Scholarship Award to:
Tayson Hirayama

At the Family Service on August 1, 2021, 9:00 am, Tayson Hirayama will be given a scholarship award of $2,000 through the temple. Tayson was selected because of the level of community service he provided volunteering with the Peace Committee's program, “Feeding Our Keiki and Kupuna.” An Eagle Scout with Troop #1, Tayson spent most of his Friday afternoons during his junior and senior year (Hawaii Preparatory Academy) washing dishes in the kitchen after school and sports practices. During his senior year, Tayson organized a leadership project providing groceries to Waimea families in need of support. He shopped at the Food Basket on Thursdays, filled the bags on Saturdays (along with classmates), and delivered them to Waimea Middle School for distribution. Tayson fund-raised and secured donations for all costs, including the groceries, bags, and transportation.

He will be enrolling at the University of Washington in Seattle, possibly studying aeronautical engineering.

The scholarship will be presented by Lynn Nagata (special education teacher) of Hilo, the daughter of the late Judy (Kawatachi) Inokuchi. Her family wants to remember and honor Judy by supporting and encouraging young people to help the temple provide services to the community. They have made a donation, providing funding for the temple to award a scholarship to a deserving senior who serves the Waimea/Honokaa area through community service.

Judy, a longtime resident of Honolulu (born and raised in Ahualoa) provided support and encouragement of our temple's efforts and success in broadening and increasing membership through activities, events and programs reaching out to the broader community. Her family wanted to memorialize her support of the temple through this scholarship.

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