Kua'ana Merit Scholarship recipients assist in maintaining Kaniakapupu, the former home of Kamehameha III in Nu'uanu. Kua'ana students perform 40 hours of community service each semester to 'give back' to the Hawaiian community. – Photo: Courtesy of Kua'ana Student Services

Tighter financial times drive
more to apply for scholarships

Native Hawaiian scholarships popular at HCF

By Lisa Asato / Ka Wai Ola Loa

The economic recession and related job losses have resulted in increased numbers of Native Hawaiian students applying for college scholarships, and while state budget cuts haven't yet had an impact on the amount of scholarship funds available, that may happen within a year or two, a University of Hawai'i student services director said.

"I'm sure we are going to see those changes eventually," said Ku'umealoha Gomes, director of Kua'ana Student Services at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. "We haven't felt them yet, but I can tell you, we at the university are experiencing budget cuts so it's going to filter down to the students in terms of scholarships."

The program started seeing an increased need last semester. "The economic situation is really having an impact so we're seeing more nontraditional students returning to school because they've lost jobs," Gomes said. "But rather than looking for work in menial kinds of jobs, what they're choosing to do is come back to school and work toward professional degrees. As a result, we're seeing more (Native Hawaiian) students applying for scholarships. That's increased significantly."

At Hawai'i Community Foundation, which last year awarded $5 million in scholarships, scholarship officer Rona Kekauoha anticipates receiving some 8,000 applications – or about a 30 percent increase over last year's 6,000 applications.

So far this year, she said, the top two scholarships for which students are applying are the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Scholarship Fund and the Ida Pope Memorial Scholarship – both are for people of Hawaiian ancestry. "A lot of the Native Hawaiian students know about us, and they're applying," Kekauoha said. "The real important thing is they need to be complete (in their application). If they're missing anything, they're not going to move forward in the process, so they really need to submit all their documents."

With the foundation's impending March 2 postmark deadline for applications, it's buckle-down time. "If someone really wants to, they can still get it done," she said.

"I really encourage everybody to apply for everything they're eligible for," she said. "Everyone's having a tough time. People used to think that $500 was such a small award, but I think anything would really help pay for books, for gas, for basic living expenses."

This year, due to demand, OHA will launch a $70,000 vocational scholarship program to be administered by the Native Hawaiian Education Association. Kalani Akana of OHA's Education Hale said the scholarships are open to all Hawaiians, but priority would be given to nontraditional students, including single moms. The scholarship will also set aside $20,000 in scholarships for pa'ahao, or prisoners, and former prisoners.

Akana said two other popular vocational scholarships are offered, through Hawai'i Community Foundation, and the Hana Lima Scholarship Program, which is funded by Kamehameha Schools and administered by Alu Like Inc. "There is a great need, especially with this economy," he said. OHA's vocational scholarships will be awarded "until they run out," he said, adding that the application season may begin as early as March.

Ke Ali'i Pauahi Foundation, a nonprofit support organization of Kamehameha Schools that administers scholarships endowed by private donors, opened its application season Feb. 15 and expects to surpass last year's award numbers by the time its April 1 deadline rolls around.

Last year, the foundation awarded 300 students a total of $370,000 in awards. "We anticipate an increase in applicants, both part-time and full-time students," said scholarship development coordinator Bran-Dee Torres. "Given our nine new scholarships, we are projecting to distribute at least 25 more awards totaling $20,000 more than last year."

The foundation, which offers post-high school scholarships in degree-seeking programs and trade and vocational courses – has seen a "substantial increase" in qualified applicants beginning in the 2007-2008 scholarship season, including an increase in the number of applicants living in Maui, Moloka'i and Hawai'i, Torres said. "These are statistics we are able to share with existing and potential donors to build more targeted scholarships for these regions and more scholarships in general," she said. "We have also observed applicants majoring in a variety of fields, including Hawaiian language and studies, visual arts and law." The foundation gives preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry. Its scholarships are open to the general public, including students who are not graduates of Kamehameha Schools.

Nā Pua No'eau, a gifted and talented program for Native Hawaiians funded in part by OHA, has compiled the Nā Pua No'eau Scholarship Project, a comprehensive list of 1,000 scholarships, which it distributes at college awareness or financial aid events.

Nā Pua No'eau, which has outreach centers on six islands, holds free college-preparation workshops statewide for families and students as young as elementary age. "The overall goal is to get students and their families on a track for higher education" no matter how young, said Nā Pua No'eau assistant director Kinohi Gomes.

And although no workshops are scheduled as of this writing, "If families need individualized attention or kōkua, they can call us at anytime," Gomes said, adding with a laugh, "I'm famous for meeting families in person if I have to, just to help them out."