HPM Foundation makes 5-year pledge totaling $100K for college scholarships at UH

The HPM Foundation has made a five-year pledge totaling $100,000 to the University of Hawai‘i Foundation to provide college scholarships for students enrolled at University of Hawai‘i campuses across the state.

“Higher education is a catalyst that helps individuals to achieve their highest potential,” said Jason Fujimoto, president, CEO and fifth-generation leader of HPM Building Supply. “For the last 50 years, the HPM Foundation has awarded scholarships to students on Hawai‘i Island, where HPM has roots stretching back more than a century. Now, as a company that has been fortunate to grow across all islands, we are excited to support college students statewide in partnership with the UH Foundation through a new scholarship in honor of my grandfather, Bobby Fujimoto, and an expansion of our Building Future Builders scholarship for Carpentry program students.” 

Up to $20,000 will be awarded annually through two statewide scholarship opportunities:

The Robert M. Fujimoto Memorial Scholarship

Established in honor of Robert “Bobby” M. Fujimoto, retired chairman, CEO and third-generation leader of HPM Building Supply who passed away in 2020 at the age of 93, this scholarship assists undergraduate students enrolled at any UH System campus statewide with costs associated with attendance such as tuition, books and fees.

Bobby Fujimoto was a staunch advocate of higher education who served on the UH Board of Regents from 1979 to 1987, including as its chair from 1981 to 1983. He made generous donations to UH and also served as a trustee of the UH Foundation.

UH full-time undergraduate students who have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and who graduated from a Hawai‘i high school are eligible to apply. Hawai‘i high school seniors who intend to enroll full-time at a UH campus are also eligible to apply.

Scholarship recipients will receive $1,000 each.

The Building Future Builders Scholarship

This scholarship assists students enrolled in the Carpentry program at any UH Community College campus statewide with costs associated with their second year of program attendance, such as tuition, books and fees.

Full-time and part-time UH Community College Carpentry program students who have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and who graduated from a Hawai‘i high school are eligible to apply to receive this scholarship for their second year in the program.

Scholarship recipients will receive $750 each.

Students may apply for both the Robert M. Fujimoto Memorial Scholarship and the Building Future Builders Scholarship through the UH Common Scholarship Application Portal. The deadline to apply for the 2024-25 academic year is March 1, 2024 at 4 p.m. HST.

With the establishment of the Robert M. Fujimoto Memorial Scholarship and the statewide Building Future Builders Scholarship, 2023 marks the final year of HPM’s previous scholarship opportunities through the Barney S. Fujimoto Memorial Scholarship and the Hawai‘i Community College Building Future Builders Scholarship.

2023 Recipients of the Barney S. Fujimoto Memorial Scholarship

From 1973 through 2023, the HPM Foundation awarded the Barney S. Fujimoto Memorial Scholarship annually in memory of Barney S. Fujimoto, a second-generation leader of HPM Building Supply who held very strong convictions about the merits of higher education. The following 2023 scholarship recipients received $1,000 each and were selected based on academic excellence and a history of strong community service.

• Tiare Regina Morita is a 2023 graduate of Kapa’a High School on Kauai and is currently enrolled at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, where she intends to major in Psychology.
• Michael Endres is a 2023 graduate of Mililani High School on O’ahu and is currently enrolled at Leeward Community College, where he intends to major in natural science.

2023 Recipients of the Hawai‘i Community College Building Future Builders Scholarship

The following 2023 scholarship recipients received $750 each to assist with expenses for their second year in the Hawai‘i Community College Carpentry Program.

• Joshua Crouch
• Leonard Garlitos