USA Scholarships
Roy L. Cachola Scholarship 2027 - Pauahi First-Year
The Roy L. Cachola Scholarship honors a North Kohala family''s commitment to education by helping high school seniors afford their first year of college. Pauahi Foundation administers two need-based awards each cycle for graduating seniors enrolling in their first year of postsecondary study at an accredited U.S. institution. You must be a U.S. resident and show financial need through Pauahi''s standard hardship materials and FAFSA Submission Summary when the fund requires it. Reviewers give preference to current residents of North Kohala, Hawaiʻi, Kohala High School seniors, and applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law. Dollar amounts follow endowed fund income rather than one fixed public stipend. Register on the unified portal when the 2027-2028 cycle opens October 1, 2026 and closes December 1, 2026.
What is the Roy L. Cachola Scholarship?
Roy L. Cachola Scholarship sits in Pauahi Foundation's postsecondary catalog as a first-year, need-based award with a Kohala heart. The Cachola family created the fund after Roy, a longtime United Airlines flight attendant, passed away in 2001. Their goal was to give back to North Kohala by helping local seniors afford college, and Pauahi still lists two scholarships per cycle for graduating high school students heading into their first year at an accredited U.S. school.
Need matters as much as geography. CareerOneStop describes financial need as a core qualification, which means you should plan on Pauahi's hardship essay, tax paperwork, and any FAFSA Submission Summary the portal flags for your file. Academic major is open under the general-studies listing, so engineering, education, and liberal arts seniors can all compete if they tell a clear story about how college fits their plans.
Preference is real but not exclusive. North Kohala residents, Kohala High School seniors, and learners of Hawaiian ancestry receive extra attention during review, matching both donor intent and foundation policy. Seniors elsewhere in Hawaiʻi or on the mainland remain eligible when they meet residency, need, and first-year enrollment rules. Treat the award as meaningful partial help, stack it with federal aid, and submit early once the October 1, 2026 portal opens so staff can chase missing pieces before the December 1 close.
Eligibility
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✓Graduating high school seniorYou must be a graduating high school senior enrolling in your first year of postsecondary education. Students already in college should select other Pauahi funds.
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✓Accredited U.S. postsecondary institutionPlan to attend an accredited college, university, or other postsecondary program in the United States that Pauahi recognizes on the live application.
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✓Demonstrated financial needCareerOneStop lists this as a need-based fund. Submit hardship documentation, tax forms, and any FAFSA Submission Summary Pauahi requests so reviewers can compare your file fairly.
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✓U.S. residencyApplicants must be residents of the United States. Answer Pauahi residency questions accurately on the portal.
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✓Community service or extracurricular activitiesInclude meaningful service, clubs, athletics, or other activities on Pauahi's activity list. Kohala community involvement can strengthen a North Kohala preference case.
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✓North Kohala and Kohala High preferencePauahi and donor materials give preference to current residents of North Kohala, Hawaiʻi and graduating seniors from Kohala High School. Other eligible seniors may still compete when they meet need and enrollment rules.
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✓Preference for Hawaiian ancestryFoundation policy gives preference to students of Hawaiian ancestry where law allows. Non-Hawaiian applicants remain eligible when they meet every other requirement.
Benefits
- Number of awards 2 per cycle (CareerOneStop listing)
- Award amount Varies with need and fund balance
- Eligible entry point First year of college after high school
- Need-based selection Hardship documentation reviewed
- North Kohala donor intent Preference for Kohala community
- Renewal Follow Pauahi renewal rules if offered
- Full tuition guarantee Not covered
- Graduate study Not covered
Document checklist
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✓Pauahi Foundation online applicationCreate or update your profile on the Pauahi postsecondary portal when the 2027-2028 cycle opens and select the Roy L. Cachola Scholarship in your fund list.
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✓Personal statement essayAnswer Pauahi's career-goals prompt: describe long-term plans, how your journey shaped them, anticipated challenges, and how scholarship support would help you reach those goals.
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✓Extracurricular and community service listComplete the structured activity section with dates, roles, and hours where possible. Highlight Kohala or Hawaiian community service when it applies to you.
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✓High school transcript with final gradesUpload a transcript that includes complete grade information through your most recent term. Pauahi uses it to confirm graduation status and academic readiness.
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✓Financial hardship essay and tax paperworkProvide the hardship essay plus Student & Parent Form, W-2s, and federal tax returns for the tax year the portal specifies when this fund's need criteria require them.
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✓FAFSA Submission Summary (if requested)Some Pauahi funds ask for your FAFSA Submission Summary. Upload the PDF from StudentAid.gov if the Roy L. Cachola checklist flags it for your dependency status.
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✓Letter of recommendation (Kamehameha seniors only)Current high school seniors attending Kamehameha Schools need one recommender letter per Pauahi's base rules. Other applicants follow supplemental prompts on the live fund page.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the Roy L. Cachola Scholarship?
It is a Pauahi Foundation need-based fund with two awards per cycle for graduating high school seniors entering their first year of college. The Cachola family established the scholarship in memory of Roy L. Cachola to support North Kohala students and broader eligible applicants who show financial need.
Who gets preference for the Roy L. Cachola Scholarship?
Donor and Pauahi materials give preference to current residents of North Kohala, Hawaiʻi, graduating seniors from Kohala High School, and students of Hawaiian ancestry where law allows. You still need to meet need, residency, and first-year enrollment rules.
How many Roy L. Cachola Scholarships are awarded each year?
CareerOneStop lists two awards annually. Amounts vary with fund income and the strength of each need file rather than a single published dollar figure.
Is the Roy L. Cachola Scholarship only for Hawaiʻi residents?
No. CareerOneStop lists U.S. residency as the geographic gate, with North Kohala preference rather than a statewide residency requirement. Mainland seniors may apply when they meet every other criterion.
What documents does the Roy L. Cachola Scholarship require?
Expect Pauahi's online application, personal statement, activity list, high school transcript with final grades, and need documentation such as hardship essays, tax forms, and possibly a FAFSA Submission Summary. Kamehameha Schools high school seniors also need one recommendation letter under Pauahi base rules.
When is the Roy L. Cachola Scholarship deadline?
Pauahi opens the 2027-2028 postsecondary cycle on October 1, 2026 and closes it on December 1, 2026. Confirm timestamps on the live portal before you file.
Can college students apply for the Roy L. Cachola Scholarship?
The listing targets graduating high school seniors entering their first year of postsecondary study. Current college students should browse other Pauahi funds aligned with their grade level.
How much is the Roy L. Cachola Scholarship worth?
Pauahi does not publish a fixed stipend. Past community news described a $1,500 award in an early cycle, but current amounts follow endowed fund income and committee need review across two recipients.
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