Posts by StephenL

Nā Mamo O Mū’olea is proud to announce that we have awarded the Isabella Aiona Abbott Scholarship for the 2021 Fall Semester to two outstanding applicants.

The first recipient of the scholarship is Hana High School Senior Tu’upuamālamakahonua Shemuel Helekahi. Tu’u will recieve  $1000 to help her pursue her college education at  the University of Hawaii at Hilo.  Tu’u is planning on double majors in Political Science and Hawaiian Studies.  Our entire board agrees she will make her ‘ohana, our Hāna community, and our Lāhui proud!  Good luck and go get ‘um Tu’u!

The second recipient is Bailey Spry.  Bailey is a second time recipient of the Dr. Isabella Kauakea Aiona Abbott scholarship.  Bailey intends to graduate from UH Mānoa in the Spring of 2022 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany. Her particular interests are algae and fungi, and Bailey is considering a graduate degree with a focus on Hawaiian Marine Algae. In other words, Bailey plans to study Limu! After college Bailey intends to return to her home in Kipahulu to apply her education to supporting East Maui community food systems and conservation.  Nā Mamo is proud and happy that our contributions to Bailey’s academic journey helps her to earn her degree.  We look forward to her expertise benefiting our Hāna community and our Lāhui.

The Dr. Isabella Kauakea Aiona Abbott scholarship was established in 2010, in honor of Dr Abbott, a world-renowned Botanist, Ethnobotants and Limu specialist who was born here in Hana and went on to be the first Hawaiian woman to earn a Phd in Science.  The scholarship is funded through donations and a Silent Auction which is held during our annual Hāna Limu Festival.  To date, Na Mamo o Mu’olea has awarded  $21,000 in scholarships to 18 recipients!  The Covid-19  pandemic guidelines forced us to cancel the Limu Festival  2 years in a row, but we are able to continue awarding our scholarship this year through the generosity of private donors.  We look forward for the day we can all safely gather again at our Limu Festival to continue to raise awareness of our makai ecosystems, ‘opihi, herbivore fish stock, and our precious limu.

Donations can be made to: Nā Mamo O Mū’olea    P. O. Box 824    Hāna, HI   96713