Stars Shine for Scholarship The 5th Annual Monsignor Charles A. Kekumano Scholarship Dinner was held on March 17, 2002 in the Coral Ballroom of the Hilton Hawaiian Village. This event served as the official kickoff of Maryknoll School’s yearlong 75th anniversary celebration. Alumni turned out in record numbers, filling many of the tables at the dinner. Several Maryknoll Sisters who had taught at the school were in attendance and recognized during the program. Tim Dolan ’03 was awarded the 2002 Kekumano Scholarship, which is given to a student who demonstrates excellence inside and outside the classroom, and exemplifies the school motto, Noblesse Oblige, “to whom much is given, much is expected.” Nina Keali’iwahamana Rodrigues Rapozo ’54 was given the Noblesse Oblige Award for Service, for her generosity in sharing her vocal talent with the community. That she is much loved by those who know her was evident by the amazing line-up of entertainers who volunteered to perform. The evening also included a silent auction that raised $19,700, exceeding last year’s record-breaking amount. Overall, the dinner raised $67,000 for the Kekumano Scholarship Fund.
Nina’s brother Boyce Rodrigues told the story of Nina being sent, as an infant, to live with her paternal grandmother because her siblings had the measles. Those siblings were being hanai’d by their Hawaiian grandmother, so Nina was hanai’d by their Portuguese grandmother, whose parish was Maryknoll. “So if it wasn’t for the measles and my Portuguese grandmother,” Boyce said, “Nina probably would have gone to Roosevelt with Lani and me, or Kamehameha Schools with my brother John!” Boyce performed for Nina two songs that their father used to sing for them.
Nina Rapozo (left) and Aunty Gladys Brandt, honorary chair of the Kekumano Dinner.
2002 Kekumano Scholar Tim Dolan ’03 attended the dinner with his mother Anne. The family also includes three siblings: Katie ’00, Patrick ’06, and Ryan ’08.
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Marlene Sai charmed the audience with her rendition of “Maile Swing,” and also performed “Moku O Keawe,” which was “the last song that was taught to her (Nina) by her mama.”
Bev Noa graced the stage in a performance of “Lovely Hula Hands.” A real trouper, she performed flawlessly while sporting a cast on her fractured foot.
Introduced by Cha Thompson as “the Tita from Molokai,” Melveen Leed began by announcing, “Since I’m standing by the piano, I have to look the part. I’m going to have to take my shawl off. To all the Sisters out there, I know you can never dress like this, so I’ll do it for you, okay? That’s why I never became a nun – because I love my gowns!” She went on to dazzle the crowd with a soulful performance of “Poor Butterfly,” and impersonations of jazz greats Della Reese and Nancy Wilson. She ended with an impersonation of Al Jolson singing, “I Wanna Go Back to My Little Grass Shack.”
