring others on their own journeys.
“Finding the right place and people makes all the difference,” she shared. “Surround yourself with those who believe in you and truly want to see you succeed.”
Her support system, rooted in the Lunalilo Scholars Program, is something Moriguchi will carry with her wherever she goes.
“Once a Lunalilo Scholar, always a Lunalilo Scholar,” she said. “No matter how far I go, I’ll always have a home here.”
–By Lisa Yamamoto
