Paubox Kahikina Scholarship 2025 Recipient: Maming Bacxa

The Paubox Kahikina Scholarship helps Native Hawaiian students pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and Tech in general. Its purpose is to offer financial support and create a strong network for these students. The scholarship makes education more affordable and connects students with professionals, giving them valuable opportunities to learn and grow in their chosen STEM or Tech fields. This scholarship is about more than just money; it's about building a community and empowering Native Hawaiian students to succeed in STEM or Tech careers.

See also: The big ideas behind the Paubox Kahikina Scholarship

As a recent graduate and scholarship recipient, Maming will move on to attend Tulane University to study Public Health. Here is a word from Maming: 

“Aloha! My name is Maming Bacxa, and I am grateful to have been selected as a Paubox Kahikina Scholarship 2025 Recipient. This Fall, I am attending Tulane University in Uptown New Orleans, Louisiana. There, I will be studying Public Health on the Pre-Med track with a double Minor in History and Biology!

I grew up in Kailua-Kona, the West Side of the Big Island, where I spent the majority of my time reading, dancing hula (among other Polynesian dances), and enjoying our nice Kona sunsets. Growing up within a Hawaiian-Filipino household taught me two main things. One, take off your shoes by the door. Two, you have 3 job career fields to choose from: Law, Medicine, or Engineering. To me, the only option had been medicine.

Throughout high school, I had been heavily involved in the school community. During all my years there, I was involved with INTEREACT, NHS, Model UN and our school’s Polynesian Club. During my Senior Year, I was our school’s Student Body President. Outside of school, I had been an active participant at my church — from choir, to altar serving, and Eucharistic Ministering. One of the biggest things I had been involved in was called ‘Ale Lau Loa, a global youth ambassador program. It was through that program that I was allowed to go to Okinawa, Japan, to teach people there about our beautiful Hawaiian culture and the importance of preserving its authenticity.

It was through my school’s STEM and Sustainable Communities Academies that I was able to deepen my knowledge and expand my curiosity into the Medical field. I noticed while in classes that I was more active and adamant to learn when I was in Biology or Clinical Labs. From the Vena Cava to our Heart’s chambers, anything to do with the Cardiovascular System had been the subject that I found I was interested in the most. I enjoyed how easily connected everything was — things made sense when it came to the heart. There was always a direction in which the blood flows. I knew immediately that I would want to pursue something that had to do with the Cardiovascular System.

My grandpa made the journey from the Philippines to the Big Island in the mid-70s. He worked multiple jobs, determined to save enough to buy a home so the rest of the family could join him in Hawai‘i. That dream came true in 1988, when my grandmother and my father — then just 12 years old — finally made the move.

He was a good man. A strong man. But his health began to fail. Heart and respiratory issues weighed on him, and the medical care he needed was always just out of reach. Appointments were delayed. Doctors were hard to contact. Help was slow to come.

One day, during one of our final conversations, he looked at me and said,

“You need to become a doctor — to help sick people like me.”

Those words have stayed with me ever since. They lit a fire in me. And because of him, I am where I am today.

Through the generosity of the individuals involved with the Paubox Kahikina Scholarship, I am able to fulfill my life goal and my Grandpa’s wishes to better serve the community that has given me so much. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to represent Hawai’i in New Orleans, and I am so excited to continue my education here at Tulane University.”

Read more: Paubox Kahikina Scholarship Recipient Reflection | Maming Bacxa