Merit-Based Aid

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it.

Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.

Begin it now."

Goethe

Genius, power, and magic. Believe it or not, you've got it! We know because you are reading this page! You are beginning a journey, chasing a dream, crossing a bridge...to college!

Now, believe it or not, people have set aside money to help you manifest all that genius, power, and magic. These are merit-based scholarships and there are many. They are given because there is something special about you: athleticism, smarts, talent, being someone who can bring an interesting difference to the student body...

Schools may offer them to you out of the blue because they would like to attract you to their campus. Other groups or individuals have given money because they care about certain skills, goals, gifts, ethnicity, or even types of people. These are scholarships and grants that you have to discover and apply for on your own. But you know how to use the internet!!

Because we love you, we can give you a few suggestions about places to begin searching:

Local Organizations:

Rotary Clubs

Mokihana Club

Kauai Chamber of Commerce

Contractor's Association of Kaua'i

Grove Farm

Kaua'i YWCA

Employers:

Starbucks

MacDonalds

Your parents' employers or yours

Government Organizations (local, state, federal):

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education

(TEACH)

Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants

Veteran's groups

Aid for military families

Scholarship Search Engines (these do a lot of work for you!):

The College Board's Scholarship Search

Hawai'i Community Foundation Scholarship Search

and their FAQ's

Hawaiian Ancestry

If you are of Hawaiian ancestry, that is a big plus. There are special scholarships set aside for you. Mahalo nui loa, Ke Ali'i Bernice Pauahi Paki Bishop! (And you may be able to apply for those set aside for Native Americans on the mainland, too.)

1. Check your legal birth certificate. If your Hawaiian ancestry is listed there, proceed to 2. If not, you must register your ancestry first.

2. Apply for the post-high school scholarships: Na Ho'okama and 'Imi Na'auao and Ke Ali'i Pauahi Foundation. The Kamehameha Schools Resource Center manages these and will be happy to help! You can actually go into their offices at 2870 Haleko Road, Suite 101, in Lihue. You can call them at 808-245-8070, too.