Scholarships for Native Hawaiian Students
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AICPA Fellowships for Minority Doctoral Students
Every year, the AICPA Fellowship for Minority Doctoral Students awards fellowships worth $12,000 to minority postgraduate students.
AISES 3M Scholarship
The AISES 3M Scholarship is for incoming college freshmen from American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, First Nations, and other indigenous communities of North America to enroll in a STEM-related degree.
AISES Aristocrat-VGT Scholarship
The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), in partnership with Aristocrat/VGT, offers the AISES Aristocrat Scholarship, ranging from $2,500 to $5,000, to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree in a field related to casino gaming.
AISES Chevron Scholarship
The Scholarship is awarded to students who belong to the American Indian, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, First Nations, and other indigenous communities of North America to further their STEM education.

Hui Makaala Scholarship
Hui Makaala Organization annually provides Hui Makaala Scholarship, ranging from $1,000 to $20,000, to deserving college-bound Hawaiian students who demonstrate an interest in perpetuating Okinawan culture.
Illinois CPA Society Freshman Scholarships
The scholarships are awarded annually to brilliant minority students for their academic excellence to pursue a degree in accounting.
The Leon Bradley Scholarship
The American Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA) offers the Leon Bradley Scholarship Program of $3,500 to two minority students of all levels pursuing teaching certificates in the U.S.
Undergraduate Diversity Scholarship
The Undergraduate Diversity Scholarship provides $3,000 to a female or minority undergraduate student from the U.S in a STEM related field.
Reach for the Gold Book Scholarship
Omega Phi Beta Sorority gives $1,000 to a woman of color to support them throughout the first year of college with the Reach for the Gold Book Scholarship.
Warner Norcross & Judd Law Scholarship
The scholarship, administered by Warner Norcross & Judd and Grand Rapids Community Foundation, is offered to a minority student enrolled at or pursuing a law degree at an accredited U.S. institution.
BLM² Scholarship
The BLM² Foundation awards $1,000 to six successful applicants to address the financial needs of minority students to pursue higher education at accredited colleges or universities across the U.S.
Sherry R. Arnstein Underrepresented Minority Scholarship
Each year, the American Association of Colleges Of Osteopathic Medicine awards a financial scholarship of $5,000 to five osteopathic medical students who belong to an underrepresented minority.

Phoenix AISES Scholarship
Phoenix AISES offers the Phoenix AISES Professional Chapter Scholarship to high school seniors and undergraduate students to further their education in STEM-related majors. Only two scholarships are awarded each year.
Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program
The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program of $2,800 is awarded to undergraduate or graduate students interested in advancing toward doctoral study upon completing their bachelor's degree.

American Indian Nurse Scholarship Program
The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America offers one student of Native American, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian heritage up to $12,000 to pursue nursing or healthcare.
Medical Diversity Scholarship Program
Every year, the Buckfire Law firm offers one available scholarship valued at $2,000 per recipient for undergraduate study across the United States.
Bertha Parker Cody Award for Native American Women
The Bertha Parker Cody Award for Native American Women is giving one Native American female student specializing in archaeology or museum studies $4,000 towards their tuition.
Historically Underrepresented Groups Scholarship
Historically Underrepresented Groups Scholarship offers $3,000 grants to three underrepresented minorities wishing to or undertaking archaeology courses.
Interpublic Group Scholarship
The scholarship is awarded to two qualified undergraduate or graduate female students enrolled in a full-time communications-related field of study. It’s accompanied by a summer internship in New York City.
Minority Natural Resource Scholarship
The Conservation Foundation of Missouri Charitable Trust offers the Minority Natural Resources Scholarship of $1,000 is awarded to undergraduate minority students to pursue natural resources management-related programs in Missouri.
National Science Foundation Scholarship for Archaeological Training
The National Science Foundation Scholarship for Archaeological Training will fund up to four Native American students or tribal employees with up to $6,000 for archaeological training or archeological research programs.
SAA Arthur C. Parker Scholarship for Archaeological Training for Native Americans
SAA Arthur C. Parker Scholarship for Archaeological Training awards one Native North American, Alaska Tribe, or Native Hawaiian student or employee for an archaeological training program of their choice.
SAA Native American Graduate Archaeology Scholarship
The SAA Native American Graduate Archaeology Scholarship will be providing one Native American archaeology or museum studies student with $10,000 to contribute towards their studies.
SAA Native American Undergraduate Archaeology Scholarship
The SAA Native American Archaeology Scholarship provides one Native American undergraduate student a $6,000- scholarship to obtain a degree in archeology or museum studies without the burden of education loans.
Dr. Irving Pressley McPhail Endowed Scholarship
The Dr. Irving Pressley McPhail Endowed Scholarship offers one scholarship to a female high school senior or undergraduate student from the U.S or Canada.
