USA Scholarships
Kalino Foundation Need-Based Scholarship 2027
The Kalino Foundation, LLC Need-Based Scholarship is a Pauahi Foundation fund for full-time undergraduates earning a Bachelor of Science who face real financial barriers while preparing for medical, health, or wellness careers. Pauahi expects demonstrated financial need through the Student and Parent Form, applicable W-2s, and federal income tax returns, plus an essay on the financial circumstances or hardships you have faced. One scholar is selected annually, and award size follows verified need and fund income. Residents of the State of Hawaiʻi and the continental United States may apply, with preference for Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law. Select this fund when the 2027-2028 application opens October 1, 2026 and closes December 1, 2026.
What is the Kalino Foundation Need-Based Scholarship?
Kalino Foundation, LLC funds a Pauahi need award for undergraduates who want health careers but need help closing the gap between tuition bills and family resources. Reviewers expect a full-time Bachelor of Science student who can explain, in plain language, what financial hardships shaped their path and who backs that story with tax forms and Pauahi''s Student and Parent Form.
The hardship essay is not a pity pitch. Name the constraints you faced, how they touched your grades or housing, and what you did to keep moving toward a medical, health, or wellness goal. Pair the narrative with W-2s and federal returns for the year the live portal lists, plus a transcript that shows you remain enrolled full time.
Preference for Hawaiian ancestry applies where the law allows, and both Hawaiʻi residents and mainland students may apply. Open Pauahi''s portal October 1, 2026, select the Kalino need fund alongside any other awards you qualify for, and submit by December 1, 2026 for 2027-2028 support.
Eligibility
-
✓U.S. residencyYou must be a resident of the United States. Pauahi lists Kalino for applicants in the State of Hawaiʻi and on the continental United States enrolled at accredited institutions.
-
✓Full-time undergraduateEnroll full time as a classified undergraduate student at an accredited post-high institution for the academic year you seek funding.
-
✓Bachelor of Science degree pathPursue a Bachelor of Science degree and show interest in medical, health, or wellness fields through your major, coursework, or career plans in the Pauahi application.
-
✓Demonstrated financial needComplete Pauahi's Student and Parent Form and submit applicable W-2s and federal income tax returns for the tax year the live application specifies. Award size follows verified need.
-
✓Health and wellness interestExplain how your B.S. path connects to medical, health, or wellness work in your profile and hardship essay so reviewers see both need and field fit.
-
✓Community or extracurricular involvementDocument community service or extracurricular activities in Pauahi activity sections. BigFuture and Pauahi listings include these as part of a complete file.
-
✓Hawaiian ancestry preferencePauahi Foundation policy gives preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law. The scholarship remains open to all eligible U.S. residents who meet need criteria.
Benefits
- Number of scholarships One recipient per cycle
- Need-based support Disbursement tied to verified need
- Eligible degree Bachelor of Science (health focus)
- Study level Full-time undergraduate
- Published dollar cap Varies with fund income
- Merit-only selection Use Kalino merit fund instead
Document checklist
-
✓Pauahi Foundation online applicationRegister when the 2027-2028 cycle opens October 1, 2026. Select the Kalino Foundation, LLC Need-Based Scholarship and complete shared profile sections.
-
✓Financial hardship essayAnswer Pauahi's prompt to describe the financial circumstances or hardships you have faced, including challenges on your path to college, how they affected your life, and strategies you used to manage them.
-
✓Student and Parent FormComplete Pauahi's financial worksheet for the cycle year so reviewers can calculate need alongside your tax documents.
-
✓Federal tax returns and W-2sProvide applicable Form W-2s and the signed federal income tax return for the tax year listed in the live application checklist. Pauahi may also accept IRS transcripts if the portal allows.
-
✓School transcriptUpload an official or unofficial transcript showing full-time enrollment or admission status at an accredited institution.
-
✓Activities and service listEnter community service and extracurricular activities with dates and hours so committees see a complete profile beyond financial documents.
-
✓Letter of recommendation (KS seniors only)Current high school seniors attending Kamehameha Schools must submit one letter of recommendation per base Pauahi rules unless the live portal adds fund-specific letters.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the Kalino Foundation Need-Based Scholarship?
It is a Pauahi Foundation fund backed by Kalino Foundation, LLC that selects one full-time U.S. undergraduate each cycle based on demonstrated financial need while the student pursues a Bachelor of Science with interest in medical, health, or wellness careers.
What essay does the Kalino need-based scholarship require?
You write about the financial circumstances or hardships you have faced, including specific challenges on your path to college, how they affected your academic and personal life, and strategies or resources you used to manage them.
When is the Kalino Foundation need-based deadline for 2027?
Pauahi opens the 2027-2028 postsecondary application on October 1, 2026 and closes it on December 1, 2026. Upload tax documents and your hardship essay before that cutoff.
What financial documents does Kalino need-based require?
Submit Pauahi's Student and Parent Form, all applicable W-2s, and the federal income tax return for the tax year specified in the live application. Pauahi may list IRS transcript alternatives on the postsecondary page.
Is there a minimum GPA for the Kalino need-based scholarship?
Pauahi's public listing does not publish a GPA floor for this need-based fund. You still must enroll full time in a B.S. program and submit a transcript showing good standing.
Can mainland students apply for the Kalino need-based scholarship?
Yes. Pauahi lists the fund for residents of the State of Hawaiʻi and the continental United States. You apply through the same online portal and meet need documentation requirements.
How much is the Kalino Foundation need-based scholarship worth?
Pauahi selects one recipient annually without publishing a fixed dollar amount. Your award letter states the disbursement based on fund income and verified financial need.
How is the Kalino need-based scholarship different from the merit award?
The need-based fund requires hardship essays and tax forms instead of a 3.0 GPA merit bar. Pauahi also offers a separate Kalino Foundation Merit-Based Scholarship for students who compete primarily on grades and activities.
Scholarship Union
More in-depth scholarship guides curated by experts.
Related guides
Always verify scholarship details on the official source before applying. Information on this page may change.
Visit official website