Kealakehe’s Presidential Scholars
Two 2026 Kealakehe High School graduates who completed the school’s STEM Academy were named U.S. Presidential Scholars, the first two students from the same Hawaiʻi public school to receive the honor in the same year.
Recognizing the Educators Behind the Honor
Congratulations to Daniel Chen and Zachariah Smith, two exceptional young men from Kealakehe High School, on receiving the prestigious U.S. Presidential Scholars honor. Their achievements are an extraordinary source of pride for our entire Hawaiʻi Island community.
There is, however, an important part of this success story that deserves greater recognition: the remarkable contributions of Justin Brown, a Kohala Coast Community Fund Recipient and Advisor and a driving force behind Kealakehe High School’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program. And congratulations also to Alexis Ching from Ewalu Industries (another KCCF recipient) for her work serving as the intermediary and supplemental support resource to Justin and his program
Justin has devoted himself to opening doors for our young people, providing opportunities that extend far beyond the traditional classroom. Through his leadership, students have participated in national Model United Nations conferences in New York City, earning prestigious recognition, and competed in robotics, STEM, and other national competitions, often finishing among the very best in the country.
What makes Justin's work especially impressive is his determination to create these opportunities despite the bureaucratic and institutional challenges that too often stand in the way of innovative educators. His commitment to his students, his creativity, and his perseverance deserve both recognition and stronger support from our Department of Education.
The achievements of these two Presidential Scholars illustrate what is possible when talented, motivated students are supported by exceptional educators who believe in their potential. Kealakehe's CTE and STEM programs are demonstrating that students from Hawaiʻi Island can compete with the very best in the nation and earn admission to some of America's most prestigious universities.
Our hope is that these young people will someday bring their knowledge, experience, and leadership back home, helping build a more prosperous and resilient future for Hawaiʻi Island.
Congratulations to Daniel and Zachariah, to Justin Brown, and to everyone who has helped make these remarkable achievements possible. This is exactly the kind of investment in our young people that will enable future generations to remain and thrive here in Hawaiʻi.
This is but one example of the many remarkable achievements from our ʻohana of funding recipients. Mahalo to all who are making a difference.
Harvey Stone, Executive Director, Kohala Coast Community Fund
