USA Scholarships
Kamehameha Class of 1960 Scholarship 2027 - Pauahi
The Kamehameha Schools Class of 1960 Scholarship funds four full-time scholars each cycle who study at accredited post-high institutions in the United States, including vocational, trade, and technical programs Kamehameha Schools recognizes. You must demonstrate scholastic achievement, service to the community, good character, and intent to apply your skills for the Hawaiian community, backed by an essay on a challenge or setback you faced. BigFuture lists the fund as not need-based, so selection centers on your record and story rather than tax forms alone. Pauahi welcomes applicants in the State of Hawaiʻi and on the continental United States and may prefer students of Hawaiian ancestry as permitted by law. Add this scholarship when the 2027-2028 postsecondary application opens October 1, 2026 and closes December 1, 2026.
What is the Kamehameha Schools Class of 1960 Scholarship?
Four awards instead of one makes the Class of 1960 fund feel more like a reunion gift spread across the lāhui. Pauahi Foundation administers the endowment for full-time undergraduates and graduate students alike, including learners in vocational and technical programs that Kamehameha Schools recognizes. You are not applying on GPA alone; service, character, and a credible plan to bring your skills home to the Hawaiian community all matter.
The signature essay asks for honesty about failure. Reviewers want to see how a setback reshaped your habits or goals, not a polished victory lap. Because the listing is not need-based, you might skip tax uploads for this fund specifically, yet many applicants still bundle it with need-based Pauahi awards in the same portal and upload financial forms once for the whole file.
You can study in Mānoa or Minneapolis as long as your school meets accreditation rules. Mark October 1 through December 1, 2026 for the 2027-28 cycle, compare criteria with the Class of 1958 Na Mea Waiwai Scholarship 2027 if you also qualify for need-based support, and use Pauahi postsecondary scholarships for the live checklist.
Eligibility
-
✓Full-time classified enrollmentEnroll full time as a classified student at a U.S. accredited post-high institution, including vocational, trade, and technical schools that Kamehameha Schools recognizes, or at a college or university on the mainland or in Hawaiʻi.
-
✓Scholastic achievementDemonstrate scholastic achievement through transcripts, grades, and academic honors that show you can succeed in your program.
-
✓Community serviceDocument meaningful service to your community, especially activities that support Native Hawaiian people, culture, or local needs.
-
✓Good characterPresent a record of integrity and responsibility through recommenders, your activity list, and your essay responses.
-
✓Intent to benefit the Hawaiian communityExplain how you will use your degree or trade skills to benefit the Hawaiian community. Connect career plans to that commitment in your essays.
-
✓US residency in Hawaiʻi or continental USThe listing is open to all qualifying residents in the State of Hawaiʻi and on the U.S. continent. Follow residency questions on the live application.
-
✓Preference for Hawaiian ancestryPauahi Foundation policy gives preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law. Non-Hawaiian applicants remain eligible when they meet achievement and service criteria.
Benefits
- Number of scholarships 4 recipients per cycle
- Award amount Varies with endowed fund income
- Study levels Undergraduate and graduate
- Vocational and technical paths Eligible when KS recognizes school
- Combined Pauahi applications Multiple funds in one submission
- Full tuition guarantee Not covered
- Need-based selection Not required for this fund alone
Document checklist
-
✓Pauahi Foundation online applicationRegister on the Pauahi postsecondary portal when the 2027-28 cycle opens and select the Kamehameha Schools Class of 1960 Scholarship.
-
✓Obstacle essayAnswer the supplemental prompt: recount a time you faced a challenge, setback, or failure, how it affected you, and what you learned from the experience.
-
✓Most recent transcriptUpload official or unofficial transcripts showing full-time enrollment and scholastic achievement in your current undergraduate or graduate program.
-
✓Resume or activity listList community service, leadership roles, and extracurricular work that supports your character and Hawaiian-community intent claims.
-
✓Letters of recommendationProvide the number of recommender letters Pauahi lists for your applicant type in the 2027-28 checklist, typically two for postsecondary students.
-
✓Financial documents if paired with need fundsThis fund is not need-based on its own, but selecting other Pauahi need scholarships in the same cycle may require W-2s, tax returns, and the Student & Parent Form.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the Kamehameha Schools Class of 1960 Scholarship?
It is a Pauahi Foundation postsecondary fund created by the Kamehameha Schools Class of 1960. Four scholarships support full-time undergraduate or graduate students who show achievement, service, character, and intent to benefit the Hawaiian community.
How many Class of 1960 scholarships does Pauahi award each year?
The official listing specifies four awards per cycle. Amounts follow endowed fund income rather than a single published dollar figure for every recipient.
Is the Class of 1960 scholarship need-based?
BigFuture and Pauahi data classify this fund as not need-based. Selection focuses on scholastic achievement, service, character, and your obstacle essay, though you may still upload financial documents if you apply to need-based Pauahi funds in the same cycle.
Can graduate students apply for the Class of 1960 scholarship?
Yes. The criteria cover classified full-time undergraduate and graduate students at accredited U.S. institutions, including recognized vocational and technical programs.
What essay does the Class of 1960 scholarship require?
You must respond to the obstacle prompt asking you to recount a challenge, setback, or failure, describe how it affected you, and explain what you learned from the experience.
When is the Class of 1960 scholarship deadline for 2027?
Plan on an October 1, 2026 opening and a December 1, 2026 close for the 2027-2028 Pauahi postsecondary cycle. Confirm timestamps on the live portal before you submit.
Do I need to attend a Hawaiʻi college for the Class of 1960 scholarship?
No. The fund is open to residents in the State of Hawaiʻi and on the U.S. continent who attend accredited mainland or Hawaiʻi institutions, including eligible vocational schools.
Can I apply for the Class of 1960 and Class of 1958 scholarships together?
You may select both in one Pauahi application if you meet each fund's rules. The Class of 1958 fund is need-based with financial essays, while the Class of 1960 fund emphasizes achievement and the obstacle essay.
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