By: Kapā Oliveira

UH Mānoa is investing in these students because we believe that with their degrees in hand, they will contribute their strengths and talents toward the revitalization and future of Lahaina and Kula. We believe that this is more than a scholarship program; it is a vital component of Mānoa investing in our students and the future economic contributions they will make to their communities once they have their UH Mānoa degree.

UH Mānoa would like to continue this commitment through the next few years as the Lahaina and Kula communities continue recovery and healing efforts. We experienced an overwhelmingly positive response from students and families who learned of our commitment. After the fires, they thought a college career was not possible or affordable, and we’ve had the honor of working with students and families who tell us that this commitment made their college dreams possible. 

However, UH Mānoa is limited in our scholarship resources, so we are seeking assistance from philanthropic partners.

We know that we will continue to bring in funding from federal grants (such as the Pell grant), as well as external scholarships that students bring in themselves. UH Mānoa is now seeking help to cover students’ remaining costs each year. We would also like to support future students from the Class of 2025 and beyond, which is more challenging since most of the philanthropic support to this point was focused on the Class of 2024.

We recognize that this is a long road to recovery, and we remain committed to walking this road with our students in the years ahead. We would appreciate collaborating with other philanthropic partners to help alleviate and supplement future costs. For more information, please contact me, the Interim Vice Provost for Student Success or Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, Dr. Nikki Chun, using the email links below.