USA Scholarships
Ho'omāka'ika'i Endowment Fund 2027 - Pauahi
The Ho''omāka''ika''i Named Endowment Fund connects alumni of Kamehameha Schools'' Ho''omāka''ika''i program to college and graduate work in Hawaiian language and Hawaiian studies. Pauahi Foundation lists one award per cycle for full-time juniors, seniors, or graduate students earning a BA or MA in Hawaiian Studies or Hawaiian Language, an M.Ed. in Hawaiian Language Immersion, or an education degree with emphasis in those fields. You must enroll at a post-high institution in Hawaiʻi. Applicants in the State of Hawaiʻi and on the U.S. continent may apply, and Pauahi gives preference to students of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law. Plan on the 2027-28 application opening October 1, 2026 and closing December 1, 2026.
What is the Ho'omāka'ika'i Named Endowment Fund?
The Ho'omāka'ika'i Named Endowment Fund bridges a Kamehameha Schools summer experience and serious college work in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. Pauahi Foundation stewards the endowed gift alongside more than two hundred postsecondary funds. One student each cycle receives support, and the dollar amount follows fund income rather than a fixed headline.
Ho'omāka'ika'i alumni know the program mixes culture, place, and peer learning in ways that stick. Reviewers want to see that same spark in your transcript and essay. You must study full time at a Hawaiʻi campus in Hawaiian Studies, Hawaiian Language, immersion education, or a closely related education emphasis. Continental residents can apply, but you cannot use this fund for a mainland university even if you are studying Hawaiian language online elsewhere.
Timing matches the Pauahi postsecondary calendar: portal opens October 1, materials due December 1, notifications in spring for the next academic year. Pair this fund with the Holomua Scholarship 2027 if you are an undergraduate Hawaiian studies major with financial need, or the Dwayne Nakila Steele Scholarship 2027 for need-based support tied to language and culture. Official rules live on the Pauahi Foundation postsecondary scholarships page.
Eligibility
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✓Former Ho'omāka'ika'i program participantYou must have participated in the Kamehameha Schools Ho'omāka'ika'i program. The essay prompt asks how that experience shaped your decision to pursue Hawaiian Studies and/or Hawaiian Language, so be ready to name specific program moments.
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✓Junior standing or aboveUndergraduate applicants need at least junior-level standing. Seniors and graduate students also qualify when they meet the major and enrollment rules on the Pauahi listing.
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✓Hawaiian Studies or Hawaiian Language major pathPursue a BA or MA in Hawaiian Studies or Hawaiian Language, an M.Ed. in Hawaiian Language Immersion, or an education major with emphasis in Hawaiian Studies or Language. Other majors do not match this fund.
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✓Full-time enrollment at a Hawaiʻi institutionAttend a post-high school in Hawaiʻi full time. Continental residents may apply, but your accredited program must be located in the State of Hawaiʻi.
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✓Community service or extracurricular involvementPauahi expects activities beyond coursework. Highlight language clubs, immersion outreach, tutoring, or cultural service that supports your degree goals.
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✓Preference for Hawaiian ancestryFoundation policy gives preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry where law allows. Students without Hawaiian ancestry remain eligible when they meet every fund requirement.
Benefits
- Number of awards 1 recipient per cycle
- Award amount Varies with endowment income
- Study location Accredited Hawaiʻi postsecondary institution
- Eligible degrees Hawaiian Studies, Language, Immersion Ed.
- Need-based requirement Not listed for this fund
- Full tuition guarantee Not covered
- Mainland campus study Not covered - Hawaiʻi institution required
Document checklist
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✓Pauahi Foundation online applicationComplete the unified postsecondary application at pauahi.org when the 2027-28 cycle opens. Select the Ho'omāka'ika'i Named Endowment Fund in your fund list.
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✓Ho'omāka'ika'i program essayAnswer the fund prompt: describe your Ho'omāka'ika'i participation and how it led you to pursue a degree in Hawaiian Studies and/or Language. Use concrete examples rather than general praise for the program.
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✓Most recent transcriptUpload official or unofficial transcripts showing junior standing or higher and full-time enrollment toward the eligible major.
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✓Letters of recommendationFollow the Pauahi portal checklist for 2027-28. Choose mentors who can speak to your language work and community commitment.
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✓Activity and service summaryList extracurricular and community service roles, especially those tied to Hawaiian language, culture, or education.
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✓Enrollment verification if selectedBe ready to confirm full-time status at your Hawaiʻi campus after an award so Pauahi can disburse funds to the correct office.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the Ho'omāka'ika'i Named Endowment Fund?
It is a Pauahi Foundation endowed scholarship for former Kamehameha Schools Ho'omāka'ika'i participants who pursue Hawaiian Studies or Hawaiian Language at a Hawaiʻi college or university. Pauahi lists one award each cycle.
Do I have to live in Hawaiʻi to apply?
No. The listing is open to applicants in the State of Hawaiʻi and on the U.S. continent. You still must enroll full time at a post-high institution located in Hawaiʻi.
What GPA do I need for the Ho'omāka'ika'i fund?
Pauahi's data feed lists no minimum GPA for this fund. Strong academic progress still helps, especially when reviewers compare similar Ho'omāka'ika'i alumni files.
Can graduate students apply?
Yes. Graduate students pursuing eligible Hawaiian Studies, Hawaiian Language, or immersion education degrees at a Hawaiʻi institution may apply when they meet the Ho'omāka'ika'i participation requirement.
When is the Ho'omāka'ika'i scholarship deadline?
Pauahi opens the 2027-28 cycle on October 1, 2026 and closes it on December 1, 2026 for postsecondary scholarships. Confirm the live portal timestamp before you submit.
What essay does the Ho'omāka'ika'i fund require?
You must explain your Ho'omāka'ika'i program participation and how that experience led you to pursue a degree in Hawaiian Studies and/or Language. Specific stories work better than generic statements.
Do I need Hawaiian ancestry?
No. Ancestry is a preference factor under Pauahi policy, not a hard gate. Eligible applicants without Hawaiian ancestry may still receive the award.
Can I apply to other Pauahi scholarships at the same time?
Yes. Select every fund you qualify for within one Pauahi application. Tailor each essay to the fund prompt instead of copying the same text.
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