Non-Hawaiians get scholarships

By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer

Four non-Hawaiian students will attend college this fall with scholarships from Kamehameha Schools because of a shortage of qualified candidates of Hawaiian ancestry.

Kamehameha officials, while seeking ways to encourage more applicants, point out a large measure of success in the total figures — about $15 million in college scholarships being awarded for the 2004-05 academic year to about 2,700 students. They also point out that every qualified Hawaiian applicant got financial help, grants averaging about $5,000.

However, Ray Soon acknowledged that the applicant list ran out before the money did and that an amount estimated at between $20,000 and $30,000 went to non-Hawaiians.

School officials have held private meetings in recent weeks to discuss the issue with members of Kamehameha's extended community of student families and alumni.

So far, say those contacted by The Advertiser, there's been no outcry over the scholarships — unlike the furor of the past two years over the admission of two non-Hawaiians, one to the school's Maui campus and one at the Kapalama flagship.

Soon, who serves as the school's vice president for community relations and communications, said the falloff in scholarship applications probably stemmed from tougher requirements instituted about two years ago.

That occurred because the school decided to change the scholarship processing service used in evaluating the applications, he said. Previously the federal service Free Application for Federal Student Aid evaluated applications, he said, but more recently the lawsuits in federal court challenging the school's Hawaiian preferential admission policy have led the school to avoid the use of federally financed services.

So Kamehameha began using the private College Scholarship Service, Soon said, which requires applicants to submit much more information. To prove financial need, for example, the student must turn in information on the value of family assets as well as household income, he said.

"The application process is onerous," Soon said. "It takes people with patience to get through it."

Within the community of Kamehameha families and alumni, reaction to the scholarship awards has been generally supportive, according to some who say that at least the school is involving them in discussions on how to improve things.

Kamehameha graduate and Hawaiian community leader Lilikala Kame'eleihiwa said she was happy to hear that all Hawaiian applicants were accommodated first, but said she would have preferred to see the extra money simply awarded to another Hawaiian educational concern, such as Hawaiian charter schools.

However, Soon said the administration policy is to use budgeted scholarship money for its intended purpose. "Our preference policy is to serve Hawaiian students first, and then we served other needy students," he said.

Soon also said the school is considering setting aside less money for college scholarships and placing a greater emphasis on early childhood programs for Hawaiians.

Jan Dill is president of Na Pua a Ke Ali'i Pauahi, the nonprofit group that was formed to support the intent of school founder Bernice Pauahi Bishop's will. He and Na Pua colleague Marion Joy, both Kamehameha graduates, were among those who have attended recent meetings on the issue with Dee Jay Mailer, the schools' newly appointed chief executive officer.

Dill said the school has committed to making the process less intimidating to the applicant.

"Dee Jay is clearly focused on maintaining the (Hawaiian) preference policy and making sure every Hawaiian is given the opportunity," he said. "It's an issue of administrative reform, and I think that's going on."

"People shy away when they think the application is so convoluted, and then they just drop it," said Joy. "We understand the situation."

Joy said several volunteers from the school community have pledged to assist students in their applications. Kame'eleihiwa endorsed that pledge and said the news about the scholarships is essentially good.

"I would be upset if they awarded non-Hawaiians and left out Hawaiian students," she said. "The fact that they had enough money for all who applied is good.

"Do I wish that more Hawaiian students had applied? Yes, I do, and I intend to do all that I can to make sure that more Hawaiians apply in the future."

Reach Vicki Viotti at vviotti@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8053.