OHA Awards College Scholarships to 303 Students

OHA Board of Trustees. File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs awarded more than $718,000 in scholarship money to 303 Native Hawaiian students who are seeking a college education.

The money awarded this year represents a 44% increase from a year ago, when OHA contributed a half-a-million dollars towards scholarships for beneficiaries.

Awards ranged from $1,000 and $4,500 to assist with the cost of tuition.  Recipients are attending various institutions of higher learning.  The list includes Cornell University in New York, Stanford University in California and the University of Hawai’i, to name a few.

“These scholarships reflect our commitment to helping ensure that Native Hawaiian students have an opportunity to not only pursue a college education, but to also graduate,'” said OHA Chief Executive Officer Kamana’o Crabbe in a press statement.

Kailly Ahuna, a recent Kamehameha School graduate, was among the OHA scholarship winners who were recognized during a luncheon in August, at Windward Community College in Kaneohe.  In accepting the scholarship award she said, “It’s nice to know that there’s a Hawaiian organization backing Native Hawaiians’ pursuit of education.”

***Supporting information courtesy OHA.