Hoala Greevy
Now in its fourth year, it’s a good time to run basic demographics on the Paubox Kahikina Scholarship.
As a recap, the primary objective of the Paubox Kahikina Scholarship is to encourage Native Hawaiians to pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).
The scholarship is recurring in nature. In other words, recipients receive $1,000 per year until they graduate.
Starting with Nick Wong in 2019 as our inaugural recipient, we’ve grown the scholarship to 22 active recipients.
The goal of this post will be to get a better understanding of our recipients’ basic demographics.
See related: The big ideas behind the Paubox Kahikina Scholarship
Paubox Kahikina Scholarship: By Gender
Of the 22 active recipients, 15 are wahine and seven are kane.
I wasn’t sure how our gender makeup compares nationally, so I asked ChatGPT:
“It is difficult to give a general answer to this question as the percentage of female scholarship recipients can vary depending on the specific scholarship program and the pool of applicants. In some cases, the percentage of female scholarship recipients may be higher, while in other cases it may be lower.
There are many factors that can influence the percentage of female scholarship recipients, including the eligibility requirements for the scholarship, the fields of study or career paths that the scholarship is intended to support, and the broader societal and cultural context in which the scholarship is offered.”
A safe, diplomatic answer here.
Paubox Kahikina Scholarship: By Residence
Next, let’s take a look at what island our recipients are graduating high school from. As of today, we do not have scholarship recipients that went to high school outside of Hawaii.
Here’s the breakdown by residence:
- Oahu: 59.1%
- Hawaii Island: 18.2%
- Maui: 18.2%
- Kauai: 4.5%
I also checked with ChatGPT by asking it the following:
What percentage of Native Hawaiians live on which island?
Here’s the output:
“According to the United States Census Bureau, approximately 20% of Native Hawaiians lived on the island of Hawai’i in 2019. The island of O’ahu was home to about 47% of Native Hawaiians, while the island of Maui was home to about 18% of Native Hawaiians. The island of Kaua’i was home to about 8% of Native Hawaiians, and the island of Lana’i was home to about 1% of Native Hawaiians.
It is important to note that these figures may not be representative of the current population of Native Hawaiians, as they are based on data from 2019. Additionally, these figures do not account for Native Hawaiians who may live on other islands in the state of Hawai’i or outside of the state.”
Looks like our scholarship recipients generally correlate to Native Hawaiian population by island.
Note: ChatGPT is not aware of the okina.
Paubox Kahikina Scholarship: By High School
When it comes to high schools attended, 68% of recipients graduated from a private school in Hawaii, while 32% of our scholars are public school graduates like me.
The high school with the largest representation is Kamehameha Schools Kapalama at 27.3%. Kamehemeha Schools Hawaii, Punahou School, and Iolani School are all tied for second at 9.1% each.
Keeping with our theme of double-checking with ChatGPT, I also asked:
What percentage of Native Hawaiians attend a public high school?
Here’s the output:
“It is difficult to provide an accurate estimate of the percentage of Native Hawaiians who attend a public high school, as this information is not readily available. There are many factors that can influence the percentage of Native Hawaiians who attend a public high school, including their location, socioeconomic status, and personal preferences.
In general, it is important to ensure that all students have access to high-quality education, regardless of their background or circumstances. This can involve supporting public schools and ensuring that they have the resources and support they need to provide a strong educational foundation for their students. It can also involve supporting and promoting alternative educational options, such as private schools or homeschooling, for those who may prefer these options.”
Not that helpful here.
Paubox Kahikina Scholarship: By College
Next, let’s take a look at the colleges Paubox Kahikina Scholarship recipients are attending.
Harvard University and the University of Southern California tied for first at 9.1% each.
My last question for ChatGPT on the topic went like this:
What colleges do Native Hawaiians attend?
ChatGPT played it safe:
“Native Hawaiians may attend a wide range of colleges and universities, both within and outside of the state of Hawai’i. Some Native Hawaiians may choose to attend colleges or universities in their local community, while others may choose to attend institutions in other states or countries.
There are many factors that can influence the colleges and universities that Native Hawaiians choose to attend, including their academic interests, financial resources, and personal preferences. Some Native Hawaiians may choose to attend colleges or universities that have strong programs in fields of study that are particularly relevant to their cultural heritage, such as indigenous studies, Hawaiian language and culture, or Pacific Island studies.
It is important to note that the colleges and universities that Native Hawaiians attend are likely to be diverse and varied, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and interests of Native Hawaiians themselves.”
Conclusion
In a nutshell, as of today the average Paubox Kahikina Scholarship recipient is wahine, went to a private high school on Oahu, and attends college on the mainland.
