SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii - The 1st Lt. Nainoa Hoe Scholarship of Honor was presented to University of Hawaii-Manoa freshman and Army ROTC Cadet, Haley Rintaro Kanda Okamura, at the Battle Command Training Center, here, Aug. 26.
U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii hosted the fourth annual event. The award, worth $1,000, recognizes outstanding students enrolled in the Army Cadet Command's ROTC Scholarship Program at Manoa.
Manoa's ROTC "Warrior Battalion" is known for the quality of officers it produces. The unit is singularly unique in that it has a campaign or battle ribbon, received for the heroic actions of Manoa cadets in December 1941.
"Okamura's selection recognizes his exceptional scholastic and leadership qualities." said Col. Douglas Mulbury, commander, USAG-HI. "At his young age, he's demonstrated repeatedly the values and personal fortitude that one would expect of an officer in today's Army."
Okamura received a second scholarship of $1,000 through an endowment by Waimanalo businessman Ohelo Kaopio and the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation. The foundation started the scholarship in 2003, as a way of honoring America's fallen war heroes and as a way of recognizing extraordinary students from across the nation who are interested in pursuing military or public service.
Okamura is the son of Dexter and Glyins Okamura. Both of his grandfathers served in the Army.
The Nainoa Hoe Scholarship is awarded annually to memorialize the life of 1st Lt. Nainoa Hoe, a former ROTC cadet and graduate of the University of Hawaii, who was killed in action Jan. 22, 2005, while leading a platoon of Soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division's 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, on a routine foot patrol in Mosul, Iraq.
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