Scholarships for Native Hawaiians
For many minority groups, lack of funding is the biggest obstacle to obtaining a degree or pursuing postsecondary education. This is no different for Native Hawaiian students. Cornell Law School defines Native Hawaiian as "any individual any of whose ancestors were natives of the area which consists of the Hawaiian Islands prior to 1778." The University of Hawaiʻi includes in their definition anyone who has a Hawaiian ancestor. Native Hawaiians make up quite a small percentage of the U.S. population – in fact, the U.S. Census Bureau often counts them along with Pacific Islanders. According to the 2020 census, approximately 690,000 people identified as Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (NHPI) alone — almost 900,000 identify as NHPI in combination with another race. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs recorded the NH population to be around 607,010 in 2019. People who identify as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander alone make up 0.3% of the U.S. population.
As a minority, it's unsurprising that Native Hawaiian students may struggle to obtain a college education. The Asian and Pacific Islander Americans Scholars 2019 report on Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in Higher Education stated that at least 50% of NH students leave college without a college degree and that 53% of adults have not enrolled in postsecondary education. It also indicated that the bachelor's attainment rate was around 20.5% for Native Hawaiians – this was below the average attainment rate of 29.1%. While the report doesn't provide a reason for this low enrollment and graduation rate, we could point out that the high cost of attending postsecondary institutions plays a pivotal role. This high cost places higher education out of reach of minorities who often experience economic hardship due to established prejudiced social structures, and a history of colonialism and imperialism.
Scholarships are one way that organizations, universities, and even federal governments are trying to increase the number of Native Hawaiian students. The cost of college is one of the biggest barriers students face when trying to obtain a college degree, so by gaining financial assistance students can rather focus on their education and doing well. Scholaroo has gathered 65 scholarships for college-bound, undergraduate, and graduate Native Hawaiian students to help them fulfill their goal of earning a degree and overcoming the challenges many minorities face.
10 Easy Scholarships for Native Hawaiians 2023
Planning for undergraduate or graduate programs is time-consuming, demanding, and can be stressful. Therefore, Scholaroo made the effort to include some less-demanding scholarships that are sure to make your educational pursuit come true. The following are some of the easiest scholarships to win.
Scholarship | Award Amount |
---|---|
Kamehameha Schools Pauahi Foundation Scholarship | $20,00–$60,000 |
Minority Fellowship Program for Mental Health Counselors Doctorate | $20,00 |
Kahikina O Ka Lā Scholarship | $5,000–$20,000 |
Diversity in Hospitality Scholarship | $5,000 |
Milliman Opportunity Scholarship | $5,000 |
Brown and Caldwell Minority Scholarship | $5,000 |
AISES Aristocrat-VGT Scholarship | $2,500–$5,000 |
Minority Teacher Education Scholarship | $4,000 |
Historically Underrepresented Groups Scholarship | $3,000 |
Illinois CPA Society Freshman Scholarships | $2,000 |
Organizations Supporting Native Hawaiians
Many organizations were established specifically to aid Native Hawaiians. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs along with a large number of non-profit and profit organizations, including the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Native Hawaiian Education Association, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement to name a few, seek to increase the number of Native Hawaiian students attending and graduating from colleges and universities, especially those who demonstrate academic excellence despite financial need by allowing them access to higher education and equal career opportunities in the U.S.
Earn a Scholarship for Being Hawaiian
With your Hawaiian ancestry, you are eligible for a number of scholarship programs that can cut your college expenses to half or better yet have it completely covered, including books, on-campus housing, and/or tuition through the Higher Education Scholarship Programs offered by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
Aiming to eliminate the educational gap, eligible Native Hawaiian students can actually go to college for free. The Kamehameha Schools Pauahi Foundation is one organization that offers the Kamehameha Schools Pauahi Foundation Scholarship of up to $60,000 to Native Hawaiian students to advance their education. The Kona Hawaiian Civic Club offers the Kona Hawaiian Civic Club Scholarship of up to $20,000 which is granted to Native Hawaiian undergraduate and graduate students. The University of Hawai’i Maui College (UHMC) also created the Kahikina O Ka Lā Scholarship of up to $20,000 for eligible Native Hawaiian undergraduate students.
Apply for the Native Hawaiian Tuition Waiver
If you plan to continue your education at any University of Hawai’i college, you are entitled to apply for the Native Hawaiian Tuition Waiver and get a 50% tuition cut or go to college for free. The Native Hawaiian Tuition Waiver is a legislative bill HB1335 HD3, with which the University of Hawaii provides its students of Hawaiian ancestry partial to full tuition waivers, subject to admissions requirements and maintenance of satisfactory grade levels.
Scholarships for Low-Income Native Hawaiian Students
If you plan to continue your education at any University of Hawai’i, you are entitled to apply for the Native Hawaiian Tuition Waiver and get a 50% tuition cut or go to college for free. The Native Hawaiian Tuition Waiver is a legislative bill HB1335 HD3, with which the University of Hawai’i provides its students of Hawaiian ancestry partial to full tuition waivers, subject to admissions requirements and maintenance of satisfactory grade levels.
