Almost 2,000 recipients, the most ever, received Hawaiʻi Promise scholarship aid from the University of Hawaiʻi’s seven community colleges for the 2020-21 academic year. Nearly $3 million was awarded with an average of $1,551 given to 1,900 recipients who qualified for resident tuition and showed financial need.
Students are first awarded Pell grants, UH scholarships and private scholarships before being awarded a Hawaiʻi Promise scholarship for unmet direct costs such as tuition, fees, books, supplies and local transportation. A high percentage of recipients are underrepresented students.
The scholarship can be life changing. Some recent graduates who were multi-year recipients recently wrote about what the Hawaiʻi Promise scholarship did for them.
Mariah Castro, Hawaiʻi Community College
“I’m a single mother to a soon-to-be 11-year-old, and the struggle to stay afloat while also striving to get ahead has been ongoing since deciding to go back to school. For me, having the opportunity to be a recipient of the Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship significantly changed my ability to return to school and become an RN (registered nurse).”
Read Castro's full letter
Reading time: 3 minutes
“I’m a single mother to a soon-to-be 11 year old, and the struggle to stay afloat while also striving to get ahead has been ongoing since deciding to go back to school.
For me, having the opportunity to be a recipient of the Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship significantly changed my ability to return to school and become an RN. It was like the doors had finally opened up for me, as I felt like I was constantly trying to open a locked door. I felt relieved that I could receive the help that I so desperately needed.
After ten years of struggle and persistence—I finally did it. I’m a bonafide Associate degree graduate in Nursing and Liberal Arts. I was given all the tools needed to pass my boards and on July 2, 2021, I became the registered nurse I always dreamed of becoming.”
Dennis Daquioag, Jr., Honolulu Community College
“The Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship helped me a lot, and without it I would be struggling. Hopefully the scholarship will help many more students achieve their goals.”
Read Daquioag's full letter
Reading time: 3 minutes
“For a semester or two at Honolulu Community College, I was paying tuition out of my own pocket. I had to work as much shifts at my job to save that kind of money.
Out of the blue, I received an email, and also a letter in the mail about The Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship. It told me that I was receiving some funds to use towards school. This meant a lot to me, this scholarship helped me pay most of my tuition funds, so I can keep taking classes and get my credits for my degree.
I didn’t have to break my bank account and work so much to pay tuition. I received the scholarship until my final semester, and I earned my Associates Degree in Administration of Justice in Applied Science. Class of 2021!
The Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship helped me a lot, and without it I would be struggling. Hopefully the scholarship will help many more students achieve their goals.”
Kevin-Clark Labador, Leeward Community College
“The Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship has provided me with financial aid that saved me so much money. Being a full-time student with two part-time jobs, I didn’t have to worry about my tuition and I was still able to study what I wanted to do. It has helped me pay for my books, supplies [and] classes.”
Read Labador's full letter
Reading time: 3 minutes
“The Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship has provided me with financial aid that saved me so much money. Being a full-time student with two part-time jobs, I didn’t have to worry about my tuition and I was still able to study what I wanted to do.
It has helped me pay for my books, supplies [and] classes.
During my years at LCC, the Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship was there to provide me with support that I needed. I graduated from LCC, with the Dean’s List, and transferred to UHWO (UH West Oʻahu) as it pushed me to further my education.
I would like to thank the legislators for providing this scholarship to students with financial needs. This shows that hard work does pay off in the end and I hope that more students will be able to earn the Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship.”
Sarah Lukela, Leeward Community College
“As a mom with two young children at home, being a recipient of the Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship allowed me to not worry about having to delay completing my degree due to family responsibilities. One of the most helpful things about the scholarship was it helped to keep that part of my tuition off my credit cards, ensuring my education will never be a burden.”
Apply today
The deadline to apply to any of the seven UH Community Colleges is August 8. More information about the Hawaiʻi Promise scholarship and other financial aid available for UH Community College students can be found online. Classes for the fall semester start on August 23.
Read more UH News stories about Hawaiʻi Promise.
