No major university can grow and excel without a healthy mix of public and private funds. Private contributions leverage public funds and maximize taxpayer dollars. Through partnering with philanthropic investors, our university can sustain excellence and enhance the student experience, making our campuses learning destinations of choice.
Many of the donors who give major gifts to the University of Hawaiʻi do so to support a program, school, or area of study that they believe in. Without exception, their gift has a major impact on our students, faculty and campus community as a whole.
Recent Impact Stories
Now a UH law graduate and climate advocate, Naima Te Maile Fifita’s path was shaped by experience, education and support from the Pettit Family Law Student Travel Endowment, which allowed her to attend COP26 in Scotland.
On Maui, a powerful partnership is bridging the gap between dental care and the Micronesian community. With support from the Freeman Foundation, UH Maui College dental hygiene students are offering free screenings, education – and most importantly, building trust one smile at a time.
Esther Kang, a former pro golfer and current MELE student at Honolulu CC, is pursuing her passion for music thanks to the Honolulu Metallica Scholars Scholarship.
What began as a small internship initiative has grown into a transformative, culturally grounded program that empowers students to protect their homelands through science, aloha ʻāina, and community connection.
With the support of the John M. Ross Scholarship, Lexy Ramos is not only gaining the tools to reach her goals—she’s also honoring a legacy of service, perseverance and connection to the land.
At UH Hilo and Hawai‘i Community College, student success goes beyond the classroom—it starts with meeting basic needs and ensuring strong support systems.
A passionate third-year PhD student in Linguistics from the Philippines, Orlyn Joyce Esquivel is dedicated to preserving endangered Filipino languages and culture.
In 2010, Vincent Linares retired and established a retained life estate, a gift-planning tool that allows him to provide grants for faculty and professional development while continuing to live in his home.
Ulu Lehua Scholars beat the odds, and attract the attention and support of Diane Ono, a 1991 alumna of William S. Richardson School of Law who established the Access to Justice Scholarship.
