Over 30% of HFCA and ELC Students Receive Tuition Assistance

Financial Aid this School Year More Than Tripled to Support Families Struggling Amidst the Economic Impacts of the COVID Pandemic

Over 30% of students at Holy Family Catholic Academy (HFCA) and Early Learning Center (ELC) have been awarded tuition assistance for this 2020-2021 school year.  That is more than triple the percentage of students compared to last school year when 10% of students were awarded tuition assistance.  A total of $104,474 in financial assistance was appropriated to families for the current school year from a variety of sources and programs.

Holy Family Catholic Academy and Early Learning Center appreciate that a Catholic education can be a sacrifice for families, and is committed to making their students' educational experience as affordable as possible.  This school year, $10,000 in tuition assistance was awarded by Holy Family Catholic Academy to students demonstrating financial need.  A portion of these awards were funded by the Samuel & Mary Castle Foundation.  Five students at HFCA were awarded tuition scholarships totaling $28,787 from Federal Student Aid benefits for United States military families.  Three students at HFCA were awarded Kipona Scholarships for a total of $16,472 in financial aid.  An HFCA student received a $1,750 tuition scholarship from the Augustine Educational Foundation this school year.

HFCA Principal Ms. Celeste Akiu states, "We are proud to provide a learning environment to support our students as they grow spiritually, academically, and socially.  Our goal at Holy Family Catholic Academy and Early Learning Center is to offer an educational opportunity for all students and families in Hawaii."

Holy Family Catholic Academy and Early Learning Center work to keep tuition as low as possible, through fundraising efforts, its scholarship endowment fund, and tuition assistance programs, while still providing students with excellent academic, social/emotional, athletic, spiritual, and extra-curricular programs.  HFCA made significant investments preparing for this school year in purchasing one-to-one iPads for all its K-8 students, transitioning to online curricula, and preparing the campus for new health and safety protocols.  However, HFCA & ELC administration seriously considered the economic impacts of the pandemic and made the deliberate decision to not raise tuition for this school year.  Holy Family Catholic Academy and Early Learning Center offer a Sibling Discount Program where after the first child, all sibling tuition is automatically discounted by 10%.  This school year, a total of 52 students received HFCA's sibling discount for a total of over $42,000 in tuition assistance.  In addition, children of faculty and staff at HFCA receive a tuition discount.  Holy Family Catholic Academy and Early Learning Center's partnership with FACTS MANAGEMENT offers a variety of payment options for their families.  Tuition payments may be managed annually, semi-annually, monthly, or bi-monthly, allowing families to select a payment option that best suits their financial needs.

Over 70% of Holy Family Early Learning Center students this school year have received tuition assistance from HFCA's Sibling Discount program, Preschool Open Doors, and/or the Pauahi Keiki Scholarship programs.  Preschool Open Doors and Pauahi Keiki Scholarship awards typically cover 80-90% of monthly tuition payments.  Holy Family Early Learning Center still has thousands of dollars in need-based tuition scholarships available for qualifying families of preschool-aged children, for the current school year.  Interested applicants should call 808-423-9611.

Holy Family Early Learning Center Director, Mr. Allen Akiona, Jr. states, “Every child should have the opportunity to receive and benefit from a quality preschool experience.  Research shows that children who attend high-quality preschools enter schools with stronger academic skills, develop social and emotional skills, and learn how to share and to contribute.  Unfortunately, it is certainly a challenge for families to afford early childhood education during these unprecedented times.  Therefore, I highly encourage families to research and apply for tuition assistance to offset the cost of sending their little one to preschool.  Tuition assistance programs are waiting to support our school community.  Programs such as:  Child Care Aware of America assists our United States Military families, Preschool Open Doors (POD) provides child care subsidies to eligible families for the year prior to kindergarten, Pauahi Keiki Scholars offers need-based scholarships for eligible children of Hawaiian ancestry, and the list goes on.  So, do your research, talk to other families who have children attending preschools, and contact your local childcare agencies to ensure your child is provided the excellent education they deserve.”

Holy Family Catholic Academy and Early Learning Center is a co-ed, parochial, private school for students in preschool through 8th grade.  Holy Family Catholic Academy and Early Learning Center are located off Nimitz Highway, near the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.  This school year, Holy Family Catholic Academy is offering two learning options:  an In-Person, On-Campus Program, and a Virtual Learning Program.  Holy Family Catholic Academy offers both Before and After-School Care Programs starting at 6:00 am and ending at 5:30 pm each school day.  Holy Family Catholic Academy and Early Learning Center accepts applications and enrolls new students year-round, based on space availability.  K-8 tuition ranges from $8,045 - $8,945 per year.  Early Learning Center tuition ranges from $9,270 - $9,990 per year.

