Paubox Kahikina Scholarship Recipient Austin Cataluna: 2026 update

The Paubox Kahikina Scholarship helps Native Hawaiian students pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and Tech in general. Its purpose is to offer financial support and create a strong network for these students. The scholarship makes education more affordable and connects students with professionals, giving them valuable opportunities to learn and grow in their chosen STEM or Tech fields. This scholarship is about more than just money; it's about building a community and empowering Native Hawaiian students to succeed in STEM or Tech careers.

See also: The big ideas behind the Paubox Kahikina Scholarship

As a recent Leeward CC transfer and scholarship recipient Austin Cataluna will move on to attend UH Mānoa to study engineering. Here is a word from Austin:

Aloha! My name is Austin Cataluna, and I originally received the Paubox Kahikina Scholarship in 2025. Over the past year, I transferred from Leeward CC to UH Manoa, and with that came many changes. Living on campus at UH has allowed me to become very involved in my junior year, working on engineering projects and professional development outside of the classroom.

Over the last year, I also had the opportunity to participate in the Paubox scholarship panel during Hawaii Tech Week, where four scholarship recipients and I shared about our journeys as well as our future goals. In addition to the panel, I got to attend my first Paubox Winter Networking Event. These events gave me a chance to meet others in Hawaii’s tech field and learn about the opportunities here.

Overall, this year has been transformative for both my personal and professional growth. In addition to the immense professional network that this scholarship provides, it has contributed to me being able to afford living on campus at UH Mānoa, which has allowed me to become involved in college. I look forward to what the next few years will hold.

Thank you, Paubox, for the opportunity.

Read: Paubox Kahikina Scholarship 2025 Recipient: 2026 Update