Aloha Mai

The Kamehameha Schools Financial Aid and Scholarship Services (FASS) department is committed to providing financial assistance to students. Financial support is awarded through various Kamehameha programs such as Pauahi Keiki Scholars, Summer School programs, Post-High Scholarships, Kamehameha Schools Preschools, as well as the Kindergarten through grade 12 programs at the Kapālama, Hawai'i, and Maui campuses. All awards are made on an annual basis and are determined through various methods such as need and merit.

The Legacy of a Princess

     Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop was the great–granddaughter and last direct royal descendant of Kamehameha I. During her lifetime she witnessed a rapid decline of the Hawaiian population. With that decline came a loss of Hawaiian language, religion, customs and most of all…spirit.

 Despite the dire condition of her homeland and its people, the princess envisioned a brighter future for Hawaiians. With the support of her husband Charles Reed Bishop, Princess Pauahi articulated her vision in her last will and testament.

 She placed more than 375,000 acres of inherited Kamehameha lands in a perpetual endowment with one purpose: to create schools to improve the capability and well–being of Hawaiians.

 In 1887, three years after her death, Princess Pauahi’s vision became reality with the opening of the Kamehameha School for boys. Seven years later, the Kamehameha School for Girls was established. In the years that followed, students acquired the skills and knowledge necessary to weather the changes brought about by western civilization, helping Hawaiians find their place in the new society.

 Today, 121 years since its founding, Kamehameha Schools operates three K–12 campuses, 30 preschool sites, and serves thousands of additional learners by providing educational opportunities through summer enrichment programs, community education programs, financial aid and post–high scholarships.

 Kamehameha Schools’ Preference Policy

Kamehameha Schools’ (KS) policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.

If you are applying for a KS financial aid or scholarship award and would like to be considered under this preference policy, you must verify your Hawaiian ancestry through the KS Ho‘oulu Hawaiian Data Center (HHDC) by the program deadline date.

About Hawaiian ancestry verification

KS established the Ho`oulu Hawaiian Data Center (Data Center) to build a comprehensive database of the Hawaiian population to support planning for lifelong learning in the Hawaiian community. One of the Data Center’s roles is to verify the Hawaiian ancestry of those who wish to be considered under KS’ preference policy.

As soon as you submit your application for any of the Kamehameha Schools’ financial aid or scholarship programs to KS Financial Aid and Scholarship Services, the Data Center will mail a separate Hawaiian Ancestry Registration (HAR) packet, if you have not already completed your registration process. All questions and documents regarding verification should be directed to the Data Center. Please do not submit any original birth certificates with your financial aid application.

Contact the Data Center

Ho‘oulu Hawaiian Data Center
567 South King Street, Suite 102
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 523–6228
Toll–free: 1–800–842–4682, press 9, then dial extension 36228
Web site: http://www.ksbe.edu/datacenter/