Close

Home
Foundation’s Story
Duke's Life
Waterman Hall of Fame
Giving
Grants
Scholarships
Scholarship Winners
Duke's Night
Duke's Oceanfest
Events
News
Contact

P.O. Box 160924 | 4354 Pahoa Ave
Honolulu, HI 96816

Scholarships

As our scholars strive to meet the rising cost of higher education, the foundation aims to provide support for our recipients to achieve their goals. For the 2023-2024 school year, the foundation awarded $112,000 through 39 scholarships to graduating high school seniors and current college students from across Hawaii. The scholarship applications for the 2023-2024 school year are now closed. Notifications were emailed in the spring of 2023. 2024-2025 scholarship application will open in fall 2023.

The foundation is partnering with Scholar's App for this year's application process. By taking the time to create and fill out the data in a Scholar's App account, applicants can easily populate application forms for scholarships from additional organizations. We hope this connects students to additional resources for college. Other scholarships are still open for application on www.scholarsapp.com.

 

Scholarship Applications

Ambassadors Of Aloha Scholarships

For full-time, undergraduates attending an accredited college or high school seniors demonstrating financial need. Applicant must be a resident of Hawaii and a U.S. citizen; must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0; and must participate in canoeing, surfing, kayaking, swimming, diving, water polo, sailing, or volleyball, with a record of accomplishments and intention to compete in college. Applicants should demonstrate the spirit of aloha through leadership and community involvement. Multiple one-time scholarships available generally ranging from $1,000 to $3,500 each.

Online Application through Scholar's App includes:
• A an essay as well as short-answer questions
• Transcript of Grades
• Two Letters of Personal Reference
• Athletic Resume (Last Four Years)
• FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR). ODKF reserves the right to ask for further financial need documentation if needed.

Applications will open in fall 2023.

For college or returning applicants: Division I, II and III returning athletes should consult with their school’s compliance officer to see if receipt of ODKF funds (scholarships partially based on athletic ability) could impact eligibility.

New Applicants Apply Here

white arrow pointing to the right

Returning scholarship recipients Apply Here

blue arrow pointing to the right

Duke Award Scholarship

The Duke Award is a one-time award of up to $15,000 created to recognize an outstanding Hawaii high school senior who exemplifies the character and personality traits of Duke Kahanamoku. Duke Award scholars fulfill the Ambassador of Aloha Scholarship requirements at the highest level. This scholarship will help raise awareness about Duke and inspire individuals to emulate his character.

Applicants for the Duke Award must be nominated by a school or athletic official.* Once a nomination is verified, a link to the Duke Award application is emailed to the student.

Online Application through Scholar's App includes:
• An essay as well as short-answer questions
• Transcript of Grades
• Three Letters of Personal Reference
• Athletic Resume (Last Four Years)
• FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR). ODKF reserves the right to ask for further financial documentation if needed.
‍
Duke Award applications not selected for interviews are automatically rolled over to the Ambassador of Aloha application pool. There is no need to apply to both.

While financial need is not a requirement of the Duke Award, it may be weighed as a determining factor.

Applications will open in fall 2023.

* Each school may nominate up to 3 candidates to be considered for the Duke Award. Only 3 to 6 Hawaii high school seniors are selected as finalists each year for this prestigious award. Those students who are not selected as a finalist will automatically be considered for the Ambassador of Aloha Scholarships. Scholars applying to the Duke Award who do not have a nomination from their school official will only be considered for the Ambassador of Aloha Scholarships. Incomplete applications will not be considered for either scholarship. Applicants should be sure to complete every field.

Nominate

blue arrow pointing to the right

ODKF scholarship applications are available with many others on scholarsapp.com.
Open an account today and start building your profile.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa lists more local scholarships at this link.

Duke's Night

Duke’s night is a festive community event that brings together students, their friends, and their families to celebrate scholarship winner accomplishments and encourage them to lead as Ambassadors of Aloha. All awardees are invited from across the islands to be celebrated publicly on stage. The top three candidates for the Duke Award will be showcased individually, followed by a live, white envelope reveal of the top awardee.

2023 Duke's Night Finalists

blue arrow pointing to the right