Courtesy of Grove Farm
Lauryn Hashimoto, Margarita Lomongo and Michaela Alcaraz were honored as 2025 Grove Farm Scholars during a dinner on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at the Puakea Grill.
LIHUE — The Grove Farm Foundation for 2025 awarded nine scholarships totalling $66,000 to graduating high school students. This is the 16th consecutive year the Grove Farm Foundation has presented three Grove Farm Scholars with a $20,000 scholarship each for their respective post-secondary education.
LIHUE — The Grove Farm Foundation for 2025 awarded nine scholarships totalling $66,000 to graduating high school students. This is the 16th consecutive year the Grove Farm Foundation has presented three Grove Farm Scholars with a $20,000 scholarship each for their respective post-secondary education.
Two graduates from Kauai High School — Michaela Alcaraz and Lauryn Hashimoto — and Margarita Lomongo from Waimea High School were named the 2025 Grove Farm Scholars, and honored at a special dinner Wednesday at the Puakea Grill.
“Our three 2025 Grove Farm Scholars were selected from nine of the most accomplished seniors on Kauai,” Grove Farm said in the announcement. “This year’s judges who serve on the Grove Farm Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee always face a challenging task and had comments on the nine finalists including, ‘These are all remarkable students,’ ‘It’s very uplifting to participate,’ and ‘I appreciate the opportunity to meet our future leaders.’”
The six finalists who were not selected as 2025 Grove Farm Scholars will each receive $1,000 scholarships toward their respective college education.
Alcaraz is described as a gifted linguist who speaks conversational German and Tagalog in addition to English. She is described in olelo Hawaii as “O ka mea ola,” or referred to a person whose accomplishments are ongoing.
During her high school career, Alcaraz was an active volunteer with the Boys &Girls Club of Hawaii at the Lihue Clubhouse, and with service organizations including the Key Club and National Honor Society.
Playing both wind instruments and violin, Alcaraz performed in the high school’s marching band, and earned college credits as a member of the Kauai Community College Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra.
Alcaraz will be attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa in the fall, planning to study medicine in hopes of becoming a primary care physician.
“My enthusiasm alone cannot make my dreams a reality,” Alcaraz said. “The Grove Farm Scholarship will allow me to overcome the only obstacle standing in my way of achieving my goals — a giant price tag that neither I nor my family could ever pay alone.”
Born and raised in Chuuk, Micronesia, Lomongo moved to Kauai in 2018. Grove Farm said despite the challenges she went through, Lomongo balanced an ambitious academic program with service to her community.
Lomongo took Early College courses and earned a Certificate of Competency in Hawaiian botany before earning her high school diploma at Waimea High School. She was also an active volunteer through her church and school clubs, and a co-founder in the revival of the Waimea High School Key Club.
“My mind was determined to do well in school to make my family proud,” Lomongo said. “I want to make a meaningful impact on others’ lives and help them navigate their relationship with food to build a healthier lifestyle.”
Lomongo is committed to studying dietics at either the University of Hawaii at Manoa, or the Grand Canyon University in Arizona. Her interest in nutrition started when she interned at a nonprofit group that had a partnership with her high school to grow, distribute and sell fresh vegetables through its aquaponics program.
Hashimoto exemplifies a well-rounded student from Kauai High School, Grove Farm said.
She holds many accolades for her scientific research projects and has held leadership roles as a class officer throughout four years of high school, including serving as class president for the last three years.
She is a dedicated scholar-athlete, serving as captain of her paddling team, and participating in cross country and track and field.
“I value hard work, perseverance, and using mistakes as learning opportunities,” Hashimoto said. “Science is a field where I can apply these aptitudes to address issues I care about, such as climate change and environmental protection.”
Hashimoto has been accepted by her “dream school,” the University of California at Berkeley where she will study molecular biology and work towards a career in scientific research.
“What these high school students all have achieved in their high school years and their dreams for the future, give us hope for a thriving Kauai,” the press release from Grove Farm said.
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