HONOLULU — Hawai‘i Medical Service Association (HMSA) announced today that applications for the 21st annual Kaimana Scholarship Program are now open. Each year, HMSA honors Hawaii high school seniors for excellence in academics, athletics, and community service.
Scholarship applications are available online and open to graduating high school seniors. HMSA will award 15 students $5,000 scholarships each. New this year: Eligibility has been expanded so students who participated in any school or club sport during high school may apply. (In the past, students had to participate in a school league-sanctioned sport to be eligible.)
“It’s always inspiring to see Hawaii’s next generation of young leaders achieve great things in and out of the classroom,” said HMSA CEO Mark M. Mugiishi, M.D., F.A.C.S. “At HMSA, we are proud to celebrate the accomplishments of these well-rounded students in academics and athletics as well as in service to their communities.”
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Graduate from a Hawaii high school in 2026 with a GPA of 2.75 or higher (verified by a transcript submitted by a school faculty member).
- Have participated in at least one athletic sport during high school that included competition as an individual or as part of a team. Participation may include school sports or club sports.
- Be involved in community service and school activities.
- Write a personal statement and essay.
- Provide two letters of recommendation from school faculty, mentors, or coaches.
Recipients may use their scholarships to pay for college tuition, books, computers, and room and board. Scholarship use is subject to National Collegiate Athletic Association rules and regulations for those who are participating in collegiate sports.
Scholarship recipients will be notified by email in April 2026. Recipients will be invited to the HMSA Kaimana Scholarship luncheon in June 2026, where they’ll be recognized for their achievements.
To learn more about eligibility requirements and apply, visit hmsa.com/kaimana. All applications must be received by 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026.
About HMSA:
Caring for the people of Hawaii is HMSA’s promise and privilege. Working together with employers, partners, and physicians and other health care providers, we promote well-being; develop reliable, affordable health plans; and support members with clear, thoughtful guidance. Established in 1938 by social workers, HMSA is the most experienced health plan in the state. Starting in 2025, HMSA is supporting TriWest Healthcare Alliance to administer the U.S. Department of Defense’s TRICARE program, providing health care for uniformed service members, their families, and survivors locally. With the addition of TRICARE, HMSA provides health care to nearly 1 million people in Hawaii. We embrace our responsibility as a recognized leader to strengthen the health and well-being of our community. Headquartered on Oahu with centers statewide to serve our members, HMSA is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
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VISUALS: To access photos and video footage of last year’s student scholarship recipients, use the following link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1UC1Fk9BZqsw0ZJVMc1OTXvGuuN9WMS_x?usp=sharing. For courtesy, please credit HMSA.