HMSA Kaimana Scholarships
Scholarship Sponsored by Hawaii Medical Service Association
Intro
The HMSA Kaimana Scholarship honors Hawaii high school seniors who demonstrate well-rounded achievement and a commitment to wellness through strong academics, athletic participation, and community involvement. Awarded students may apply the funds toward postsecondary education expenses; student-athletes must follow NCAA regulations if they plan to compete in college.
Scholarship benefits
Each Kaimana Scholar receives $5,000. The funds may be used for higher-education costs such as tuition, room and board, airfare to and from the airport closest to your school, books, or a laptop/desktop computer.
Eligibility (must meet all)
- Be a Hawaii high school graduate in 2026. Your GPA must be at least 2.75 and verified by a transcript submitted by a school faculty member.
- Have competed in at least one athletic sport during high school (school or club) — either as an individual or as a team member.
- Take part in community service and other school activities.
- Submit a personal statement and an additional essay.
- Provide two recommendation letters from school faculty, mentors, or coaches that speak to your dedication and determination, academic performance, and personal character.
How to apply (online only)
1. Access the online application.
2. Create an account.
3. Complete the application form.
4. Through the online system, request two letters of recommendation and upload your transcript (official or unofficial). Allow enough time for recommenders and school staff to submit their materials before the deadline.
5. Upload all supporting documents, including your personal statement and essay.
File and submission requirements
- Each uploaded file (documents, photos, emails, etc.) must be smaller than 10 MB — larger files will be rejected by the system.
- Do not include sensitive information such as your Social Security number. If such information appears on any document, please redact it before uploading.
- Applications that are incomplete will not be reviewed.
Important dates and notes
- HMSA will award 15 scholarships of $5,000 each.
- Application deadline: Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. — no exceptions can be made to this cutoff.
- Start early: contact your school counselor and those you ask to write recommendations well in advance so they have sufficient time to submit their portions on time.