By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Columnist

Antone Aku has been a foster child since he was 2 years old. He has lived in many different foster homes. He is an honor roll student, an executive officer of the Campbell High School Junior ROTC and is heading to the Naval Academy Preparatory School in the fall where he plans to study aeronautical engineering.

Germaine Afuola didn't go to school for two years because she had to stay home to care for a sick relative. She's a senior now, graduating on time with a 3.7 GPA.

Ian Tapu is student body president at Kahuku High School. He attended a Yale University summer program, is an Eagle Scout and aspires to be an ambassador to Japan.

These three and 14 other outstanding high school seniors will be honored this week at the Lumana'i Awards, a scholarship program that celebrates the achievements of Samoan students.

The scholarship award is sponsored by Nu'u, a program of the Hawai'i Conference of the United Church of Christ. The committee that decides the awards is diverse, with members from different religions and ethnic backgrounds.

"We really wanted to highlight the achievements that we thought went against some of the prevailing perceptions among many people in the wider community about who a Samoan person is," said committee member Clayton Kimoto.

Several of the students address this in their application essays, and when they do, they don't mince words:

"I have always been proud to be a Polynesian," Jasmine Faalelea wrote. "However, the society in general doesn't always look at Polynesians in a positive way. I would like to change that."

"Samoans are labeled with stereotypes such as lazy, violent, troublemakers, hoodlums and welfare dependents," Vaialofi Samifua wrote. "I hope to be one of the Samoans who choose to try and change the view others have of us."

Committee member To'o Paogofie says Lumana'i loosely translated means "our hope for tomorrow lies in the achievements of our young people."

The scholarship recipients are:

• Germaine Afuola — Academic Achievement
• Chastity Stuber — Business Award
• Vaialofi Samifua — Community Service
• Antone Aku — Military Science
• Laticia Lemisio — Music Award
• Florida Feo — Aganui Award (upholding Samoan traditions)
• Ian Tapu — Leadership Award
• Ashley-Brittney Gapelu — Leadership Award
• Afiafioto'aga Lutu — Nu'u Ministries Award
• Jasmine Fa'alelea — Nu'u Ministries Award
• Natasha Afalava — Psychology
• Isaac Ickes — Scholar Athlete
• Alvin Marquez — Scholar Athlete
• Jonnae Tai'afi — Taumafai (effort, encouragement)
• Taetuli Tafai — Taumafai
• Eserona Tipoti — Tausa'afia (congeniality, conduct appropriate of an ali'i)
• Tavita Thompson — Visual Arts

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.