Scholarship

Kupuna Jeanette Kaualani Akiu Howard Memorial Scholarship Information

1. HCCK scholarships are awarded to provide financial assistance for higher education expenses to students of Native Hawaiian ancestry who reside in the Ka‘ū district, and/or have strong ‘ohana connections or roots in Ka‘ū, and/or demonstrate a commitment to the protection (ho‘omalu), perpetuation (ho‘omau), promotion (ho‘opi‘i), and preservation (mālama) of the Hawaiian culture, history, and language. 

2.  A new application must be submitted every year. Applications must be complete and submitted by the deadline for consideration.  You will not be notified if your application is incomplete. You will be notified if you receive a scholarship.

3.  Scholarship applicants are recommended by the HCCK Education Committee to the HCCK Executive Board, who will make the final decision based upon the following criteria:

• Complete Application submitted on time

• Financial Need or First Generation to College

• Strong desire to return or give back to Ka‘ū

• Potential for leadership within the Hawaiian community

• Community service, Hawaiian Cultural Activities, ‘Ohana Ties to Ka‘ū

4. A limited amount of scholarships will be awarded for the 2025-2026 school year. Scholarship award amounts will be determined based upon the number of applicants and funds available.

Download an APPLICATION PACKET for additional information, terms, conditions, application form, and list of additional required materials.

Past & Recent Scholarship Recipients

1970: Paulette Kaihilani Ke.

1982: Raylene Moses.  1983: Berkeley Kenoi Yoshida.  1984:  Connie Koi

2018: Malie Ibarra & Dacy Davis.  Malie and Dacy are both 2018 graduates of Ka'u High School. They both went on to pursue higher education at the Univeristy of Hawai'i at Hilo.  Malie is studying business and Dacy is studying Nursing.

2019: Josiah Barrios, Ryan AhYee, Kamalani Fujikawa.  Josiah and Ryan are 2019 graduates of Ka'ū High School. They went on to Hawai'i Community College. Ryan is completing his A.A. is Culinary Arts in 2021.  Josiah is pursuing his A.A.S. degree is Automotive Mechanics and hopes to complete the program is 2022. Kamalani is a 2017 graduate of Ka'u High School and is completing her education at B.Y.U. Provo pursuing a degree in Psychology and Counseling.

2020: No scholarships awarded. Due to COVID-19, Scholarship committee did not meet.

2021: Elysa Abellera, graduate of Kamehameha Schools Hawai'i, from Pāhala, HI.

2022: Amelia Manaʻolanahiwalani Bounos-Uribe, from Ocean View, HI. Amelia is a 2022 graduate of Kaʻū High School and is pursuing a degree in Business Administration from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. 

2023: Lenaia Andrade, a KS Hawaiʻi graduate from Pāhala, HI pursuing a BA in Dental Hygiene from Columbia Basin College. Candace Keohuloa, a 2023 Kaʻū  High graduate from Pāhala, HI, pursuing a Nursing degree from Hawaiʻi Community College.  Kawai Smith, a 2023 Kaʻū  High graduate from Ocean View, HI, pursuing a degree in legal studies from UH Hilo.  Megan Javar, a Kaʻū  High graduate from Nāʻālehu, HI pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education from Hawaiʻi Community College.

2024:  Lexi Manila-Louis and Nālani Blanco-Louis, both 2024 Kaʻū High graduates from Pāhala, HI.  Lexi and Nālani will be attending Hawaiʻi Community College in Fall 2024.

Please contact us if you know of any scholarship recipients from the past. Mahalo nui loa!