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Hawaii Scholarships

Hawaii seems like the perfect place to get a college degree. What’s more inspiring than gorgeous beaches and stunning landscapes? Not to mention, there are more than 15 colleges and universities to choose from.

But, the cost of living in Hawaii is one of the highest in the United States. For students who call Hawaii home, it may seem impossible to afford a college degree. 

Luckily, as a resident of Hawaii, you are eligible for some financial help. Check out our list of Hawaii scholarships and start applying today!

Hawaii Community Scholarship Fund

The Hawaii Community Scholarship Fund awards students with $1,508. Applicants must be residents of Hawaii who are first-generation college students. Preference goes to college sophomores. Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and maintain a minimum 3.3 GPA after receiving the scholarship.

Cora Aguda Manayan Scholarship Fund

The Cora Aguda Manayan Scholarship Fund awards $1,000 to students. They must be residents of Hawaii with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Preference goes to students studying in-state. Applicants must be of Filipino ancestry majoring in a health-related field.

Alma White- Delta Kappa Gamma Scholarship

The Hawaii Community Foundation funds the Delta Kappa Gamma Scholarship. The scholarship awards junior, senior, and graduate students with at least $1,000. Applicants must be of Hawaiian ancestry. They also must be studying full-time to be a teacher at accredited U.S colleges or universities. Applicants must have a minimum 2.7 GPA and show a financial need.

Oha Native Hawaiin Scholarships

The Office of Hawaiin Affairs awards $500,000 in scholarship money every year. Students must be attending the University of Hawaii school. They also must be of Hawaiin ancestry and have graduated from a Hawaiin high school. They must be pursuing a STEM degree and have a minimum 2.8 GPA. To apply, they need to submit an admissions letter and FAFSA form. 

Chancellor Scholarship

The prestigious Chancellor Scholarship awards graduates of Hawaiin high schools. Applicants must be accepted to The University of Hawaii at Hilo. The four-year scholarship awards residents of Hawaii who have a minimum 3.5 GPA. Applicants must show leadership and commitment to community service.

The Gromet Foundation Scholarship

The Gromet Foundation Scholarship awards students $20,000. Applicants must be residents of Hawaii planning to attend school in Hawaii. They must show a financial need. To apply, they need to submit a high school transcript, SAT/ACT score, tax return, and a personal statement.

E.E. Black Scholarship Fund

The E.E. Black Scholarship fund awards $1,642 to students with a financial need. Dependents of employees of Hawaii Independent Energy may apply. They must have a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Margaret Jones Memorial Nursing Scholarship Fund

The Nursing Scholarship Fund awards $888 to residents of Hawaii enrolled full-time in a B.S.N. or M.S.N. nursing program. Students must be studying at UH-Manoa, UH-Hilo, or Hawaii Pacific University. They must have a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Honolulu Community College Hawaiian Tuition Waiver

The Honolulu Community Tuition Waiver awards students with Hawaiin ancestry. Applicants must be accepted into a degree-seeking program at HCC. They must show financial need.

Marion Maccarrell Scott Scholarship

The Marion Maccarrell Scott Scholarship awards $1,384 to students. They must have graduated from a public high school in Hawaii and be pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree. ​They must show financial need and have a minimum 2.8 GPA.

Dr. Hans & Clara Zimmerman Foundation Education Scholarship

Hawaii Scholarships
Dr. Hans and Clara Zimmerman Scholarship awards $2,825 to full-time students. They must be pursuing a degree in education. Preference goes to students of native heritage or students who plan to teach in Hawaii. They must have a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Gerrit R. Ludwig Scholarship Fund

The Gerrit R. Ludwig Fund awards $14,750 to residents of Hawaii who are graduates of an East Hawaii public school. Students must be pursuing full-time degrees in Fine Arts and Classics. They must have a minimum 2.5 GPA.

Esther Kanagawa Memorial Art Scholarship

The Esther Memorial Art Scholarship awards $1,000 to residents of Hawaii. They must be majoring in Fine Arts. Preference goes to students who have competed in art competitions.

Hawai’i Pacific University James Vaughan Award for Poetry.

The James Vaughan Award for Poetry awards $250 to student writers. Applicants must be seniors in high school. To apply, they must submit three poems and a five-line biography. ​

Hawaii Education Association Student Teacher Scholarship

The Hawaii Education Association awards $3,000 to student teachers. They must be in undergraduate or postgraduate programs. Applicants must be members of HEA or the children or grandchildren of members. They must show financial need.

Maui County Farm Bureau Scholarship

The Maui County Farm Bureau Scholarship awards $2,500 to students studying agriculture. They must be in their junior or senior year and have a minimum 2.0 GPA. Applicants must submit three personal statements and official transcripts. They also must submit SAR reports and two recommendation letters. Winners must spend two weeks working at the Maui County Farm Bureau.

