Honor LaFrance, Help Kaua‘i Youth

La France Foundation Scholarship

The LaFrance Foundation was founded in memory of LaFrance Kapaka-Arboleda of Anahola, Kaua‘i. Born on Nov. 13, 1946, she was a respected cultural resource and very active in the Hawaiian community. Kapaka-Arboleda was dedicated to many public causes, including building homes for underprivileged local residents and helping mothers with special needs children. She was a champion of the underprivileged and a defender of those who could not defend themselves.

Kapaka-Arboleda served on numerous nonprofit and governmental boards and commissions whose concerns included developing affordable housing, economic development, restoration of cultural sites and land preservation. She was a courageous visionary who championed causes that she believed would benefit all the people of Hawai‘i.

“LaFrance touched many lives. She would take strangers into her home until they got back on their feet. She would do anything for you.”

—Anela Kapaka-Rhoades

“I shall not forget La France. She had a feisty spirit and an enduring commitment to her native people and to her beautiful Kaua‘i. The last time we were together was in Anahola when she so proudly showed me her community computer lab that we worked on together. LaFrance wanted to be sure that Anahola’s children had a safe place after school for tutoring and wholesome activities. I will always think of this center as ‘LaFrance’s Place.’”

—Daniel K. Inouye, former United States Senator

Help students overcome challenges

In Kapaka-Arboleda’s honor, her daughter Anela Kapaka-Rhoades established a foundation and scholarship fund to support Kaua‘i Community College students facing challenges.

LaFrance Foundation scholarships support students who:

• are involved in community service projects on Kaua‘i
• demonstrate a minimum GPA of 2.5
• are enrolled in a minimum of six credit hours per semester as a student at Kaua‘i CC