Financial aid

Apply for Kipona Scholarship

How to apply

The Kipona Scholarship provides need-based financial assistance and is open to eligible students attending participating private schools in Hawai‘i.

1 Verify eligibility

Please verify that you meet the requirements if you are a new or returning applicant. See eligibility information further down on this page.

2 Apply online

Complete the online application through FACTS and pay an application fee of $40.

For parents who live in the same household: Complete one application.
For parents who live in separate households and share physical custody: Each parent is required to submit an application.

Start application

3 Upload financial documentation

We require that you submit both your 2023 signed federal income tax return along with any applicable tax schedules and any non-taxable income document listed on your application (if applicable).

4 Ancestry verification

Kamehameha Schools’ admissions policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law. If you would like your child to be considered under that policy, your child’s Hawaiian ancestry must be verified by Kamehameha Schools’ Ho‘oulu Verification Services.

5 Custodial information

If the child’s biological parents are not currently married, you will be required to submit all necessary court documents (divorce decrees, custody agreements, legal guardianship, etc.) to confirm legal custody.

Custodial information establishes who has the legal authority to make decisions and to sign school documents on behalf of this child. Custodial documentation and questions regarding custody should be submitted to the Kamehameha Schools Ho‘oulu Verification Services.

6 Await your decision letter

Kamehameha Schools decision letters will be emailed starting May 2025.

Application calendar

For both new and returning students.

15Aug
2024

Application opens

1Dec
2024

Application deadline

Eligibility

FOR NEW STUDENTS

New students applying must:

Be a state of Hawai‘i resident (lived continuously in the state at least 12 months of application date)
Be entering grade 6 or 9
Be enrolled at a participating private school in Hawai‘i

FOR RETURNING STUDENTS

Returning students applying must:

Be a state of Hawai‘i resident (lived continuously in the state at least 12 months of application date)
Have used a Kipona award for SY 2024-2025
Progress to the next grade level

Additional information

Participating school list
- 2025-2026
- 2024-2025
Terms and conditions
- 2024-2025
- 2023-2024
Other

FAQ

The FACTS Grant & Aid application is a family application. One application can be used to apply to multiple students in the household for multiple Prek-12 financial aid and scholarship programs.

Yes, returning students must reapply annually for scholarship consideration.

Yes, you may use your current login with FACTS to complete the 2025-2026 financial application.

FACTS Grant & Aid is the third party vendor used to process KS Preschool through Grade 12 financial aid and scholarship applications.

Yes, the non-refundable application fee is $40 and payable to FACTS Grant & Aid. All fees are paid through the online application process.

KS offers a limited number of fee waivers for qualified students.

Custodial parents are required to complete a FACTS Grant & Aid application. See general requirement below:

Custodial parents in same household – Custodial parents complete one application and provide their contact and financial information.
Custodial parents live in separate households: Each custodial parent is required to submit a FACTS Grant & Aid application.

Custodial parent may submit an explanation of circumstances to help KS understand the current family situation with the whereabouts of a parent. The explanation of circumstances will be reviewed, and additional information may be requested.

Yes, you may log back in to the FACTS Grant & Aid system and complete the application by the program deadline.

No, any circumstances that occur after the program deadline will not be honored.

No, you do not need to create a new account. You can apply for Financial Aid and Scholarships using your current FACTS login information.

Parent(s) may select program applying to in section number five of the application process. Upon school selection you will be asked to select program (or Organization) you are applying to. Check boxes for program must be selected for KS to view your application.

See this general list of required documents:

2023 signed federal income tax return and all schedules
Any non-taxable income document listed on your application
- Public assistance (TANF, SNAP, etc.)
Court-approved custody documentation
Ward of State documentation

You may upload your documents directly to your application.

You will receive a confirmation email confirming receipt of your application and/or required documents within 24 hours of submission.

FACTS Grant & Aid or KS will send an email and/or phone call notification if your application is incomplete.

Yes, feel free to come in to a Resource Center near you. Please complete the appointment scheduler to lock in a date/time: bookings.ksbe.edu/ksrc.

Our PreK-12 Financial Aid and Scholarship Programs are need based. FACTS Grant & Aid uses the information you provide on your application and supporting documents to calculate your financial need. The need is the estimated amount your family will need to support your student’s education.

Because school costs and family situations vary considerably, there is no specific income limit that determines eligibility. We encourage everyone to apply if you feel you cannot meet your educational expenses.

Community service is mandatory for the 2024-2025 school year.

‘Ohana are required to perform community service, preferably within their own community for an organization that benefits Native Hawaiian, indigenous, or under-served population.

Further details regarding our community service requirement can be found in Section 6 of the Terms and Conditions of the award.

You will be notified via email in July 2024 when the requirement is assigned to you and can submit your keiki’s Ho‘oulu Kaiāulu Community Service Report in FACTS.

For help with submitting your keiki’s service hour report, please reference our step-by-step instructions.