USA Scholarships
David Kauweloa & Kaupu Scholarship 2027
The David Kauweloa & E. Darlene Kaupu Scholarship is a Pauahi Foundation endowed fund that supports one full-time postsecondary student each year who stays in good academic standing and can show real financial need. You may be an undergraduate or graduate classified student at an accredited institution in Hawaiʻi or on the U.S. continent. Pauahi asks for a hardship essay plus Student & Parent Form, W-2s, and federal tax returns. Reviewers give preference to past or present residents of Molokaʻi, and Pauahi may weigh Hawaiian ancestry when the law allows. Select this scholarship inside the 2027-2028 postsecondary application opening October 1, 2026 and closing December 1, 2026.
What is the David Kauweloa & E. Darlene Kaupu Scholarship?
The David Kauweloa & E. Darlene Kaupu Scholarship sits in Pauahi Foundation's community listing as a single annual award for students who are already carrying a full course load and still need help closing the gap between family resources and tuition bills. Donors named the fund for two people whose legacy now rides on one straightforward promise: keep a classified student in good standing enrolled without pretending financial pressure is optional.
Pauahi built the gates around enrollment status and honesty about money. Full-time classification matters, acceptable academic standing matters, and so does the essay that walks reviewers through real hardships rather than generic statements. Tax forms and W-2s back up the story so the committee can size the award against fund income instead of guessing.
Molokaʻi shows up as a preference, not a lock. Students from the Friendly Isle often search this fund first, yet mainland learners and neighbors on other islands still compete when their files are complete. If Hawaiian ancestry is part of your background, Pauahi may weigh that when the law allows, but the listing stays open to every eligible applicant who finishes the portal checklist. Mark October 1 through December 1, 2026 for the 2027-2028 window, stack this selection with other Pauahi funds in one login, and keep [email protected] handy if a reviewer asks for corrected paperwork before decisions go out.
Eligibility
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✓Full-time classified enrollmentYou must be enrolled full time as a classified student in a post-high school institution for the academic year the scholarship will support. Part-time schedules do not meet this fund's listing.
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✓Good academic standingPauahi requires you to remain in acceptable academic standing within your designated program. Upload a transcript that shows you are progressing, not on academic suspension.
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✓Demonstrated financial needDocument need through Pauahi's Student & Parent Form plus applicable W-2s and the federal income tax return for the tax year the live application specifies. Award size follows fund income and verified need.
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✓Molokaʻi residency preferenceThe fund gives preference to past and present residents of Molokaʻi. You may still apply from elsewhere in Hawaiʻi or the continental United States if you meet the academic and need criteria.
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✓Hawaiʻi or continental U.S. scopePauahi lists this scholarship as open to applicants in the State of Hawaiʻi and on the U.S. continent. Your school must be an accredited postsecondary institution you attend as a classified student.
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✓Hawaiian ancestry preferencePauahi Foundation policy gives preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law. The listing remains open to all qualifying applicants who complete the financial documentation.
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✓Hardship essay requiredAnswer Pauahi's prompt to describe the financial circumstances or hardships you have faced, including how those challenges affected your academic and personal life and what strategies helped you manage them.
Benefits
- Number of scholarships One recipient per cycle
- Eligible levels Full-time undergrad or graduate study
- Award use Tuition and related costs per Pauahi policy
- Combined Pauahi applications Multiple funds in one portal login
- Published dollar cap Varies with fund income; not a fixed public amount
- Part-time enrollment Not eligible under this fund listing
Document checklist
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✓Pauahi Foundation online applicationCreate or reuse your account at the Pauahi scholarship portal when the 2027-2028 cycle opens October 1, 2026. Select the David Kauweloa & E. Darlene Kaupu Scholarship before you submit.
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✓Financial hardship essayWrite the essay response Pauahi publishes for this fund, focusing on specific financial challenges on your path to college, their impact, and resources or strategies you used to cope.
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✓Student and Parent FormComplete Pauahi's financial worksheet for the cycle year so reviewers can calculate need alongside your tax documents.
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✓Federal tax returns and W-2sProvide applicable Form W-2s and the federal income tax return (1040 series) for the tax year Pauahi lists in the live checklist when you apply.
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✓School transcriptUpload an official or unofficial transcript showing full-time classified enrollment and academic standing in your current program.
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✓Molokaʻi connection statement (if applicable)If you claim Molokaʻi residency preference, be ready to explain past or present residence on the island in your essay or supplemental fields so reviewers can apply the preference fairly.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the David Kauweloa & E. Darlene Kaupu Scholarship?
It is a Pauahi Foundation endowed fund that awards one need-based scholarship annually to a full-time classified undergraduate or graduate student in good academic standing. Donors established the fund to support learners who document financial hardship, with preference for people tied to Molokaʻi.
Who can apply for the Kauweloa & Kaupu Scholarship?
Full-time classified postsecondary students in Hawaiʻi or on the U.S. continent may apply if they demonstrate financial need, remain in acceptable academic standing, and complete Pauahi's hardship essay plus tax documentation. Molokaʻi residents receive preference when criteria are otherwise equal.
When is the David Kauweloa & Kaupu Scholarship deadline for 2027?
Pauahi Foundation opens the 2027-2028 postsecondary application on October 1, 2026 and closes it on December 1, 2026. Submit every required document through the online portal by that deadline.
How much is the Kauweloa & Kaupu Scholarship worth?
The listing specifies one award rather than a published dollar amount. Pauahi sets disbursement based on fund income and your verified financial need after selection. Your award letter will state the exact figure.
Do I need to live on Molokaʻi to win the Kauweloa scholarship?
No. Preference goes to past or present Molokaʻi residents, but applicants from elsewhere in Hawaiʻi or the continental United States remain eligible if they meet full-time, academic standing, and financial need requirements.
Does the Kauweloa & Kaupu Scholarship require a financial hardship essay?
Yes. Pauahi requires an essay describing the financial circumstances or hardships you have faced, including specific challenges, their impact on your life, and strategies or resources that helped you manage them.
Can graduate students apply for the Kauweloa & Kaupu Scholarship?
Yes. Pauahi lists both undergraduate and graduate study for this fund, as long as you are a full-time classified student in acceptable academic standing at an accredited post-high institution.
Can I apply for other Pauahi scholarships with the same application?
Yes. Pauahi allows you to select every fund you qualify for within one postsecondary application. Add Kauweloa & Kaupu plus other scholarships, then upload documents that satisfy the strictest requirement among your choices.
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