Preschool scholarships

Supporting keiki, strengthening ʻohana, and creating opportunities for future success

The Pauahi Foundation invests in our youngest learners through preschool scholarships that uplift ‘ohana across generations. These scholarships ensure keiki have access to high-quality, culturally grounded preschools while establishing a strong foundation rooted in identity, leadership, and service to others.

Applications for the 2027–2028 school year open October 1, 2026 and close December 1, 2026. Updated scholarship information, eligibility criteria, and application materials will be available when the application period opens.

Which scholarship is right for my ‘ohana?

Kahapua‘ohai Scholarship

Kahapua‘ohai provides tuition assistance to ‘ohana with keiki ages 3 to 5 who face financial barriers to accessing quality early learning programs during these critical developmental years.

Eligibility

Haumāna applying must be:

A state of Hawai‘i resident (Hawai‘i residency is defined as having lived continuously in the state of Hawai‘i for at least 12 months of date of application)
Born in 2022, 2023, or 2024
Enrolled or planning to enroll in a participating preschool in the 2027-2028 school year.

Kamalukī Scholarship

Kamalukī provides tuition assistance for preschool aged keiki with a parent/legal guardian who is pursuing a postsecondary education or workforce training in Fall 2026. By helping reduce the cost of preschool tuition, Kamalukī supports both generations creating opportunities for keiki to learn and thrive while parents and caregivers advance their own educational and career pathways.

Eligibility

To be eligible, the haumāna should be::

A state of Hawai‘i resident (Hawai‘i residency is defined as having lived continuously in the state of Hawai‘i for at least 12 months of date of application)
Born in 2022, 2023, or 2024
Enrolled or planning to enroll in a participating preschool in the 2027-2028 school year.
Further, the haumāna should have a mākua enrolled in a Postsecondary program leading to credential or degree (e.g., certification, AA, BA, or MA)

At-a-glance

Key dates

Milestone		Date
Applications open		October 1, 2026
FACTS application due		December 1, 2026
Supporting documents due		January 15, 2027*
Selection notifications		May 2027*

*Subject to final program confirmation. Based on proposed program information.

Before you apply

Have these ready:

Email address you check regularly
Household contact information
2025 Federal tax return and all schedules
Custody documentation (if applicable)
Scholarship-specific eligibility information

Get mākaukau: Application readiness checklist

Before starting your application, gather the following:

Expected documents

Entire 2025 federal tax return, including all schedules
Custody or guardianship documentation (if applicable)
Scholarship-specific documentation

Know your deadlines

FACTS application deadline: December 1, 2026
Supporting document deadline: January 15, 2027

Understand the timeline

Review when selections are expected and what next steps will be.

Start application

How to apply through FACTS

New to FACTS?

Select the scholarship application link.
Enter your email address and select Next.
Select Create a New FACTS Account.
Enter your contact information.
Create a username and password.
Complete phone authentication fields.
Submit your FACTS account registration.
Begin your scholarship application.

Already have a FACTS account?

Use your existing FACTS username and password to access the application.

Need help?

Forgot password?
Forgot username?
Changed your email address?
Having trouble accessing your account?

Frequently asked questions

Yes! You can apply your preschool-aged keiki for both the Kahapua‘ohai and Kamalukī scholarships, as long as you meet the eligibility for each.

The application is combined for our Kahapua‘ohai and Kamalukī scholarships. However, if you have other keiki in your household eligible for another Pre-K-12 scholarship, each program has its own application process and specific application link. Applying for one Pauahi Foundation scholarship does not automatically enter you for consideration for other scholarships. To be considered for each scholarship, complete and submit the application using the specific link provided for that scholarship.

Be sure to review the eligibility for each scholarship before applying. Visit the individual scholarship application page for the correct application link and additional details.

No, applicants can be enrolled or planning to enroll in a participating preschool for the 2027-2028 school year. Additional enrollment conditions may apply.

Scholarship funds may only be used to attend a participating preschool. View the participating-school list for the current application year.

Applicants must have lived continuously in Hawaiʻi for at least 12 months before the application date.

Submitting all documents that make an applicant eligible for consideration, including:

Submitted FACTS application
Expected supporting documents
Custody documentation (as applicable)
Scholarship-specific forms

Applications are not considered complete until all expected materials have been received by the deadline. Any material received after the deadline will not be considered.

An applicant’s entire 2025 federal tax return, including all schedules.

Yes. However, all expected supporting documentation must be submitted by the document deadline for the application to be considered complete.

The most common reasons include:

Missing tax return schedules
Missing custody documentation
Waiting until the last minute to upload documents
Using an email address that is not regularly monitored
Assuming a submitted application is also a completed application
Uploading incomplete or unreadable documents

For parents living in the same household, submit one application. For families with shared custody across separate households, each parent should submit a separate application.

Examples include:

Divorce decrees
Custody agreements
Legal guardianship documents

Custody questions should be directed to Ho‘oulu Verification Services.

Email notifications will be sent by May 2027 when selections have been made and are posted to families’ FACTS account.

Information about scholarship payments and next steps will be provided to families of selected students.

Families should notify the scholarship team if there are changes to:

Preschool enrollment
Contact information
Custody arrangements
Educational enrollment requirements (for Kamalukī)

Yes! You can apply your preschool-aged keiki for both the Kahapua‘ohai and Kamalukī scholarships, as long as you meet the eligibility for each.

Be sure to review the eligibility for each scholarship before applying. Visit the individual scholarship application page for the correct application link and additional details.

No, applicants can be enrolled or planning to enroll in a participating preschool for the 2027-2028 school year. Additional enrollment conditions may apply.

Scholarship funds may only be used to attend a participating preschool. View the participating-school list for the current application year.

Applicants must have lived continuously in Hawaiʻi for at least 12 months before the application date.

Submitting all documents that make an applicant eligible for consideration, including:

Submitted FACTS application
Expected supporting documents
Custody documentation (as applicable)
Scholarship-specific forms

Applications are not considered complete until all expected materials have been received by the deadline. Any material received after the deadline will not be considered.

An applicant’s entire 2025 federal tax return, including all schedules.

Yes. However, all expected supporting documentation must be submitted by the document deadline for the application to be considered complete.

The most common reasons include:

Missing tax return schedules
Missing custody documentation
Waiting until the last minute to upload documents
Using an email address that is not regularly monitored
Assuming a submitted application is also a completed application
Uploading incomplete or unreadable documents

For parents living in the same household, submit one application. For families with shared custody across separate households, each parent should submit a separate application.

Examples include:

Divorce decrees
Custody agreements
Legal guardianship documents

Custody questions should be directed to Ho‘oulu Verification Services.

Email notifications will be sent by May 2027 when selections have been made and are posted to families’ FACTS account.

Information about scholarship payments and next steps will be provided to families of selected students.

Families should notify the scholarship team if there are changes to:

Preschool enrollment
Contact information
Custody arrangements
Educational enrollment requirements (for Kamalukī)

Need kōkua?

Scholarship questions

(808) 534-8080

Custody and verification questions

Contact Ho‘oulu Verification Services.

Technical support

Need help creating or accessing your FACTS account? Contact scholarships@pauahi.org before the December 1 application deadline.

‘Ohana seeking information about renewing their existing scholarships will be contacted directly.

Pauahi Foundation’s policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.