Scholarship Frequently Asked Questions
General Foundation Questions
How many Foundation scholarships are available this year?
Over fifty scholarship funds are available and each fund varies in the number of awards distributed. Please review our 2012-2013 Scholarship Listing for further details.
Do I have to be a state of Hawai‘i resident and/or attend a college/university in Hawai‘i to apply?
No, not necessarily. A majority of scholarships are not restricted to Hawai‘i residents. However, there are some scholarships that do require applicants to be Hawai‘i residents or require you to attend a college/university in Hawai‘i. Refer to the scholarship listing for specific criteria.
Is there a difference between the Ke Ali‘i Pauahi Foundation scholarship program and the Kamehameha Schools Post-High Financial Aid Nā Ho‘okama Pauahi Program?
Yes, there is and you may want to consider applying for both. Foundation scholarships are funded by private donors and are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or donor specified criteria. Kamehameha Schools (KS) scholarships are funded annually by the KS endowment through the KS budgeting process, which is separate from the Foundation’s funds. Therefore, the programs are different as is the application process. We advise that you review both programs and if you are eligible, apply for both. Visit Kamehameha Schools’ Financial Aid web site at www.ksbe.edu/finaid for details or call (808)534-8080.
Why have you eliminated the ability to submit documents with a postmark of the deadline date?
In order to notify recipients and institutions in a timely manner, the Scholarship Team and their review committees require all documents to be submitted to determine completeness. Eliminating the postmark will eliminate the time period in which staff is waiting for all postmarked documents to be delivered, thereby allowing review committees to occur sooner and decisions to be made in a timely manner.
Do I need to be a Kamehameha Schools graduate to apply?
No, most scholarships are available to all eligible applicants of Hawaiian ancestry. However, there are a few scholarships that are designated for or give preference to Kamehameha Schools’ graduates.
Do I need to be of Hawaiian ancestry to apply?
Applications are open to the general public. However, it is the policy of Ke Ali‘i Pauahi Foundation to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.
Do I need to reapply if I received a scholarship last year?
Yes. All students must reapply each year in order to be considered for an award.
Can I apply for more than one Ke Ali‘i Pauahi Foundation scholarship?
Yes, as long as you fulfill the eligibility requirements for all scholarships you apply for.
Processing Questions
May I make changes to my online application once it has been submitted?
No, once your online application is completed, request for changes must be submitted in writing by the deadline to Ke Ali‘i Pauahi Foundation via mail, fax or e-mail (scholarships@pauahi.org).
Who selects the scholarship recipients?
Between May and June, scholarship committees established by the Foundation will evaluate all qualified applicants for each scholarship and select the awardees based on the requirements established by donors.
When will I know if I have been selected to receive a scholarship?
During the months of June and July, notification letters will be sent to the current mailing address provided in your application. Applicants who have been selected will also be invited to attend a reception along with scholarship sponsors in mid-July.
Regarding the FAFSA and SAR
What is the FAFSA?
FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is administered by the federal government to ensure all eligible individuals can benefit from federally funded financial assistance for education beyond high school. The form itself collects financial data about you and your parents.
What is a SAR?
A Student Aid Report (SAR) is a by-product of the FAFSA. It contains the data that was entered on the FAFSA and gives us an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) amount which is a reflection of what your family has the ability to contribute toward your educational expenses.
How do I access the FAFSA?
The fastest and easiest way to apply is through their website, www.fafsa.ed.gov. Be aware that there are other sites similar to the official FAFSA site which will charge a fee for their service. Remember, this is a government site and the service is FREE. Additional documents you should have on-hand prior to starting the FAFSA are yours and your parents’ filed taxes from the previous year.
How do I obtain my SAR?
Electronic SAR
You will receive your SAR by e-mail within 3-5 days after your submitted online FAFSA has been processed, if you provided an e-mail address when you applied. This e-mail will contain a secure link so you can access your SAR online. If you have a “junk” folder or “spam” folder in your e-mail files, check it. The e-mail from FAFSA might be delivered there instead of your inbox.
Print Summary
After submitting your information electronically, you will have access to a Print Summary which is a summarization of the information you submitted. This will not be accepted by the Foundation. We will accept only the SAR form.
Paper SAR
You will receive a paper SAR by mail within 7-10 days after your mailed hard-copy FAFSA has been processed if you do not provide an e-mail address when you apply.
Next steps
Provide KAPF with a copy of your SAR by the stated deadline to:
Ke Ali‘i Pauahi Foundation
567 South King Street, Suite 160
Honolulu, HI 96813
Why can’t I submit my Print Summary from the FAFSA in lieu of the Student Aid Report (SAR)?
