Everything costs a little more in Hawaii – it’s the price of living in paradise. But college doesn’t have to cost more. Most students need some kind of financial help in order to go to college, and Hawaii grants and scholarships are a great place to start getting the money you need in order to further your education. The state of Hawaii offers a number of grants for Hawaiian students. A grant is different from financial aid. Grants are gifts – money that does not have to be paid back. A financial aid package that you receive from your school often has a combination of grants, loans, and scholarships. It’s a good idea to apply for both grants and scholarships to make sure you’re paying as little for your education as necessary.
For Hawaii college students who need that extra help, College Consensus has started your scholarship search for you with our list of college scholarships for Hawaii students. Hawaiian scholarships are in alphabetical order.
See Also: Best Scholarships for Online Students
1
Don Ho Legacy Scholarship
The Pauahi Foundation gives scholarships to all students who live in Hawaii, and preference is given to students who are of native Hawaiian descent. Funds are awarded to students who closely meet the criteria of the scholarship. The scholarship requires students to submit an essay of up to 3,000 that explains why they are a good fit for the scholarship criteria.
Students applying for any scholarships given through the must complete the FAFSA to give the Foundation an understanding of their financial need, which is a criterion for some of the scholarships awarded by the Foundation. Students will also need to submit a letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor that speaks to their qualifications for the scholarship.
2
Fukunaga Scholarship Foundation
There are many college scholarships for Hawaii students! Some Hawaiian scholarships are available to only native Hawaiians, while other scholarships in Hawaii are available to all residents. The Fukunaga Scholarship Foundation awards Hawaiian students who are interested in pursuing a career in business after the complete their college degree. While the total amount awarded changes each year, students who received the scholarship in 2018 received a total award amount of $20,000, disbursed in increments over four years. If you are awarded the scholarship but choose to go to a school that has a longer or shorter program, the yearly amount will be adjusted to equal $20,000 disbursed over the time period it takes you to earn your degree.
Founded in 1950, the Fukunaga Scholarship Foundation awards students who demonstrate academic achievement, leadership ability, a desire to begin a business career, and a financial need for help getting through college. The program comes from the Servco company, which prioritizes giving back to the people of Hawaii. To earn the award for 2020, you’ll need to apply before the February 19th, 2020 deadline. The application for the 2020 year opens in November of 2019. The scholarship is competitive, so it’s important to apply early and fully complete your application.
3
Hawaii Education Association (HEA) Student Teacher Scholarship
Many students who want to become teachers struggle to support themselves while completing their training as student teachers. This often results in students needing to work a second job after spending their day in the classroom with students. This leaves teachers in training exhausted and often unable to completely focus on their students.
The Hawaii Education Association Student Teacher Scholarship aims to change that. There are four factors for consideration for the scholarship: recommendation from a faculty member, personal statement, financial need, and ability.
4
Ho'oilina Scholarship
The Hawai’i Lodging & Tourism Association offers the Ho’oilina Scholarship, designed to provide financial assistance to Hawaiian students who are interested in entering the booming Hawaiian tourism and travel industry. The Ho’oilina scholarship is given to graduates of Hawaiian high schools who plan to major in culinary arts, hospitality, or tourism. There are awards for both university students and community college students. The goal of the scholarship is to help Hawaiian students excel in their travel and tourism education so that they can contribute to the economic success of Hawaii’s travel industry.
Scholarships for university students are awarded to students who are attending the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa’s School of Travel Industry Management or the hospitality programs at Brigham Young University Hawai‘i or Hawai‘i Pacific University. Scholarships for community college students are awarded to two students who are attending community College campuses on O‘ahu, two for Maui County, two for Kaua‘i County, two for Hawai‘i Island, and two for students from any campus.
5
Korean University Club Scholarship
The Hawai’i Community Foundation offers several different scholarships to qualified Hawaiian students who are interested in pursuing higher education. Some of the most popular scholarships offered by the Foundation include:
Dr. William Masaru Shigekawa Scholarship Fund- This fund gives Hawaiian students who demonstrate a financial need money to further their education. Students must be working toward becoming a doctor or a veterinarian, and they must be graduates of King Kekaulike High School.
