Orlando K. and Betty S. Watanabe: Paying It Forward Through Education

Orlando K. and Betty S. Watanabe understood the value of kindness and community. Born and raised in Hawai‘i—Orlando on Moloka‘i, Betty on Maui—the couple knew what it meant to rely on the generosity of others. Their experiences inspired a gift that will support students for generations: the Orlando K. and Betty S. Watanabe “Go For It” Scholarship Fund, an endowed scholarship totaling more than $450,000, funded from savings bonds.

“Someone was always around at the right time to help me,” Orlando Watanabe once said. “I just wanted to pay it forward.”

Orlando’s story begins in Kaunakakai, Moloka‘i, where he grew up as the youngest of four children. The son of a Japanese immigrant father who served in World War I and a mother who came to Hawai‘i as a picture bride, Orlando was small in stature but quick in mind. He skipped a grade in school and eventually earned admission to the University of Hawai‘i Business School, graduating in 1953.

When he arrived on O‘ahu, Orlando faced a new challenge: He had nowhere to stay. Friends, counselors, and community organizations helped him find housing, from the YMCA to dorms, while he navigated college life. After graduation, Orlando enlisted in the Army and served in the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment. He continued serving in the Army Reserves, retiring as a Colonel.

Betty Shizue Watanabe’s path was also shaped by determination and support. Born and raised on Maui, she earned a scholarship to attend Hawai‘i Business College in Honolulu. After graduation in 1951, Betty began working as a stenographer for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, where she dedicated more than three decades. Her careful savings, combined with Orlando’s earnings, allowed the couple to travel the world, from annual trips to Japan to multiple cruises across Europe, Russia, and Las Vegas.

Despite their modest lifestyle, the Watanabes always thought ahead. Their scholarship fund, established with Hawai‘i Community Foundation through the encouragement of Bank of Hawai‘i wealth advisor Bryce Miyamoto, reflects the couple’s belief in the transformative power of education. Hawai‘i Community Foundation offered a way to create an endowed fund that would last in perpetuity, ensuring that students could benefit long into the future.

“The gift of education is priceless,” Orlando Watanabe said. “You can’t take it away. This is how we can help others the way we were helped.”

This scholarship fund helps carry the couple’s message forward. Each award includes a photo of Orlando and Betty, which allows students to connect with the donors’ story and learn the generosity behind their support. However, the goal isn’t fanfare. The Watanabes wanted to inspire others and help children have opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach. “Kindness brings kindness,” says Bryce Miyamoto.

Orlando and Betty Watanabe’s story is one of gratitude and foresight. Their gift ensures that generations of Hawai‘i students will have the chance to pursue their dreams, embodying the spirit of kahiau, or giving generously from the heart without expectation of return, and leaving a legacy that truly “goes for it.”