Hawai‘i Promise Program to Help Students with In-State Tuition

Justin Woodson, file photo by Wendy Osher.

The Hawai‘i Promise Program has received a legislative appropriation of $1.8 million for the fiscal biennium years 2018 and 2019.  Backers say it is the start of a revolutionary concept for higher education in the state.

Representative Justin H. Woodson (Kahului, Pu‘unēnē, Old Sand Hills, Maui Lani), who introduced House Bill 1594, said the appropriation will help qualified students with financial needs pay for in-state tuition.

“If you want to invest in yourself, we are committed to supporting you. Whether you want to earn a certificate in auto mechanics or earn an associate’s degree, the state is ready to help,” said Woodson. “The program as funded now will focus on community colleges, and I am confident that the program will have secondary benefits enabling students to get 4-year degrees at lower costs as well. The program is of strategic importance to increase our college educated population and quality of our workforce.”

Woodson worked with the University of Hawai‘i System President David Lassner, Vice President John Morton, and Vice President for Budget & Finance Kalbert Young to draft HB 1594.

“We were very fortunate to have had a Higher Education Chair who was willing to collaborate with the university,” said Young. “This program aims to help Hawai‘i students mitigate increasing student loan debts and tuition costs that are of rising national concerns.”