Waimea High graduate Swede Sandblom wins Kapaia Foundation scholarship

Waimea High School graduate Swede Sandblom was honored in Kapaia on Saturday with the 2026 Kapaia Foundation scholarship, a recognition that tied his next chapter to the island’s plantation-era history. Kimo St. John presented the award during a lunchtime gathering, with Sandblom surrounded by family, including his grandmother, Nancy Matsuda.

The scholarship carries meaning well beyond the financial award. The Kapaia Foundation says it created the scholarship to recognize the dreams of sugar plantation-era immigrants and the success of their descendants, a mission rooted in preserving and promoting the history of Kapaia Valley and the sugar plantation years of the 1930s through the 1960s. The historic Kapaia Swinging Bridge remains central to that preservation vision.

The timing added another layer of symbolism. The recognition came during Flag Day weekend, and the American flag will be displayed with gratitude through July 4, connecting the scholarship to a broader season of remembrance and community pride in Kapaia and across Kauai.

Sandblom’s family story was part of the presentation. The foundation’s June scholarship page says he credits his parents, Erik and Marissa Sandblom, along with his grandparents Bobby and Nancy Matsuda, for helping him reach goals beyond expectations. The foundation’s choice also continued a pattern of supporting Waimea High seniors, following earlier awards to Safina Sandblom in 2023 and Chenelle Mae Andres in 2024.

The Kapaia Foundation announced in March that applications for the 2026 scholarship were available through senior class counselors at Kauai high schools, by email or by text, with an April 15 deadline. In 2025, the foundation described the award as a $1,000 academic scholarship for a graduating senior who shows qualities passed down from plantation-era workers, including hard work, perseverance and a positive attitude.

Sandblom’s recognition also adds to a growing list of scholarships supporting his path after high school. He was among three Kauai students who received 2026 Gen. Eric K. and Patricia Shinseki Scholarships worth $2,000 each, signaling that local and regional organizations are investing in his transition from Waimea High into whatever comes next. Around the county, that support matters as graduating seniors continue to lean on community-backed aid to bridge the cost of college and training.