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September 1, 2016
  • Honor Mason’s Memory, Help Students in Need
Mason Kekoa
Mason Kekoa at 7 months old.
Photo taken one week before he died of
complications from surgery.

“When Mason was born, our ambitions in life shifted to focus on him and being able to provide him with every opportunity to help realize his future dreams.

With Mason’s passing our goals have remained the same but instead, we are now working toward creating an opportunity for someone else.

With the Mason Kekoa Scholarship, our goal is to provide funds for a student who, without financial aid, could not afford the various expenses of a college education. Our wish is to be able to continually award scholarships and provide opportunities for Hawai‘i students for years to come.”

— Almarie Nava, Mason’s mother

Remembering Mason Kekoa

On June 5, 2015, Brad Macloves and Almarie Nava welcomed their first child, Mason Kekoa Nava Macloves. Despite being born early at 33 weeks, Mason was an otherwise very healthy and happy baby. His was a smile anyone would love, and his laughter contagious. He was the light of his parents’ life!

On Jan. 25, 2016, Mason underwent surgery to fix a non-life-threatening and common condition. The chance of complications was less than 3 percent. Tragically, Mason contracted an infection that spread to his blood. Just a few days later he went into septic shock and died from organ failure on Feb. 3, 2016. Mason was just two days shy of turning 8 months old.

Finding meaning in tragedy

Even at such a young age, Mason had a personality bigger than life ... always smiling, laughing and stealing the hearts of those he met. His family and friends have decided to honor Mason and keep his beautiful spirit alive by creating opportunities for Hawai‘i youth and the community.

Brad Macloves’ employer, Admor HVAC Products, Inc., has established the Mason Kekoa Scholarship Fund, which will support students attending any college in the University of Hawai‘i System upon graduation from Mililani or Lahainaluna High Schools. The recipient must be enrolled as a full-time student, maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA and require some degree of financial need.

Questions? / More Information

If you would like to learn how you can support UH students and programs like this, please contact us at 808 376-7800 or send us a message.