Since 1993, the Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation has provided over $1.1 Million in scholarships to high school students in Hawaii. Each year, the Foundation offers over 50 individual scholarships of $1,000 each to deserving seniors from every qualifying high school, chosen by a selection committee of the respective schools. From this group, state finalists from the seven public school districts, the Hawaii Catholic Schools Department, and the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools are selected by the Takitani Foundation. All finalists receive an additional $2,000. From among the finalists, two seniors are selected by the Foundation to receive the Distinguished Awards ($10,000) and one is selected to receive the Outstanding Award ($5,000). Awards are based on financial need, community service, and scholastic achievement.

Born in Japan in 1912, Mamoru Takitani came to Hawaii where he attended St.Anthony High School on Maui. In 1936 he married Aiko in Wailuku. Until his death in 1988, the Takitanis' lived a life full of adventure and hard work.

Although they owned restaurants and papaya farms, the Takitanis' proudest accomplishment is Hawaiian Host Inc. Hawaiian Host makes the original chocolate covered Macadamia nut candy. It is Hawaii's, and the world's, favorite.

Today, Hawaiian Host is the largest exporter of chocolate covered Macadamia nuts in the world, and the fourth largest U.S. exporter of chocolate candies. The Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation is the result of the Takitanis' desire to give back to their community. The profits of Hawaiian Host form the backbone of the foundation: as Hawaiian Host is "Hawaii's Gift to the World", the Foundation is the Takitanis' gift to Hawaii.