Jennifer Taniguchi, a recent graduate of Waiäkea High School, received a $1,000 scholarship from the East Hawaii Hiroshima Kenjin Kai for her aca demic, co-curricular and extracurricular achievements.
Taniguchi is the daughter of Arthur and Barbara Taniguchi. She plans to attend Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., in the fall, majoring in accounting and finance.
Taniguchi served as Key Club state lieutenant governor, Key Club California-Nevada-Hawaii District communication and marketing committee secretary, Junior Achievement of Hawaii Island president, DECA state treasurer, East Hawaii 4-H Federation vice president, Akamai Finance treasurer and WHS National Honor Society treasurer. She was also involved in WHS student government, Junior Young Buddhists Association and the Island Dance Academy.
Ford Fuchigami has been appointed interim director of the state Department of Transportation by Gov. Neil Abercrombie. His nomination is subject to Senate confirmation.
Fuchigami had been a DOT deputy director since 2010, overseeing the state’s 15 commercial and general aviation airports. He replaces Glenn Okimoto, who accepted a position at the University of Hawai‘i.
Prior to joining DOT, Fuchigami worked in the hospitality industry for more than three decades. He has extensive experience in business development, employee relations and operations management.
He graduated from Damien Memorial High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Hawai‘i at Mänoa.
