USA Scholarships
Kamehameha Class of 1974 Scholarship 2027 - Pauahi
The Kamehameha Schools Class of 1974 Scholarship supports full-time postsecondary students who pair a 2.8 GPA with verified financial need and a record of serving the broader community. Pauahi Foundation lists three awards per cycle for classified undergraduate or graduate students at accredited two- or four-year institutions in Hawaiʻi or on the U.S. mainland. You write about the financial circumstances or hardships you have faced, submit two letters of recommendation (one from a teacher and one from a community organization), and upload the Student and Parent Form with applicable W-2s and federal income tax returns for the tax year the live application specifies. Reviewers also expect interest in Hawaiian language, culture, or history and documented community service or extracurricular activities. Pauahi may prefer applicants of Hawaiian ancestry as permitted by law. Add this fund when the 2027-2028 postsecondary application opens October 1, 2026 and closes December 1, 2026.
What is the Kamehameha Schools Class of 1974 Scholarship?
The Kamehameha Schools Class of 1974 Scholarship sits in Pauahi Foundation's need-based lane: three awards each cycle for full-time students who hold at least a 2.8 GPA and can document real financial pressure. Unlike the Class of 1973 "Proud to be '73" fund, this listing does not require graduation from a Hawaiian-focused charter school, so mainland residents and a wider range of high school backgrounds can qualify when they study at accredited U.S. colleges.
Your file needs more than tax forms. Pauahi asks for a hardship essay with specifics, not generalities, plus two recommendation letters that split roles: one teacher who knows your academic work and one community organization contact who can speak to character and service. Interest in Hawaiian language, culture, or history still matters on the activity list even though the fund is need-driven.
Past public listings often cited awards around $1,000, but endowed income and each student's verified need set the final check. Preference for Hawaiian ancestry applies where the law allows. Open the unified Pauahi portal October 1, 2026, select the Class of 1974 Scholarship alongside any other funds you qualify for, and submit by December 1, 2026 for 2027-2028 support.
Eligibility
-
✓Minimum 2.8 GPAPauahi requires a cumulative GPA of at least 2.8 on a 4.0 scale. Upload a transcript that shows your GPA through the most recently completed term.
-
✓Full-time classified enrollmentEnroll full time as a classified undergraduate or graduate student at an accredited two- or four-year college or university in Hawaiʻi or the continental United States.
-
✓Demonstrated financial needComplete Pauahi's Student and Parent Form and submit applicable W-2s and federal income tax returns for the tax year listed in the live application checklist.
-
✓U.S. residencyYou must be a resident of the United States. Pauahi lists this fund for applicants in the State of Hawaiʻi and on the continental United States.
-
✓Community service or activitiesShow participation in community service or extracurricular activities in your Pauahi profile so reviewers see character and contribution alongside need.
-
✓Interest in Hawaiian cultureDemonstrate interest in Hawaiian language, culture, or history through coursework, volunteer work, or essays connected to the lāhui.
-
✓Preference for Hawaiian ancestryPauahi 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 GPA and need criteria.
Benefits
- Number of scholarships 3 recipients per cycle
- Typical award size About $1,000 when fund income allows
- Need-based support Disbursement tied to verified need
- Eligible levels Undergraduate and graduate study
- Mainland or Hawaiʻi colleges Accredited two- or four-year institutions
- Half-time enrollment Not eligible (full time required)
- Full tuition guarantee Not covered
Document checklist
-
✓Pauahi Foundation online applicationSign in when the 2027-2028 cycle opens October 1, 2026. Select the Kamehameha Schools Class of 1974 Scholarship and complete shared profile sections.
-
✓Financial hardship essayDescribe the financial circumstances or hardships you have faced, including specific challenges on your path to college, how they affected your life, and strategies or resources that helped you 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 federal income tax return for the tax year listed in the live application checklist.
-
✓Two letters of recommendationSubmit one letter from a teacher and one from a community organization contact who can speak to your character, achievement, and service to the greater community.
-
✓School transcriptUpload an official or unofficial transcript showing at least a 2.8 cumulative GPA and full-time enrollment or admission status.
-
✓Resume or activity listDocument community service, Hawaiian culture activities, and extracurricular entries that align with the Class of 1974 review criteria.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the Kamehameha Schools Class of 1974 Scholarship?
It is a Pauahi Foundation postsecondary fund created by the Kamehameha Schools Class of 1974. Three need-based scholarships support full-time undergraduate or graduate students with at least a 2.8 GPA at accredited U.S. institutions.
What GPA do I need for the Class of 1974 scholarship?
Pauahi requires a cumulative GPA of at least 2.8 on a 4.0 scale. Your transcript should reflect grades through your most recently completed term.
How many Class of 1974 scholarships does Pauahi award each year?
The official community listing specifies three awards per cycle. Past cycles often distributed about $1,000 per recipient, though final amounts depend on fund income and verified need.
What essay does the Class of 1974 scholarship require?
You describe the financial circumstances or hardships you have faced. Pauahi suggests addressing specific challenges on your path to college, how they affected your life, and what strategies or resources helped you manage them.
What recommendations does the Class of 1974 scholarship require?
Submit two letters: one from a teacher and one from a community organization contact who can comment on your character, achievement, and contribution to serving the greater community.
When is the Class of 1974 scholarship deadline for 2027?
Pauahi opens the 2027-2028 postsecondary application on October 1, 2026 and closes it on December 1, 2026. Submit financial documents and recommenders before that cutoff.
Can mainland students apply for the Class of 1974 scholarship?
Yes. The fund is open to residents of the State of Hawaiʻi and the continental United States enrolled full time at accredited mainland or Hawaiʻi institutions.
Is the Class of 1974 scholarship the same as the Proud to be 73 fund?
No. The Class of 1973 Proud to be 73 Scholarship targets graduates of Hawaiian-focused charter schools in Hawaiʻi and allows half-time enrollment without a published GPA floor. The Class of 1974 fund requires full-time study, a 2.8 GPA, and full financial need documentation.
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