May 13, 2008
Contributed by Thomas Yoshida
Families applying to the program had the opportunity to choose from among 61 participating schools. Twenty-five of the schools are rural community-based schools with tuitions under $6,000 and 20 of them are located on Maui, Hawai'i and Kaua'i. Once accepted into the PKS-K program, families may reapply each year to receive continued tuition assistance for their keiki through grade 12.
When the last group of PKS-K scholarship recipients from the 720-student pilot phase graduates from high school in 15 years, KS will have invested over $47 million in the pilot program. PKS-K is made possible through a collaboration between KS and the Hawai'i Association of Independent Schools (HAIS).
"The Pauahi Keiki Scholars Kindergarten program exemplifies Kamehameha Schools' commitment to early learning and sustaining the momentum of that learning for generations to come," said KS Chief Executive Officer Dee Jay Mailer. "Each year, Kamehameha Schools enrolls 160 kindergarteners at its Kapālama, Hawai'i and Maui campuses. With the support of HAIS, we are now able to extend early learning opportunities to an additional 240 kindergarteners at 61 private schools in the state. "
The idea of securing private school tuition assistance from private sources was conceived by Kamehameha Schools and HAIS leaders in the mid 1980s. The leaders studied and shepherded the idea over the years and in 2004, in response to a request by KS, HAIS developed an initiative entitled "Broadening Access to Independent Education." PKS-K is the first statewide program born out of that initiative.
"When a school with a unique purpose serves a population of students that is not otherwise well-served, everyone benefits," said HAIS Executive Director Robert Witt. "Kamehameha is such a school. The PKS-K program gives parents from all walks of life a choice to have their children attend a school that is well-matched in philosophy with their values and well-matched programmatically to meet the unique learning needs of their children. KS is helping HAIS achieve one of its primary goals – to make its schools more diverse, affordable and accessible."
Award priority is given to applicants who demonstrate financial need and who reside in communities with large Hawaiian populations. To be eligible for the PKS-K scholarship, children must be accepted to participating schools that are fully accredited members in good standing of the Hawai'i Association of Independent Schools, including the member schools of Hawai'i Catholic Schools. Kamehameha Schools gives preference to keiki of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.
Scholarship amounts are determined using a sliding scale based on the school's tuition and the estimated amount each family is able to contribute. Kamehameha's contribution is capped at $6,000 per student, and the amount contributed by the school is dependent upon its tuition – the higher the tuition, the greater the contribution.
"The PKS-K program is part of Kamehameha's commitment to increase educational options for our families – especially those in communities with the highest need," said KS Vice President for Campus Strategies Dr. Rod Chamberlain. "We have community outreach programs that serve the continuum of learners from birth to adulthood, and now with the PKS-K program, our families can have a choice in the learning environment for their keiki. Reaching more Hawaiian keiki, in more ways, to help them succeed in life . . . It's what Ke Ali'i Pauahi would have wanted."
In addition to supporting keiki through the PKS-K program, Kamehameha currently spends more than $26 million each year on community-based early learning programs. Kamehameha also provides more than $52 million in funding to public education programs for learners of all ages. KS creates additional learning opportunities through collaborations with various educators including the University of Hawai'i; the state Department of Education; Hawaiian-focused charter schools on O'ahu, Kaua'i, Moloka'i and Hawai'i; and a broad spectrum of community learning facilities and programs.
The PKS-K program is an extension of Kamehameha Schools' very successful Pauahi Keiki Scholars program which offers need-based scholarships to keiki attending non-Kamehameha preschools. Since its inception in 2003, the PKS program has awarded more than $15 million in scholarships to keiki attending over 100 Hawai'i preschools. Last year, over 1,000 preschoolers were awarded PKS scholarships.
The Pauahi Keiki Scholars Kindergarten program is administered by the KS Financial Aid and Scholarship Services Division. For more information on this and other scholarship opportunities, visit the division's Web site at http://www.ksbe.edu/finaid or call 534-8080.
Frequently Asked Questions (Adobe PDF)
Fact Sheet (Adobe PDF)
List of Participating Schools (Adobe PDF)
Kamehameha Schools is a private, educational, charitable trust founded and endowed by the legacy of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. Kamehameha Schools operates a statewide educational system enrolling more than 6,700 students at K-12 campuses on O'ahu, Maui and Hawai'i and 31 preschool sites statewide. Thousands of additional learners are served each year through a range of other Kamehameha Schools' outreach programs, community collaborations and financial aid opportunities in Hawai'i and across the continental United States.
Kamehameha Schools’ policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.
