Pauahi Foundation Scholarships Opening Soon
Offered by Kamehameha Schools / Pauahi Foundation
About This Scholarship
The Pauahi Foundation is the fundraising and scholarship arm of Kamehameha Schools, the Hawai'i trust founded by Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop that stands among the largest educational endowments in the country. The foundation administers a large catalog of donor-named postsecondary scholarships and gives preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.
One application covers consideration for multiple named funds spanning undergraduate, graduate, and career-technical study. The 2027-2028 scholarship application cycle opens October 1, 2026 and closes December 1, 2026 — an unusually early window that lets Native Hawaiian students line up funding well before most mainland scholarship season peaks.
Award amounts differ by fund and year, and the foundation posts detailed fund-by-fund eligibility when the cycle opens. Students planning to apply should prepare transcripts, recommendations, and personal statements in early fall.
Eligibility
- Preference given to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law
- Postsecondary funds cover undergraduate, graduate, and career-technical study
- Individual named funds carry their own criteria (major, island, school, need), posted when the cycle opens
- One application covers consideration for multiple funds
How To Apply
- Create an account at pauahi.org when the application opens October 1, 2026
- Complete the common application and any fund-specific questions, and upload transcripts and recommendations
- Submit by the December 1, 2026 deadline for the 2027-2028 academic year
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Pauahi Foundation application open?
The 2027-2028 scholarship application cycle opens October 1, 2026 and closes December 1, 2026.
Do I have to be Native Hawaiian to apply?
No, but the foundation gives preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.
How many scholarships can one application cover?
The foundation administers many donor-named funds, and a single application puts you in consideration for the funds whose criteria you meet.