Scholarships for Native Hawaiian Women 2023
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 7.4% of Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders have obtained a graduate or professional degree in comparison to 14.3% of whites. The Census Bureau estimates that the average Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander median household income was $66,695 in comparison to $71,664 for non-Hispanic white. According to the bureau, in 2019, 14.8% of Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, in comparison to 9% of non-Hispanic whites, were living at the poverty level. The unemployment rate for Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders was 5.9%, as compared to 3.7% for non-Hispanic whites.
To lessen the gap and present a more inclusive society, there are many scholarships out there to ease the financial burden of education on low-income Native Hawaiian households. Scholaroo provides scholarships for financially disadvantaged households, including the Fontana Transport Inc. Scholars Program of $5,000 offered to high school seniors and undergraduate students pursuing higher education.
The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America offers the American Indian Nurse Scholarship Program of $12,000 to Native American, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian heritage to pursue nursing or healthcare. The Chairish Design Your Future Scholarship of $2,500 is awarded to students from underrepresented minority groups across all educational levels enrolled in accredited post-secondary institutions to further their education. The Historically Underrepresented Groups Scholarship of $3,000 is another example of a scholarship promoting diversity in the workforce and is granted to underrepresented minorities wishing to or undertaking archaeology courses. Also, the University of Hawaii Community College offers the Hawaii Promise Scholarship of up to $2,000 to deserving undergraduate Native Hawaiian students to further their education.
State-Based Scholarships for Native Hawaiian Students
The number of Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders residing in the U.S. is roughly 1.4 million as estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau, representing approximately 0.4% of the U.S. population. In 2020, ten states recorded the largest Native Hawaiian population, including Hawaii, California, Washington, Texas, Utah, Florida, Nevada, Oregon, New York, and Arizona. If you are a Native Hawaiian student residing or wish to study in any of these states, check if you are eligible for any of the following scholarships or state-based scholarships on Scholaroo.
The Prince Kūhiō Hawaiian Civic Club offers the Prince Kūhiō Hawaiian Civic Club Scholarship of $1,000 to Native Hawaiian undergraduates and graduate students majoring in journalism, education, communications, or Hawaiian studies. LPA, Inc offers LPA Scholarship of $5,000 to Native Hawaiian high school seniors in California and Texas to further their education. Phoenix AISES offers the Phoenix AISES Professional Chapter Scholarship of $1,000 to high school seniors and undergraduate students to further their education in STEM-related majors. Also, the Minority Teacher Education Scholarship (MTES) in Florida is a renewable scholarship of up to $4,000 made available to pursue education-related undergraduate or graduate programs.
Aside from these highly popular states among Native Hawaiians, there are also a number of state-based scholarships available for eligible students across Pennsylvania, Kansas, and Missouri to name a few. The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society offers the $5,500- Foundation Education Award Scholarship to underrepresented minority medical students who are Pennsylvania residents and enrolled at a Pennsylvania medical school. The Kansas Board of Regents offers the Kansas Ethnic Minority Scholarship of $1,850 to ethnic minority high school senior students in Kansas to pursue undergraduate degree programs of their choice. The Conservation Foundation of Missouri Charitable Trust offers the Minority Natural Resources Scholarship of $1,000 is awarded to undergraduate minority students to pursue natural resources management-related programs in Missouri.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I'm eligible for Native Hawaiian scholarships?
It’s pretty easy to know if you qualify for Native Hawaiian scholarships as the island of Hawaii is much smaller in terms of population when comparing it to other demographics. However, Native Hawaiians may actually also qualify for scholarships for Indigenous or Native American students as Hawaii is an American state. They may also qualify for Pacific Islander scholarships. Be sure to double-check with the scholarship organizers.
According to the U.S. Department of Interior, a Hawaiian Native means “any descendent of the aboriginal peoples inhabiting the Hawaiian Islands that exercised sovereignty and lived in the Hawaiian Islands in 1778.”
How do I know if I'm eligible for Asian American scholarships?
Generally, Native Hawaiian refers to students who have heritage from any of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent are referred to as Asian. They also include those who are descended from any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.
Are there scholarships for undocumented students 2023?
Yes. The Scholaroo database contains programs suitable for all students of all types, especially those of financial need and who are not U.S. citizens or who are permanent residents. Do your research and check out the programs you are eligible for.
Are there scholarships for non-traditional students 2023?
Yes. Scholaroo provides an extensive list of scholarships that cater to all students of all educational levels. Whether you are a returning student, undocumented, or homeschooled, you can find several the programs you are eligible for. You will be asked to include academic information such as test scores, latest GPA, etc.
Do you have to repay your awards following program completion?
No. However, you need to review the terms and conditions of the scholarship you have applied for or won before accepting it. In most cases, repayment or a penalty is charged if the terms are violated.
Does FAFSA cover your academic expenses?
If you apply for financial aid via your school’s financial aid office and get accepted, it is the federal fund FAFSA that covers your tuition and fees. Be sure to provide all accurate financial information about you and your household. A lot of scholarship programs provide financial aid without proof of financial status.