Scholarships available for West Hawaii seniors
The Kona Japanese Civic Association will award two $1,500 scholarships to high school seniors in West Hawaii with financial needs who will be attending an accredited two- or four-year college or university. Home-schooled seniors and students of any ethnic background are welcome to apply.
The applicants will be judged on a 600-word essay based on their awareness of and how the Japanese culture influenced them, as well as financial need, academic achievement, involvement in extracurricular high school activities and volunteer with community organizations.
Applications must be postmarked by March 23, and are available from high school counselors or online at www.konajapanese civicassociation.com.
Info: Contact Jo Ann Iwane at malobrka@gmail.com or Claudia Chang at cschang713@yahoo.com.
Goodwill Hawaii providing free tax help
Goodwill Hawaii is now taking appointments to help individuals or families — who earned $54,000 or less in 2017 and do not own a home or business — prepare and file their taxes for free.
New this year, in addition to the in-person appointments Goodwill is also offering drop-off services.
Eligible participants can schedule an appointment online at www.higoodwill.org or by calling 836-0313 to visit one of the seven tax clinics opening statewide Tuesday through April 7.
Drop-off services will be available from Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 pm, with a three-day turnaround time. A complete list of locations and their hours of operations can be found below.
In Kailua-Kona, visit the Goodwill Kona Office, 74-5599 Luhia St., Ste. F-4. In addition to the drop-off appointments, the office is open for in-person appointments 2-5 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of each month.
In Hilo, visit the Goodwill Hilo Office, 200 Kanoelehua Ave., Ste. 102. In addition to the drop-off appointments, the office is open for in-person appointments 2-6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and the second Saturday of each month from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Participants should visit Goodwill Hawaii’s website prior to their appointment to be prepared to bring with them the necessary documents. Walk-ins will be accepted for in-person appointments only on a first-come, first-serve basis. Only one individual or household will be served per appointment.
Statewide Rotary scholarships available
The Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation (HRYF) scholarship application process is underway and the submission deadline for application from Hawaii high school seniors is Feb. 7.
Some $250,000 in scholarship grants will be awarded in April, with scholarship grants of $5,000 awarded to 46 students and two “outstanding students” who will receive one $10,000 Maurice J. Sullivan Scholar Award or one $10,000 Joanna Lau Sullivan Award.
All statewide interested high school seniors, as well as any home-schooled senior student, can apply for a HRYF college scholarship award. Interested seniors can contact their high school college counselor, contact one of the Rotary Clubs on their island, or visit the Rotary District 5000 website at www.rotaryd5000.org. Eligibility criteria are on the application.
Info: Contact Faith McFatridge at 735-1073.