Application Information for Financial Aid and Tuition Assistance Programs

Holy Family Catholic Academy (K-8):  Need-Based Financial Aid

Holy Family Catholic Academy awards need-based financial aid to students in kindergarten - grade 8.  HFCA encourages all families who feel they may qualify to apply.  Applications are held in strict confidence and have no impact on the admissions decision process.  To qualify, families must complete a TADS Financial Assessment.  This third-party source evaluates a family's ability to pay tuition and determines financial aid eligibility.  The application window for the 2021-2022 school year will open in January 2021 with applications due in April 2021.  More information is available at www.hfcahawaii.org or by calling 808-423-9611 ext 340.

Augustine Educational Foundation:  K-12 Hawaii Catholic School Scholarship

Founded in 1984, the mission of the Augustine Educational Foundation is to provide tuition assistance to help families with financial needs that count on Hawaii Catholic Schools for their children's education.  All students in grades K-12 attending a Hawaii Catholic School are eligible to apply each school year.  Information and application details are available on their website at www.augustinefoundation.org or by calling 808-203-6748.  The application window for the 2021-2022 school year will open in early January 2021 with an early March 2021 deadline.  Award notifications will be sent out in April 2021.

Kamehameha Schools:  Kipona Scholarship

The Kīpona Scholarship* provides need-based financial assistance from Kamehameha Schools. The application process for the 2021-2022 school year is currently open to eligible students attending participating private schools in Hawai‘i.  Holy Family Catholic Academy is a participating private school.  The application window for new Kipona Scholarship students is August 15 - October 15, 2020.  The application window for returning Kipona Scholarship students is August 15 - December 1, 2020.  Eligibility information and the online application may be found at www.ksbe.edu/apply/financial_aid/kipona/#eligibility.  Call 808-534-8080 with any questions.  New Kipona Scholarship students applying must be a state of Hawaii resident (lived continuously in the state for at least 12 months), be entering the 6th or 9th grade, be enrolled at a participating private school in Hawaii, and complete testing administered by Kamehameha Schools.  Returning Kipona Scholarship students applying must be a state of Hawaii resident (lived continuously in the state for at least 12 months), have used a Kipona award for the current 2020-2021 school year, and progress to the next grade level.  Kipona Scholarship decision letters will be emailed in March 2021 for the next school year.  *Kamehameha Schools' policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.

Holy Family Early Learning Center (Preschool):  Need-Based Financial Aid

Holy Family Early Learning Center awards need-based financial aid to preschool-age students.  Holy Family Early Learning Center encourages all families who feel they may qualify to apply.  Financial Aid for the current school year is still available for preschool-age students.  Holy Family Early Learning Center accepts applications and enrolls new students year-round, based on space availability.  Applications are held in strict confidence and have no impact on the admissions decision process.  To qualify, families must complete a TADS Financial Assessment.  This third-party source evaluates a family's ability to pay tuition and determines financial aid eligibility.  The application window for the 2021-2022 school year will open in January 2021 with applications due in April 2021.  More information is available at www.hfcahawaii.org or by calling 808-423-9611 ext 340.

State of Hawaii:  Preschool Open Doors Tuition Subsidy Program

The State of Hawaii's Preschool Open Doors (POD) Tuition Subsidy Program understands the importance of child care and promotes school readiness by providing child care subsidies to eligible families for the year prior to kindergarten.  The Department of Human Services (DHS) contracts with PATCH to run the program.  The DHS administers the program.  Holy Family's Early Learning Center is an approved POD preschool.  If a child is awarded a POD subsidy, they can attend Holy Family ELC at no cost or at a substantially reduced cost.  Families must meet Monthly Gross Income Eligibility limits.  The application window for the 2021-2022 school year will be in Spring 2021, with applications available as early as January 2021.  Applicants will be notified by mail regarding their application status.  More information may be found at www.patchhawaii.org/programs/preschool-open-doors or by calling 808-791-2130.

Kamehameha Schools:  Pauahi Keiki Scholars (Preschool)

The Pauahi Keiki Scholars* (PKS) Scholarship provides need-based financial assistance from Kamehameha Schools for preschool-aged children.  The application process for the 2021-2022 school year is currently open to eligible preschool-aged students planning to attend a participating PKS preschool in Hawaii.  Holy Family Early Learning Center (ELC) is a participating PKS preschool.  The application window is August 15 - December 1, 2020.  Eligibility information and the online application may be found at www.ksbe.edu/apply/financial_aid/preschool/pauahi_keiki_scholars/.  Call 808-534-8080 with any questions.  Students applying must be a state of Hawaii resident (lived continuously in the state for at least 12 months), be born in 2016, 2017, or 2018, and be enrolled at a participating school.  PKS Scholarship decision letters will be emailed in May 2021 for the next school year.  *Kamehameha Schools' policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.

Federal Student Aid for Military Families

Military families are encouraged to contact their respective branches of the United States military--U.S. Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard--regarding financial aid and scholarship opportunities.