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Lunalilo scholars program

About the Program

Lunalilo in the News

From Hawaiʻi to the Emerald Isle, invaluable for Kapiʻolani CC students

Nine Kapiʻolani Community College students, accompanied by three faculty members, journeyed to Ireland last summer as part the first study-abroad cooperation between the Lunalilo Scholars Program—a one-year bridge program that builds a supportive community for underrepresented students throughout their first year at Kapiʻolani CC—and the Paul S. Honda International Center (HIC).

Hoʻomau: Lunalilo Scholar, Benedict “Benny” Corpuz

Benny Corpuz is a Lunalilo Scholar and has been a CNA in Arcadia’s Health Care Center since November 2021. The Lunalilo Scholars Program is an opportunity for non-college bound students to transform their lives through education at Kapiolani Community College. The program was designed to uniquely serve and support students who demonstrate academic potential, but lack the family and financial support to attend college. Being the first in his family to go to college, Benny shared, “I want to be an inspiration for others.” He also expressed that Arcadia is a “paradise for seniors and I’m blessed to be here!” In addition to being a Lunalilo Scholar, Benny was recently selected to study abroad in Ireland. Congratulations, Benny, on your achievements! We are happy that you are a part of the Arcadia Family of Companies and can’t wait to hear about your adventures in Ireland!

Lunalilo Scholars alumni give back, complete virtuous cycle at Kapiʻolani CC

Some of the almost 600 Lunalilo Scholars, who have benefited from a free transformative first-year college experience at Kapiʻolani Community College over the past decade, are giving back in a big way.

Kapiolani Community College’s Lunalilo Scholars program assists underrepresented and nontraditional students

To hear Kapilialoha Kidder and Kurt Kidder tell it, they both started out far from typical college-student material — until first the daughter and then the dad found the Lunalilo Scholars program.

Kaneta Foundation Funds Lunalilo Scholars For 4 More Years

This year, more than 50 students are able to attend Kapiʻolani Community College for free through the Lunalilo Scholars program. They receive mentorship, college success resources, funding, and a community of peers. For the next four years the goal is to fund as many 76 scholars a year through a $1.2 million pledge from the Kaneta Foundation. This is their largest pledge to date for Lunalilo Scholars.

$1.2M from Kaneta Foundation provides hope, support to underserved students

A program that has already changed more than 500 Kapiʻolani Community College students’ lives recently received a $1.2 million boost from the visionary family foundation that seeded it a decade ago.

Kapi’olani Community College receives $1.2 million to provide hope and support to underserved students

HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Lunalilo Scholars Program (LSP) at Kapi’olani Community College recently received a $1.2 million grant from Kaneta Foundation, which supports Native Hawaiian students and students in financial need, their first year in college.

Kaneta Foundation gift provides hope, support to underserved students

A program that has already changed more than 500 Kapi‘olani Community College students’ lives recently received a $1.2 million boost from the visionary family foundation that seeded it a decade ago.

Lunalilo Scholars: Building Community, Connecting Hearts

The Lunalilo Scholars Program at Kapi‘olani Community College empowers students to succeed where many believed success to be impossible. The one-year bridge program nurtures students from underrepresented communities, building a sense of connectedness — to their campus and to each other — while guiding them past many first-year obstacles.

Kapiʻolani CC, Hawaiʻi Foodbank team up to feed community

The Lunalilo Scholar’s Program at Kapiʻolani Community College has managed a weekly Pohukaina Food Pantry, offering non-perishable food products to students, since January 2020. Director LaVache Scanlan, Assistant Director Colette “Aunty Coco” Fujii and campus volunteers have been accommodating approximately 100 families a week.

$250,000 Kamehameha Schools Award Supports Kapi‘olani CC Lunalilo Scholars Program

In an effort to improve Native Hawaiian students’ access, support and success in college, Kamehameha Schools made a $250,000 gift to support the Lunalilo Scholars Program, the innovative 13th Year program at Kapi‘olani Community College. This award builds on Kamehameha School’s earlier $1.5 million donation in support of University of Hawai‘i 13th year initiatives statewide.

Kapiolani Community College receives $90K grant

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Kapiolani Community College recently received a huge donation. The Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation granted $90,000 to fund scholarships for students who have completed their first year in the school's Lunalilo Scholars Program.

Kaneta Foundation pledges $1M for Kapiolani Community College scholarship program

The Kaneta Foundation has committed to a $1 million challenge grant over the next five years for the expansion of the Lunalilo Scholars Program at Kapiolani Community College, which provides financial, and academic support to financially at-risk students.

$1 Million challenge grant for Lunalilo Scholarships

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - It is a successful scholarship program that launched in 2012 that is already changing the trajectory of students' lives who are financially disadvantaged to go to college.

$1 million challenge grant for Lunalilo scholarships

Philanthropists Lester and Marian Kaneta have pledged $1 million for a challenge grant to help raise funds to sustain the Lunalilo Scholars Program at Kapiʻolani Community College, and double the number of students enrolled in this successful program. Launched in 2012, the Lunalilo Scholars Program at Kapiʻolani Community College serves and supports financially at-risk students.

Giving Hope To Youths Who Lacked It

Can a single year make a lasting difference in a person’s life? You bet it can. It did for Jennifer Wong-Ala and Shyanne Humel. In their case, one year meant the difference between a life of mere survival and one full of possibilities.

