Turtle Bay Foundation Awards $60,000 in Scholarships to 48 Students Pursuing Higher Education
Recipients and their families mark the achievement at a drive-thru celebration
TURTLE BAY, O‘AHU – The Turtle Bay Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Turtle Bay Resort, awarded $60,000 in scholarships to students pursuing their dreams of higher education on Friday afternoon. The Foundation welcomed students and their families to a drive-thru scholarship awards ceremony at the resort’s stables, where they enjoyed music from Kapena before receiving their scholarship certificate and posing for photos.
“We are proud to be able to continue our tradition of supporting our remarkable North Shore and Ko‘olauloa students on their academic journeys. The most important thing we can do as leaders in the community is support learning for our students. Nothing gives them a better head start in life,” said Tom Donovan, vice president and managing director of Turtle Bay Resort. “We commend these students for their perseverance in the face of the pandemic’s challenges and look forward to seeing all they accomplish in the coming year.”
The Turtle Bay Foundation awarded educational scholarships for the 2021-2022 academic year to 48 high school and college students from schools including Kahuku High and Intermediate School, Waialua High and Intermediate School, Leilehua High School, the University of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Pacific University and more.
One of the students is Leah Kaaua-Acorda, who is studying at Kapi‘olani Community College to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist.
“With this scholarship, I will be able to expand my career and continue my education in the following semesters while studying for my registered board exam for respiratory therapy,” said Leah Kaaua-Acorda, a five-time Turtle Bay Foundation Scholarship recipient from Waialua. “In the future, I want to give back to the community so other students will have the opportunity to achieve their goals as well.”
Since its inception in 2012, the Turtle Bay Foundation has donated more than $926,000 in scholarships and grants to students and organizations making a difference on O‘ahu’s North Shore. In that time, more than 250 students have received funds based on a combination of criteria, including academic performance, financial need, extracurricular activities, and community involvement.
Turtle Bay Resort launched the Foundation to create positive social change and environmental preservation. In addition to providing scholarships, the Foundation donated 17,000 pounds of local produce to North Shore families in January 2021, provided 70 nonprofits programming grants and protected 858 acres of natural coastlines. Turtle Bay Resort is set to reopen on July 1.
About Turtle Bay Foundation
The Turtle Bay Foundation is dedicated to enriching the communities of O‘ahu’s North Shore and Ko‘olauloa region. To fulfill its mission of making one of the world's last great places even better, the Foundation provides educational scholarships for deserving youth, job training opportunities for adults, and grants for environmental stewardship, historic and cultural preservation, healthy living through sports and recreation, and health care programs for aging residents, homeless, and substance abuse recovery.
About Turtle Bay Resort
Located on O‘ahu’s North Shore known for legendary surf, Turtle Bay Resort encompasses nearly 1,300 acres with five miles of unspoiled coastline and seven beaches. The resort showcases 410 ocean-view guest rooms and suites plus 42 oceanfront Ocean Bungalows, as well as an innovative concierge experience center and cultural gallery, a variety of restaurants and bars, an 11,000-square-foot spa and fitness center, elevated beach experience and four swimming pools. This expansive beach resort features dynamic ocean, land and aerial adventures through its on-property helicopter pad, horse stables, tennis and pickleball courts, two 18-hole championship golf courses, 12 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, wellness classes and surf school. For more information, visit www.turtlebayresort.com. Follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/turtlebayresort and Facebook at www.facebook.com/turtlebayresort.
Dylan Beesley