Paubox Kahikina Scholarship: 2024 Update

Aloha! My name is Erika Kwee, and I am a 2023 recipient of the Paubox Kahikina Scholarship.

I am currently a rising sophomore at MIT, where I am studying mechanical engineering.

I started off my freshman year with a pre-orientation program focused on ocean engineering. I had fun meeting many people who share my passion for ocean-related activities. We enjoyed trips to the beach, went sailing, toured the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), and discovered great food spots around Cambridge.

This experience led me to join Arcturus, MIT’s autonomous boat team. We are currently building a boat for the annual RoboBoat competition, and I learned a lot about the design and fabrication process.

Music is still a big part of my life. I play violin in the MIT Symphony Orchestra and in several chamber music groups. I also joined sMITe, MIT’s women’s ultimate frisbee team. Frisbee has been a great way to relax and meet amazing people, and I enjoyed traveling to other college campuses in the Northeast for tournaments.

This summer, I am doing research at UH on wave energy applications. I am excited to deepen my knowledge in the field of ocean engineering and explore its potential applications in Hawaiʻi. This aligns with my goals to apply my interests in science and engineering to help sustain, protect, and understand the ocean.

I am incredibly grateful to the Paubox Kahikina Scholarship for supporting my education and providing opportunities that will be invaluable throughout my academic journey and career.

Mahalo!