The three admit that they wouldn't be where they are today had they not received scholarships funds that were raised during the Taste at Kapolei, which is organized by the Rotary Club of Kapolei.

"I cried and ran to my grandparents when I heard I that I got a $2,500 scholarship from the Rotary Club," says Higa, 18, who graduated from Nanakuli High School this past June and is now attending Leeward Community College (LCC). "I felt a huge burden lifted when I heard the news. Even with the money I saved from working, I would not have been able to go to college."

Since the Taste at Kapolei began five years ago, the event has distributed more than $350,000 in educational scholarship programs, affording low-income Leeward students the opportunity to pursue their studies.

"We really wanted to do more for education, while also rallying the community around a single event," says Keola Lloyd, co-founder of this annual fund-raiser. "We used to have the 'Fun Run' in the spring that would raise $15,000, but we wanted to do more and raise more for schools."

Last year alone, the Taste at Kapolei helped raise money for 67 scholarships, as well as contribute to the coffers of Leeward Community College's culinary program, the Kapolei football team and surrounding elementary schools.

Scheduled for this Saturday, this culinary grazing fund-raiser will once again be held at Ko Olina Resort & Marina's 4th Lagoon, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $60 per person or $75 at the door.

According to Rotary Club of Kapolei's president Cathy Barnes, this year's event is expected to draw more than 2,500 attendees and exceed the amount of money collected from last year's event.

"I wish we would make a million," says Barnes, who has been involved with the event for the past four years. "There are so many outstanding and hard-working students out there and they all deserve scholarships so they can go to college."

One of them is Kauhane, who comes from a low-income family, which has forced him to seek grants and scholarships to pay for his way through college.

"The $2,000 scholarship I received from the Rotary Club of Kapolei has been extremely helpful," says Kauhane, 18, an LCC freshman who is taking all the necessary pre-requisite courses for civil engineering. "I've already spent about $900 to $1,000 on tuition and books this semester, so I still have money left in the bank for next semester."

Because she received a total of $3,500 in scholarship funds from the Kapolei Rotary, Lopez said she was able to focus more on her studies — and not her finances — during her freshman year.

Now a sophomore, the 18 year old looks back at her first year and says she would have struggled had she not won that scholarship.

"My freshman year, I didn't know what I was doing," says the industrious Lopez, who, despite the scholarship, still juggles her time between classes and working every day at the Cookie Corner office. "But at least I knew that I had enough money for tuition and my books."

This year's Taste will feature 22 restaurants as well as an entertainment line-up that will be headlined by Gabe Baltazar and Friends with vocalist Anita Hall, The Krush and traditional Hawaiian artist Natalie Ai Kamauu accompanied by her group of hula dancers. The event will end with a dazzling fireworks display over the lagoon.

"I've never been to the event, but I'm hoping to be able to volunteer," says Kauhane, who was pleased to find out that he can apply for another Rotary scholarship in November. "I want to support the event that's helping support me."

And so, too, do Higa and Lopez, who will both attend the event and who both expressed gratitude toward the Rotarians, chefs and everyone else who contribute to the Taste at Kapolei's efforts in support of Leeward education.