Jan. 21, 2016

Contributed by Shaundor Chillingworth

To help Wai‘anae Coast families navigate the complex college financial aid process, Kamehameha Schools hosts two financial aid one-stop-shop events each year.

This year’s workshops will take place on Saturday, February 13 and March 12 at the Community Learning Center at Nānākuli.

This is the fifth consecutive year KS has hosted this event. Last year’s workshops serviced over 400 students and their family members.

Current high school seniors, college students and their ‘ohana are invited to drop-in anytime between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and get help with financial aid applications and resources for college.

The workshops help students get assistance with applying for Kamehameha Schools and Pauahi Foundation scholarships and financial aid for college. Students and ‘ohana will receive free one-on-one help completing their FAFSA (free application for student aid) and  CSS Profile for the Nā Ho‘okama a Pauahi Scholarship. 

Over the past five years, many community organizations have rallied together to align resources and services to increase the number of students from the Wai‘anae Coast that complete the college financial aid process.

Students should bring the following documents for help with each of these applications:

For FAFSA assistance, bring a completed 2015 Federal Income Tax Return and a social security card, Driver’s license or state ID.

For the CSS/Profile and Nā Ho‘okama Scholarship you should also bring a completed 2015 tax return and:

• If you are a new college applicant bring one of the following: 2016-17 college application, acceptance letter or acknowledgement notice from college or university of admission application.
• If you are continuing at the same college for 2016-2017, bring one of the following: 2015-16 College class schedule or unofficial college transcript

The deadline for the Nā Ho‘okama a Pauahi scholarship application is April 20, 2016.

Assistance with registering with Kamehameha Schools’ Ho‘oulu Hawaiian Data Center will also be provided at the one-stop-shop for anyone interested in help with this service. Families should bring original birth certificates for the student/applicant, at least one parent and grandparent (from the same side of the family) with Hawaiian ancestry.

Free snacks and child care for younger keiki is provided. Call 668-1517 or email hepihana@ksbe.edu with any questions.

The Pauahi Foundation will hold also workshops to inform students and families on the scholarship application process and students can start an application with support from Pauahi Foundation staff. The online application opens on February 3rd and closes March 18th. Visit www.pauahi.org, email scholarships@pauahi.org or call 808-534-3966 for more information.

For families who can’t make it to either of the one-stop-shop events, there are staff at the Community Learning Center at Nānakuli to provide assistance with the CSS Profile and Nā Ho‘okama a Pauahi Scholarship applications, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.