New Program at Kapi‘olani CC Will Change Lives

HONOLULU — Thanks to generous support from the Kaneta Foundation, 21 Hawaiʻi students are enrolled in a new program at Kapiʻolani Community College and receiving a transformative college experience. Through the King William Charles Lunalilo Scholars Project, students who had not previously considered higher education a viable option due to financial or other barriers participate in a summer bridge program and then a first year experience program at Kapiʻolani CC.

From Hawaiʻi to the Emerald Isle, invaluable for Kapiʻolani CC students

Nine Kapiʻolani Community College students, accompanied by three faculty members, journeyed to Ireland last summer as part the first study-abroad cooperation between the Lunalilo Scholars Program—a one-year bridge program that builds a supportive community for underrepresented students throughout their first year at Kapiʻolani CC—and the Paul S. Honda International Center (HIC).

Hoʻomau: Lunalilo Scholar, Benedict “Benny” Corpuz

Benny Corpuz is a Lunalilo Scholar and has been a CNA in Arcadia’s Health Care Center since November 2021. The Lunalilo Scholars Program is an opportunity for non-college bound students to transform their lives through education at Kapiolani Community College. The program was designed to uniquely serve and support students who demonstrate academic potential, but lack the family and financial support to attend college. Being the first in his family to go to college, Benny shared, “I want to be an inspiration for others.” He also expressed that Arcadia is a “paradise for seniors and I’m blessed to be here!” In addition to being a Lunalilo Scholar, Benny was recently selected to study abroad in Ireland. Congratulations, Benny, on your achievements! We are happy that you are a part of the Arcadia Family of Companies and can’t wait to hear about your adventures in Ireland!

Lunalilo Scholars alumni give back, complete virtuous cycle at Kapiʻolani CC

Some of the almost 600 Lunalilo Scholars, who have benefited from a free transformative first-year college experience at Kapiʻolani Community College over the past decade, are giving back in a big way.

Kapiolani Community College’s Lunalilo Scholars program assists underrepresented and nontraditional students

To hear Kapilialoha Kidder and Kurt Kidder tell it, they both started out far from typical college-student material — until first the daughter and then the dad found the Lunalilo Scholars program.

Kaneta Foundation Funds Lunalilo Scholars For 4 More Years

This year, more than 50 students are able to attend Kapiʻolani Community College for free through the Lunalilo Scholars program. They receive mentorship, college success resources, funding, and a community of peers. For the next four years the goal is to fund as many 76 scholars a year through a $1.2 million pledge from the Kaneta Foundation. This is their largest pledge to date for Lunalilo Scholars.

$1.2M from Kaneta Foundation provides hope, support to underserved students

A program that has already changed more than 500 Kapiʻolani Community College students’ lives recently received a $1.2 million boost from the visionary family foundation that seeded it a decade ago.

Kapi’olani Community College receives $1.2 million to provide hope and support to underserved students

HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Lunalilo Scholars Program (LSP) at Kapi’olani Community College recently received a $1.2 million grant from Kaneta Foundation, which supports Native Hawaiian students and students in financial need, their first year in college.

Kaneta Foundation gift provides hope, support to underserved students

A program that has already changed more than 500 Kapi‘olani Community College students’ lives recently received a $1.2 million boost from the visionary family foundation that seeded it a decade ago.

Lunalilo Scholars: Building Community, Connecting Hearts

The Lunalilo Scholars Program at Kapi‘olani Community College empowers students to succeed where many believed success to be impossible. The one-year bridge program nurtures students from underrepresented communities, building a sense of connectedness — to their campus and to each other — while guiding them past many first-year obstacles.

Kapiʻolani CC, Hawaiʻi Foodbank team up to feed community

The Lunalilo Scholar’s Program at Kapiʻolani Community College has managed a weekly Pohukaina Food Pantry, offering non-perishable food products to students, since January 2020. Director LaVache Scanlan, Assistant Director Colette “Aunty Coco” Fujii and campus volunteers have been accommodating approximately 100 families a week.

$250,000 Kamehameha Schools Award Supports Kapi‘olani CC Lunalilo Scholars Program

In an effort to improve Native Hawaiian students’ access, support and success in college, Kamehameha Schools made a $250,000 gift to support the Lunalilo Scholars Program, the innovative 13th Year program at Kapi‘olani Community College. This award builds on Kamehameha School’s earlier $1.5 million donation in support of University of Hawai‘i 13th year initiatives statewide.

$1 million challenge grant for Lunalilo scholarships

Philanthropists Lester and Marian Kaneta have pledged $1 million for a challenge grant to help raise funds to sustain the Lunalilo Scholars Program at Kapiʻolani Community College, and double the number of students enrolled in this successful program. Launched in 2012, the Lunalilo Scholars Program at Kapiʻolani Community College serves and supports financially at-risk students.

New Program at Kapi‘olani CC Will Change Lives

HONOLULU — Thanks to generous support from the Kaneta Foundation, 21 Hawaiʻi students are enrolled in a new program at Kapiʻolani Community College and receiving a transformative college experience. Through the King William Charles Lunalilo Scholars Project, students who had not previously considered higher education a viable option due to financial or other barriers participate in a summer bridge program and then a first year experience program at Kapiʻolani CC.

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