U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono has announced the nomination of 39 students from Hawaii to the United States military service academies for the Class of 2029. These nominations are part of an annual process where students are considered for admission based on various criteria.
“Each year, Hawaii students from all walks of life apply to our military service academies with aspirations of serving our country,” stated Senator Hirono. “These young people work hard to earn nominations and I am proud to announce this year’s impressive group of nominees. I know they will represent our state with pride and distinction.”
The nominations cover several prestigious institutions, including the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy operates a separate application process.
Members of Congress submit their recommendations to these four service academies, which then evaluate candidates based on academic performance, leadership skills, participation in school activities, community service contributions, and other experiences such as volunteer work or employment.
Nomination does not guarantee acceptance into an academy; each institution's director of admissions makes final selections from among those nominated.
Senator Hirono's nominees for each academy are as follows:
For the U.S. Naval Academy: Jacob Barner (Radford High School), Isabella Cordes (Kalaheo High School), Maddox DelleFave (Kihei Charter School), Andrew Howell (Le Jardin Academy), Akahai Hudgens (Kamehameha Schools – Kapalama), Gabriel Kelley (Island School), William Knight (Kalaheo High School), Joshua Kraft (Kapolei High School), Mia Monday (Kalaheo High School), Braden Oxendine (Radford High School), William Pierce (The Salisbury School – Connecticut), Caleb Schmaeling (Hawaii Tech Academy), Kevin Simmons (Saint Louis School), Cole Whiteman (Punahou School) and Jia Qui Zhan (Roosevelt High School).
For the U.S. Air Force Academy: Jacob Barner, Maddox DelleFave, Reese Distelzweig (Radford High School), John Ganske (Moanalua High School), Natalie Garana (Kealakehe High School), Andrew Howell, Ka‘ai Kalau‘ihi (Molokai High School), Sammi Kinoshita (Baldwin High School), Joshua Kraft, Bryson Leong (Iolani School), Samuel Lorge (Kaiser High School) Jariahlyn Rhoades(Punahou school) Jaden Scott(Kalaheo high school) Samantha Teschler(Maui Prep academy) Tayson Tiitii(Punahou school).
For the U.S. Military Academy at West Point: Johnathan Aspera(Mid Pacific Institute) Fallon Barretto(Kamehameha Schools - Kapalama) Bruno Bruyere(Maryknoll school) Zachary Carlile(Zama American high school - Japan ) Alexander Cramer(Mililani high school ) Constantine Cramer(Mililani high school ) Isabelle Inocencio(Damien school ), William Knight(Kalaheo highschool ), Jose Layugan(Leilehua highschool ), Rafael Ortiz(Mililani highschool ), Braden Oxendine(Radford highschool ), Temana Shimasaki(Kamehameha schools - kapalama ) Cole Whiteman(punahou school ) Tyler Wilson(mid pacific institute ) Jia Qui Zhan(roosevelt highschoool ).
For the U.S Merchant Marine academy: Daniel Arima(Iolani school ) Stanley Kimmel(Waimea highschoool ).