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 Hawaiʻi’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 Hawaiʻi Community College’s Blake Pena‑Perez, that support was the difference between hunger and hope.
“There were days I didn’t know what I’d eat,” said 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.”
Combating food insecurity and barriers
At UH Hilo, a $1-million gift established the Kruschel Endowment to Reduce Insecurity, addressing rising concerns about student housing, 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. Student Reshmi Rao is a brain aneurysm survivor who is pursuing nursing to honor her late sister.
“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.”
A statewide community standing together
Community engagement remains a central part of that impact. On UH Giving Day, more than 1,800 gifts raised more than $800,000, uniting alumni and friends from across Hawaiʻi and beyond.
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.
“As federal funding becomes less predictable, philanthropy serves as the definitive anchor for our university’s future,” said UH Foundation CEO and UH Vice President of Advancement Tim Dolan. “This support is the key variable that allows UH to maintain its high standards and deep community impact.”
As UH advances its historic FOR UH • FOR HAWAIʻI campaign, philanthropy continues to turn shared commitment into meaningful progress across the islands.
Read more on the UH Foundation’s website and in the FY25 Annual Report.
