KĀNE‘OHE, HAWAII- More than 350 people turned out Wednesday for a scholarship fair sponsored by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs at Windward Community College
The two-hour fair highlighted various college scholarships that are available to Native Hawaiian students, who were awarded $57 million in financial aid last year to attend college within the University of Hawaii system. The average amount they received was $12,000, according to UH.
“I came to see what scholarships are available for someone like me, who is returning to school later in life to obtain a college degree after a job loss,” said Robbie Akana, a 46-year-old resident of Waimanalo and former Aloha Airline employee.
Kamalei Aweae, a 17-year-old senior at Hakipuu Learning Center, said his high school counselor told him about the fair, which he attended “to find ways to pay for college after high school.”
The fair held at Windward Community College was the second in a series of 12 scheduled statewide through Jan. 25 as part of a major education initiative at OHA. The first fair was held Dec. 6 in Waianae and attracted more than 150 people.
For a schedule of the upcoming scholarship fairs, click here:www.oha.org