Paubox Kahikina Scholarship Recipient Kapaeloa Aki: 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

Scholarship recipient Kapaeloa Aki is a 2022 Paubox Kahikina Scholarship recipient who, last year, switched majors to pursue data science. Here is a word from Kapaeloa:

“Last summer, I interned at the Keauhou and Maui Bird Conservation Centers through the PIPES program, where I worked with the ʻAlalā, the Hawaiian crow. My research focused on egg viability, specifically, why more than half of the eggs laid by ʻAlalā weren’t making it to their hatch date. To investigate, I looked at how nest platform architecture might be playing a role, using data cleaning, statistical analysis, and dashboard creation to work through the data. It was meaningful work to be a part of, knowing that the findings could directly impact how these birds are cared for.

Toward the end of the summer, I had two chances to share what I’d been working on. The first was an end-of-summer symposium where we presented to community leaders invested in the future of Hawaiʻi’s unique ecosystem and its species. The second was the Hawaiʻi Conservation Conference, where I presented my research at the Wikiwiki session. I’m glad to have been part of a community so dedicated to protecting this place and the species that belong here.

This past school year, I’ve been a full-time student while also working as a data analyst intern at a local credit union here on Hawaiʻi Island. A lot of my work involves cleaning and analyzing data, as well as supporting daily financial operations, but I also have the opportunity to support other departments. Additionally, I get to participate in meetings with credit union leadership, which has given me a better sense of how decisions actually get made.

It’s a different kind of data work than what I was doing in conservation, but I’ve genuinely come to appreciate it. There’s something that feels right about doing work that’s connected to the community you live in. Juggling school and a job was difficult at times, but I learned a lot from managing both. I’ll be staying on at the credit union through the summer, so I’m looking forward to continuing to build on what I’ve been doing there.

I’m really grateful to Paubox for the continued support. It’s a good feeling knowing there are people who believe in you while you’re still working toward your goals. If you’re a student thinking about applying to the Paubox Kahikina Scholarship, don’t hesitate. Opportunities like this make a real difference. Mahalo!”

Read more: Paubox Kahikina Scholarship Recipient Reflection | Chancen Law