Generosity is reshaping Hawai‘i’s future. With a record $171.7 million raised in fiscal year 2025, more than 17,000 donors have cast a powerful vote of confidence in the University of Hawai‘i’s ability to solve local challenges.
That impact is most visible in the lives of the 5,742 students who received $20.6 million in aid. For Hawai‘i Community College freshman Blake Pena‑Perez, that support was the difference between hunger and hope.
“There were days I didn’t know what I’d eat,” said Blake Pena-Perez, a first-generation freshman and recipient of the Ēlama and Hilo One (pronounced O-nay) scholarships. “That kind of stress takes over your whole life. The Ēlama scholarship reminded me that I’m not alone – that there are people out there who truly care about students like me.”
Philanthropy also fuels long‑term growth across the university through endowments. These lasting investments support student aid, faculty positions, research initiatives, and endowed chairs and professorships, extending the impact of today’s generosity well beyond the current year.
Students First: Combating Food Insecurity and Barriers
Behind those numbers are stories from every island. At UH Hilo, a $1 million gift established the Kruschel Endowment to Reduce Insecurity, addressing rising concerns about student housing, and food and financial instability. The fund enables the campus to respond quickly and compassionately when students face emergencies.
“We’ve seen how quickly poverty and uncertainty – when you can’t count on where your next meal or rent will come from – can turn everyday challenges into overwhelming barriers,” the anonymous donors said. “It’s hard to focus on school or work under those conditions, so we wanted to make sure UH Hilo students facing financial hardship wouldn’t have to give up their education just to take care of their basic needs or their families.”
Over at UH Maui College, the Kam Scholars Program – funded by the Gilbert and Aileen Chuck Charitable Trust – is transforming tragedy into purpose for future nurses. For student Reshmi Rao, a brain aneurysm survivor who is pursuing nursing to honor her late sister, the scholarship was a lifeline that cleared the path to graduation. “Receiving this scholarship has lifted such a huge weight off my shoulders,” Rao said. “It’s given me hope. And it’s deepened my understanding of why compassionate, patient-centered care matters so much.”
Reshmi Rao, far left, with Young Yi, Dr. Anne Scharnhorst, Karen Tabbada and Rodly Uclaray
A Statewide Community Standing Together
Donor generosity is also advancing research and innovation statewide. At UH Mānoa, endowed professorships and program support are accelerating discoveries while strengthening training for future leaders across the islands.
UH Foundation CEO and UH Vice President of Advancement Tim Dolan noted that this investment reflects a deep confidence in the university’s role as a statewide leader.
“As federal funding becomes less predictable, philanthropy serves as the definitive anchor for our university's future,” Dolan said. “This support is the key variable that allows UH to maintain its high standards and deep community impact.”
Community engagement remains a central part of that impact. On UH Giving Day, more than 1,800 gifts raised over $800,000, uniting alumni and friends from across Hawaiʻi and beyond.
“We witnessed an incredible outpouring of support from the entire UH ʻohana,” said Dale Hagadone, Director of Annual Giving. “Each gift – whether $5 or $500 – was a powerful reminder to our students that they are seen, valued and supported.”
Together, these investments are building pathways for students pursuing degrees, for researchers seeking solutions and for communities preparing for what comes next. As UH advances its historic FOR UH • FOR HAWAIʻI campaign, philanthropy continues to turn shared commitment into meaningful progress across the islands
Read more stories from UH Foundation’s FY25 Annual Report.
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