Financial aid

Apply for Pauahi Keiki Scholars (PKS) scholarship

The 2025-2026 Pauahi Keiki Scholars Scholarship application deadline was December 1, 2024. We are no longer accepting applications. Any submissions will not be processed or considered for an award.

Pauahi Keiki Scholars (PKS) is a need-based scholarship, open to eligible preschool-aged students planning to attend a participating PKS preschool in Hawai‘i.

1 Verify eligibility

Please verify that you meet the requirements if you are a new or returning students. 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.

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

15Aug

Application opens

1Dec

Application deadline

Eligibility

Students applying must be:

A state of Hawai‘i resident (KS defines Hawai‘i residency as having lived continuously in the state of Hawai‘i for at least 12 months of date of application)
Born in 2020, 2021, or 2022
Enrolled or plan to enroll at a participating preschool

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.

Yes. The families may complete the 20 hours. However, when submitting the hours, the hours must be submitted by quarters (5 hours each quarter).

Yes. Award is based from August to July.

Yes. KS will confirm with the school the school’s tuition rate.

No. The PKS award will not cover for kindergarten summer school and the PKS award will be terminated. Keiki must be enrolled in preschool summer school to receive assistance.

Yes. KS will adjust the award and will notify parents of award amount change via FACTS. Parents should inform KS if keiki is receiving a non-KS subsidy.

PKS recipients must adhere to attendance requirements for the 2024-2025 school year and parent/legal guardian must submit attendance reports through the FACTS portal.

However, PKS service hours have been made optional for the school year.

We anticipate making Ho‘oulu Kaiāulu community service mandatory for the 2025-2026 school year should your keiki remain in our PKS Scholarship program.