The University of Hawaii and several other community organizations have been hosting a series of free workshopsfor aspiring Native Hawaiian college students who might be wondering how they’ll scrape together the money to make their higher education goals a reality. Attending UH can cost an estimated $10,000 per year when all expenses — including tuition, books, transportation and housing — are taken into account.

The “scholarship aha” is intended to help Native Hawaiian students who are interested in attending one of UH’s 10 campuses navigate the world of federal and state financial aid and take advantage of various private scholarships. College scholarships earmarked for Native Hawaiian students, including those from the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program and Kamehameha Schools, amount to nearly $23 million. The 18 workshops, which are being held on six islands, also provide tips on how to best prepare for the transition from high school to college.

The aha is being put together by all 10 UH campuses, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, GEAR UP Hawaii, Pacific Financial Aid Association and the Native Hawaiian Education Association. Family members, teachers, counselors and the like are also encouraged to attend.

The next workshop is being held in Lihue the evening of December 3 at Kauai Community College. Other December workshops are being held throughout Oahu and in Kahului. Additional sessions are scheduled for several islands in January.

Click here for a full schedule.

— Alia Wong