Ka Pa‘alana preschool teacher receives Women of Wai‘anae Scholarship June 12, 2012

On June 2, 2012, Lehua Rowland (Ka Pa‘alana Preschool Teacher) was awarded a $1000 scholarship by Women of Wai‘anae (WOW), a non-profit organization that provides scholarships, financial aid services, and awards to non-traditional students residing on the Wai‘anae Coast.

WOW was founded in 1989 by a small group of women from the Wai‘anae Coast who wanted to raise money for Wai‘anae residents who have gone back to college or are in a job training program. By holding yard sales, wine tasting events, and other fundraising efforts, WOW is able to provide a number of financial awards for deserving candidates throughout the year. This year, WOW received a grant from the Domestic Violence Action Center. As the recipient of WOW’s grand prize award, Lehua will be attending domestic violence forums in the community to discuss how resources can be more effective.

“I never thought in my wildest dreams that God would use my weaknesses as a strength. My experiences have made me more compassionate about the work I do. I will be pursuing an Associates in Science degree in Early Childhood Education at Honolulu Community College this Fall Semester and will later transfer to University of Hawai‘i West O‘ahu. In 2Corinthians 12:9 Jesus said, “I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people.” I would like to extend a big mahalo to PIDF and the Ka Pa ‘alana staff for all of your love, support, and prayers. I will always remember where I came from and serve our families with all my heart!”

Congratulations Lehua!