100th Infantry Battalion Veterans Memorial Scholarship Fund- This scholarship was created for students who are the direct descendants of WWII veterans. Students must be full-time, attending two or four-year institutions in the United States. While the scholarship is offered by the Hawai’i Community Fund, this scholarship is available to non-Hawaii residents as well as Hawaii residents. Students do not need to demonstrate financial need to be considered.
AAUW Honolulu Branch Education Funds- This female-only charitable organization is proud to help women and girls further their education. Students must demonstrate financial need and be residents of Hawaii. STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) students are given preference over students studying other fields.
Do I Need Good Grades in High School to Get a Scholarship?
Not necessarily. While good grades can been helpful in earning Hawaii student scholarships, grades aren’t the only thing that matters when it comes to getting free money for college. There are scholarships for many different categories, and it’s possible that merits other than your grades could qualify you for a scholarship. Do you go to a religious place or worship, or belong to any organizations? If so, you may qualify for certain Hawaii student scholarships for high school students. College scholarships for Hawaiians are not hard to come by- it’s simply important that you apply, even if you aren’ sure whether you’re fully qualified for the scholarship.
Many Hawaii student scholarships are based on extracurricular activities. If you play a sport, it’s likely that there’s a scholarship out there for you, even if you don’t plan to play the sport in college. Some Hawaii scholarships for high school students are given to students who participate in specific extracurriculars, such as dance, drama, student government, or history club. When you’re researching college scholarships for Hawaiians, it’s a smart move to apply for all of the scholarships you come across, even if you don’t meet all of the qualifications. Often, the scholarship goes to the applicant who comes closest to meeting all of the requirements, even if no applicant meets them all perfectly.
Some colleges offer scholarships to students after they’ve been accepted to school. If you’ve been accepted to school but aren’t sure if you’re going to be able to afford tuition, talk to your school’s financial aid office to see if they offer any school-specific scholarships. Often, alumni and private organizations connected with the school offer scholarships to students dealing with financial hardship.
Does the State of Hawaii Offer Grants for College Students?
If you’re interested in earning one of the many Hawaii grants and scholarships offered to Hawaii residents by the state government, you’ll need to start by filling out your free application for federal student aid, or FAFSA, form. You’ll need income information for both you and your parents in order to fill out the FAFSA. Filling out this form will give the government an idea of how much financial assistance you may need to attend college, and may qualify you for certain scholarships or grants that are based on financial need.
The University of Hawaii offers a number of Hawaiian grants for college students, especially those who demonstrate exceptional financial need. One of the most popular grants for Hawaiian students is the student incentive grant. These grants for Hawaiian students are given by the federal government, and then matched by the state government. This means that the qualifying student gets double the funds.
It’s important to note that there is a difference between Hawaiian grants for college students and Hawaiian scholarships for college students. Grants are provided on a basis of need, while scholarships are provided on a basis of merit. This means that after you’re accepted to school, you simply need to apply for grants, and if you qualify, you’ll get the money. Scholarships are different, and may require an essay or proof of why you deserve a shot at the scholarship.
Are there Scholarships for Native Hawaiians?
Are you a native Hawaiian? Great news! There are many native Hawaiian grants for college. ALU LIKE is a popular resource for students who are looking for scholarships for being Hawaiian. The organization is dedicated to helping Hawaiian students achieve their dreams, and providing college grants for Hawaiians is one of the many ways they work to achieve their mission. The Islander Institute also offers scholarships for being Hawaiian to qualified students who show care for their families, communities, and the island. If you have a specific interest in helping the people of the island improve their health, you may be able to earn native Hawaiian grants for college. The Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship offers college grants to Hawaiians who show dedication to improving the health of Hawaiian people. This program requires students to serve in a medical professional capacity in an underserved or unserved area of the island for an amount of time that correlates with how long they’re supported by the scholarship.
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