Scholarship created to support Maui sugar workers and dependents By Ryan Lothspeich, HNN Fall Intern November 14, 2016 at 9:59 PM HST - Updated August 12 at 5:10 PM
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - After the last sugar plant in Maui was shut down, The Hawaii Community Foundation (HCF) has started a scholarship fund for the Maui sugar workers and their children. The Rapozo Scholarship Fund for Maui Sugar Industry Workers was created by Wayne James Rapozo de Costa of London, United Kingdom and the Rapozo Kama'aina Fund, a family donor advised fund run by HCF. "My extended family and I wanted to send a message of appreciation to the Maui workers who are running Hawaii's last harvest and to recognize them for their good work, sense of stewardship and dedication over the years," said Mr. Rapozo. "I have the utmost confidence in them and their children as they enter the next chapter of their lives following the last harvest, and this scholarship is a small way to send them our aloha." Rapozo was born and raised on Kauai and spent his childhood with his grandparents at their sugar plantation. To be eligible for The Rapozo Scholarship Fund for Maui Sugar Industry Workers scholarship, students must have been an employee of a company that was growing and harvesting sugar on Maui during 2015 and 2016 or be a child of an employee. HCF has more than 200 scholarships and awards more than $4.5 million each year to students across the state. "As the sugar industry on Maui comes to a close, we would like to thank Mr. Rapozo and his family for their generosity in providing this scholarship to honor the dedicated sugar workers on the island," said Deborah Rice, senior philanthropic services officer on Maui for the Hawaii Community Foundation. "The Rapozo scholarship will touch the lives of many sugar workers and their children during challenging times." Visit www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org for more information on required supporting materials that are needed for applications. Copyright 2016 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.