Applications are now available for the 2024-25 school year!

HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association (HMSA) is proud to announce the 20th anniversary of the Kaimana Awards & Scholarship Program, which has awarded 341 student scholarships and 171 school awards to date. With the Kaimana class of 2025, HMSA will have invested a total of $1.62 million in scholarships and awards to students and schools.

Scholarship applications are available online and are open to graduating Hawaii high school seniors. In recognition of the 20th anniversary milestone, HMSA will award 20 scholarships worth $5,000 each to students who demonstrate excellence in academics, athletics, and community service.

“For the past 20 years, HMSA has had the honor of awarding scholarships to outstanding high school graduates from across the state,” said HMSA President and CEO Mark M. Mugiishi, M.D., F.A.C.S. “This program is one of my favorite HMSA initiatives because our past Kaimana scholars have gone on to pursue careers in a variety of fields that make Hawaii and the world a better place. We’re proud of these investments in Hawaii’s future leaders and the schools that help to support and nurture them.”

HMSA’s Kaimana Awards & Scholarship Program has been supporting Hawaii students and their schools since 2005. Scholarships are available to students from public, private, and independent schools in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, Interscholastic League of Honolulu, Kauai Interscholastic Federation, Maui Interscholastic League, and Oahu Interscholastic Association.

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Graduate from a Hawaii high school in 2025 with a GPA of 2.75 or higher, verified by an official or unofficial school transcript submitted by a school faculty member.
• Have participated in at least one Hawaii High School Athletic Association league-sanctioned sport during one or more of their high school years.
• Be involved in community service projects in addition to school activities.
• Write a personal statement and an essay.
• Submit two letters of recommendation from school faculty, mentors, or coaches.

A committee of local business and community leaders will select the Kaimana Scholarship recipients.

Kaimana Scholarship recipients will be notified by email in April 2025. Recipients can use their scholarships to pay for tuition for higher education, books, computers, and room and board. Scholarship use is subject to National Collegiate Athletic Association rules and regulations for those participating in collegiate sports.

To learn more about the scholarship eligibility requirements and apply, visit hmsa.com/kaimana. Scholarship applications must be received by 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025.

Kaimana school awards of $1,500 each are also available to Hawaii high schools that exhibit all-around excellence in academics, athletics, community service, healthy activities, and sportsmanship. School applications are due on Friday, April 25, 2025.

About HMSA

Caring for the people of Hawaii is our promise and our 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.

HMSA is the most experienced health plan in the state, covering more than half of Hawaii’s population. As a recognized leader, we embrace our responsibility 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 and Blue Shield Association.

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