The Print Summary that you receive as a result of pressing the submit button for the SAR is an estimate of your family’s contributions and may or may not be an accurate reflection of your financial situation. In order to obtain an accurate picture, the Foundation will only accept a copy of the official
Transcripts
What is an official transcript?
An official transcript is a record of coursework that you’ve completed at an institution, be it public, private, high school or college. What makes the record official is the fact that the document is mailed to the Foundation directly from the institution. Photo copies of grade reports are not an official transcript of grade and will not be accepted.
How do I request an official high school transcript?
For current high school students as well as students who have never attended a post-high institution, you will need to submit an official transcript of grade in order to complete your application packet.
- Contact the high school(s) you attended during your 9th through 12th grade year. The school may ask you to fill out its own customized request form. Ask the school for what it will charge for the transcript and how payment is to be made.
- Provide your name, birth date, last grade level attended at the school and the year last attended. If married, give maiden name. Also, provide any AKA used or spelling variations of your name.
- “Student copy” will be indicated on the transcript if it is being sent to an address that is not a bona-fide educational institution.
How do I request a copy of my Hawai‘i GED Certification?
Use the Authorizing the Release of Information form by accessing this website: http://adulted.k12.hi.us; go to Literacy program tab and download the Form. Mail or fax a written request.
- Legal name and/or name as it appears on your records
- Address where transcript is to be sent
- Reason for request
- Site or school name where test was taken
- Approximate year of completion
- Date of Birth
- Social Security number (this additional information will help in the search)
- Requestor’s signature that authorizes the release of private information
- Mail your request to the Test Center that you received your diploma or to the community Education Section
Department of Education
Community/Adult Education Section
475 22nd. Ave., room 124
Honolulu, HI 96816
I attended a private school, how do I request my official transcripts?
If the last school attended is a private school, contact the private school directly.
How do I request an official college transcript?
Applicants currently attending a post-high institution should contact Registrar’s office and have them mail an official transcript of grade to the Foundation after fall grades have been posted. For example, if you are currently attending school in the 2011-2012 academic year and you were applying for the 2012-2013 academic year scholarship season, you would request transcripts after fall 2011 grades have been posted.
I previously attended college, but am not currently attending any institution. How do I request an official college transcript?
Contact the registrar’s office of the last college institution you attended. Have them directly mail us an official transcript of your grades. Most institutions charge a fee and you will likely have to complete a formal request form.
Where do I submit my official transcripts, SAR and other documents?
Once you complete your online application, note your confirmation number and keep a copy for your reference. All documents must be received at our office by the stated deadline date and time.
Can the same letter of recommendation be used for multiple scholarships?
Yes, as long as it satisfies the specific type of recommendation required for each scholarship.
If I am applying for an art scholarship requiring samples of work, how should I submit my portfolio?
Only hardcopy portfolios with high quality color prints and/or copies of work will be accepted for review. CDs and digital copies of your work will not be accepted. Include a cover page with your full name, contact information and Ke Ali‘i Pauahi Foundation applicant I.D. number. Portfolios will not be returned and will be retained as part of our records once submitted.
If Selected As A Recipient
If selected to receive a scholarship, when will I receive the check?
The dual-party checks will be disbursed in August to your designated institution. You will need to sign for it at your institution’s financial aid office or business office. Check with your institution for their disbursement policy.
If I am awarded a scholarship and decide to change institutions from the stated institution on my application, am I still eligible?
Awards are based on the information provided from the applicant and according to the criteria set forth by the donors. A re-evaluation of the new information will be made and you will be notified of the decision.
If selected, can I defer the awarding of my scholarship?
No. The Foundation has a strict spend policy that we adhere to. If you are unable to utilize the funds for the academic year it is being awarded for, you will forfeit the scholarship.
If I am awarded a scholarship from Ke Ali‘i Pauahi Foundation and the Kamehameha Schools Nā Ho‘okama a Pauahi Scholarship Program, am I eligible to receive both?
Yes. The funding sources for the two programs are as diverse as our selections. If you are offered both, you are eligible to receive both.
Letters of Recommendation
What if I don’t have any current teacher or counselor that is able to write a letter of recommendation on my behalf?
The requirement of submitting letters of recommendation for select funds are set forth by the donors. If you are unable to find the specific type of writer, i.e. counselor, teacher, community organization, you may have to evaluate your eligibility for the scholarship fund.
