This amendment changes the Hawaii Community College Promise Program so that students can receive a scholarship covering most of their school costs even if they already have other grants, allowing them to use those extra funds for living expenses.
Hawaii2026Enacted
HB2338
Hawaii Community College Promise Program Changes
Last scannedAug 24, 2026, 11:30 PM
In one sentence
This law changes the Hawaii Promise scholarship to cover ninety-five percent of a student's unmet direct costs and excludes other grants from that calculation, allowing students to use those funds for living expenses.
What it does
- Changes the program to provide scholarships for ninety-five percent of a student's unmet direct cost need instead of acting as a last-dollar award.
- Excludes federal grants, scholarships, and other funding sources from the calculation of Hawaii Promise awards so students can use them for indirect costs like housing and food.
- Updates the definition of 'direct cost' to include tuition, fees, books, and supplies while removing transportation costs between home and campus.
- Authorizes the program to coordinate with federal student aid programs to maximize total financial assistance available to students.
Who it affects
- Students enrolled in degree or certificate programs at University of Hawaii community colleges who qualify for resident tuition rates.
- The Board of Regents, which administers the program.
Limits and unknowns
- The program provides scholarships to the extent possible based on available funds.
- Students in certificate programs use a different method, determined by the university, to calculate their unmet direct cost need instead of using federal aid calculations.
- If state rules conflict with federal financial aid regulations, the program must be administered to preserve students' eligibility for federal aid.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Direct cost
- Expenses directly related to education such as tuition, fees, books, and supplies. Transportation is no longer included in this definition under the new law.
- Indirect costs
- Living expenses like housing, food, and other daily needs not paid directly to the school.
- Last-dollar award
- A scholarship that only pays for remaining costs after all other grants and aid are applied. This law changes Hawaii Promise so it is no longer a last-dollar award.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROMISE PROGRAM. University of Hawaii; Hawaii Community College Promise Program Addresses the change in federal law regarding Pell Grants by amending the Hawaii Community College Promise Program (Hawaii Promise) to provide scholarships for ninety-five percent of a student's unmet direct cost need and exclude grants, scholarships, and other funding sources from the calculation of Hawaii Promise awards, thereby allowing students to apply such funds toward indirect costs, including housing, food, and other living expenses, to reduce financial barriers and support student success. Changes Hawaii Promise from being a last-dollar award. Authorizes Hawaii Promise to coordinate with federal student aid programs to maximize total financial assistance available to students. Effective 7/1/2026. (CD1)
Official activity
Bill history
- Act 235, on 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1337).H
- Act 235, 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1337).S
- Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).S
- Transmitted to Governor.H
- Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).H
- Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and none excused (0).H
- Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.S
- 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26S
- Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 106-26).S
- Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.H
- Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 106-26) as amended in (CD 1).H
- The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani.S
- The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Hussey, Amato, Muraoka; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.H
- Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 3:10PM in conference room 229.H
- Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Tuesday 04-28-26 3:00PM in conference room 229.H
- Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 04-24-26 2:30PM in conference room 229.H
- Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 719).H
- Senate Conferees Appointed: Kim Chair; Hashimoto Co-Chair; Kidani, DeCorte.S
- Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).S
- House Conferees Appointed: Garrett, Hussey Co-Chairs; Amato, Muraoka.H
Changes
Amendments
3 stored
This amendment changes how the Hawaii Community College Promise Program calculates financial aid so that students can keep other scholarships to pay for living expenses instead of having them reduce their tuition help.
This amendment changes the Hawaii Community College Promise Program so that students can receive a scholarship covering most of their school costs even if they already have other grants, allowing them to use those extra funds for living expenses.