Molokai High School will send one of its 65 graduating seniors to Harvard University next fall.
The state Department of Education said Michael Kikukawa is believed to be the first Molokai High student in the school’s 84-year history to be admitted to the prestigious Ivy League campus.
Kikukawa, who was born and raised on Molokai, plans to study pre-law.
"I really wanted to get a new experience," said the 17-year-old, who started thinking about the possibility of attending Harvard in 10th grade.
He said he hopes he will inspire his peers to aim high.
"I wanted to kind of set a precedent and show the other students that it was possible," he said.
Kikukawa’s family is no stranger to the Ivy League.
His mother, Susan Forbes-Kikukawa, attended Dartmouth College. His paternal grandmother attended Yale University, and his paternal grandfather went to Cornell University.
Kikukawa said he was notified Dec. 13 that he had been accepted to Harvard as part of the early-decision program.
Not surprisingly, his parents were elated.
"My mom actually cried tears of joy," he said.
Now Kikukawa is beginning the work of finding scholarships to help pay for college.
His parents, who are both teachers, have also agreed to help as much as they can.
Kikukawa said he applied to Harvard with little expectation of being accepted.
"I’d always looked at Harvard as this place of excellence," he said. "I didn’t think I had a chance, really."
Molokai High Principal Stanford Hao said the school has sent students to Yale and Brown University. But Harvard always seemed out of reach.
Of Kikukawa, Hao said, "I’m excited for him. I think it’s well deserved."
Kikukawa started asking what it would take to get into Harvard when he was a sophomore, said Earl Nakamura, a retired Molokai High teacher and vice principal who volunteers at the school.
Nakamura, who mentors students and helps them navigate through college admissions, jumped online to get Harvard’s requirements and reached out to the university.
It was immediately clear Kikukawa would have to show he wasn’t just a stellar student, but a well-rounded person.
Nakamura said Kikukawa has clearly demonstrated that. The senior volunteered with Mufi Hannemann’s congressional campaign during the summer, and in the Governor’s Office. He also attended summer courses at ‘Iolani School.
During the school year, Kikukawa loaded up on Advanced Placement courses and earned college credits through the Running Start program at the University of Hawaii.
Nakamura said since Kikukawa’s acceptance was announced, other Molokai students have already come up to him to say they want to set a course for Harvard, too.
"It’s like a door open for other kids coming up," Nakamura said.