Henry and Joyce W. Sumid Scholarship

The Henry and Joyce W. Sumid Scholarship awards $5,000 to students pursuing theater. Students must be studying acting, set design, film direction, sound technicianship, or playwriting. Applicants must submit their portfolio of theatrical experiences and three letters of recommendation. Students must reside in the Western U.S. They must have a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Bank of Hawaii Foundation Scholarships

The Hawaii Community Foundation awards $3,500 to 26 students every year. Children and grandchildren of active bank employees may apply. Applicants must submit a transcript, SAT/ACT score, and personal statement. They must enroll at an accredited two or four-year U.S institution. They must have a minimum 2.0 GPA and take 12 credits per semester.

Jeanne Allan Anderson Family Scholarship

The Jeanna Allan Anderson Family Scholarship awards $1,000 renewable scholarships. Applicants must be incoming freshmen who have a financial need. They must be entering a program at Hawaii Pacific University.  They must be residents of Hawaii and graduates of high schools on West Shore Oahu.

Hawaii Promise Scholarship

The Hawaii Promise Scholarship awards Hawaii community college students. Students must be enrolled part- or full-time in an eligible academic program. Students need to file the FAFSA. They are considered for the scholarship when they enroll at one of the UH community colleges.

Association of American University Women (AAUW) Honolulu Academic Scholarship

The Association of American University Women awards female students. They must be sophomores, juniors, or seniors in an accredited school in Hawaii. Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and show financial need.

Lloyd M. Fujie Scholarship

The Lloyd M. Fujie Scholarship awards $2,500 to accounting majors. Applicants must be full-time undergraduate freshmen. They must have graduated from a public high school in Hawaii.

Regents and Presidential Scholarships Program

The Regents and Presidential Scholarships Program awards outstanding students. Regents Scholars receive full tuition for four years of undergraduate study. Presidential Scholars receive full tuition for two years of undergraduate study. All scholars also receive a $4,000 stipend every year and a one-time travel grant of $2,000.

20 outstanding freshmen win the Regents Scholarships. They must receive an SAT score of at least 1340 or an ACT score of at least 29. They also must have a minimum 3.5 GPA and show high school involvement.

10 college juniors receive the presidential scholarship. They must have a minimum 3.7 GPA.

Hawaii Scholarships

Alaka’ina Foundation Endowed Scholarship

The Alaka’ina Foundation awards renewable $2,500 scholarships to students of Native Hawaiian ancestry. Applicants must be enrolled as full-time freshman students and pursue STEM majors. Students must have a minimum high school GPA of 3.0 or a college GPA of 2.75. Priority goes to Hawaii residents from rural areas. Applicants must submit a letter of recommendation and a FAFSA form.

R.W. “Bob” Holden Scholarship

The R.W. “Bob” Holden Scholarship awards $1,000 to residents of Hawaii. Students must be full-time juniors or seniors and majoring in hotel management. They must have a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Fukunaga Scholarship Foundation

Servco Pacific Inc. awards $18,000 to full-time undergraduate students. Applicants must have graduated from high school in Hawaii. They may attend accredited colleges across the U.S. They must be pursuing a business major and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Applicants must submit an official transcript and SAT scores. They also must submit the Student Aid Report and two letters of recommendation.

David T. Woolsey Scholarship

The Landscape Architecture Foundation’s Hawaii Chapter awards $2,000 to students. Applicants must be studying architecture at a LAAB-accredited university. Students must be in their third, fourth, or fifth year with a minimum 2.5 GPA. They must be permanent residents of Hawaii. Applicants must submit a resume, personal statement, two recommendation letters, and design samples.

Albert and Dorothy Shigekuni Scholarship Fund

The Hawaii Community Foundation awards a $2,000 scholarship to full-time students. Applicants must study at one of the 10 University of Hawaii system schools. They must submit an official transcript and a personal essay. They also must have a minimum 3.1 GPA and show financial need.

Allan Eldin & Agnes Sutorik Geiger Scholarship Fund

The Hawaii Community Foundation awards $1,000 to students pursuing veterinary science. They must be at least a sophomore at any accredited university in the U.S with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Applicants must submit a transcript, FAFSA form, and current resume. They must show financial need.

Clem Judd Jr. Memorial Scholarship

The Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association awards scholarships to students pursuing tourism-related majors. Scholarships range from $1,000-$2,500. Students must be juniors, seniors, or graduate students at the U.S accredited universities with a 3.0 GPA. They must be legal residents of Hawaii with Hawaiin ancestry.

Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation Scholarship

The Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation awards $5,000 to graduating high school seniors. Students must apply full-time to an accredited four-year college or university. 

Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation

The Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation awards $2,000 to outstanding graduating seniors. Some finalists receive another $3,000. Three outstanding scholars receive a scholarship for $8,000-$10,000. Applicants must show academic excellence, involvement in extracurricular activities, and community service. They must have a financial need. They also must attend an accredited college or university.

Final Thoughts

Hawaiin students are lucky to live in one of the prettiest states. But, the state’s high cost of living puts a financial strain on going to college. For this reason, college scholarships are essential. Avoiding graduating thousands of dollars in debt and apply to scholarships today.