Hawaiʻi Promise Program — University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges

Hawaiʻi Promise serves residents studying in an eligible degree program at one of the University of Hawaiʻi’s seven community colleges. It is not a grant for every UH campus: UH Mānoa and UH Hilo, for example, are four-year universities, not program campuses. The official page requires Hawaiʻi residency for resident tuition, at least six credits per semester, a financial-aid-eligible program and a minimum 2.0 GPA. Award amounts depend on need and available funding.

The rule that changes the calculation is Act 235, signed in July 2026 and effective July 1. The law provides aid equal to 95% of unmet direct-cost need and stops automatically subtracting outside grants and scholarships from a Hawaiʻi Promise award. The goal is to let Pell or other scholarships help with indirect expenses such as housing, food and transportation. The law defines direct need around tuition, fees, books and supplies; it does not mean the state pays 95% of every college or household expense.

There is an important discrepancy to watch: the program information page still contains language from the earlier calculation, says aid depends on “other financial resources” and describes FAFSA, enrollment and registration as the first steps. The later statute controls the formula from July 2026; the campus calculates each student’s case. File FAFSA every year and list the community college you plan to attend. The program page gives March 1 as its priority date; check the campus calendar for the specific cycle and do not confuse priority with the federal filing deadline.

To start, apply for admission to a UH community college and register for six or more credits in an eligible program. Maintain the 2.0 GPA and satisfactory academic progress required by your campus. The state does not list a separate Hawaiʻi Promise application: campus financial-aid offices process the FAFSA file. UH offers free FAFSA assistance at FAFSA@hawaii.edu and lists contacts for Hawaiʻi CC, Honolulu, Kapiʻolani, Kauaʻi, Leeward, Maui and Windward. Request an itemized estimate for tuition, fees and books, plus the remaining housing and food costs you would still need to meet.

UH’s published student voices explain the day-to-day value of aid: Kevin-Clark Labador of Leeward says it helped pay for classes, books and supplies while he worked; Michael Amado says it helped him transfer to UH Mānoa and work fewer hours; Christina Faye connects the support with rebuilding after losing her home in the Lahaina fire. These are institutional testimonials, not guaranteed outcomes. For 2024–25, UH reported $5.69 million for 1,941 students and a $2,933 average award; do not treat that average as a quote for your own file.