How Nawahine Nascimento of Nānākuli came across the Aulani Scholarship was quite serendipitous.
Some of its requirements — with preference given to Native Hawaiians and West Oʻahu residents pursuing a degree in Travel Industry Management (hospitality/tourism) or Hawaiian Studies (language or culture) — fit her to a tee. In 2024, she was in her last year of studying both at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa.
“This is kind of my niche for scholarships,” she told Aloha State Daily.
“I have a strong passion for Hawaiian culture. Being Native Hawaiian, I’ve always felt my kuleana, responsibility, to be a caretaker of the culture and find ways to educate others,” Nascimento said. “For hospitality, I was looking for a career that would allow me to network, do some traveling and meet all sorts of people from across the globe.”
She recalled visiting Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, with her ʻohana shortly after it opened in 2011 and returning for staycations. Not to mention, Nascimento spent a semester at Disney’s College Program in Florida in 2023 and returned home to start an internship with Aulani Resort’s Entertainment department, before receiving the scholarship next spring. By summer 2024, she was hired as a cast member and graduated college in 2025.
“For a job, Aulani has always been in the back of my mind. That, and I had applied to HCF (Hawai’i Community Foundation) scholarships for awhile,” said Nascimento, who currently serves at Aulani’s Pau Hana Room, helping guests of all ages with family activities.
Administered through the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, the Aulani Scholarship was launched in late 2021 to help support Oʻahu’s future workforce. Award amounts vary based on individual financial needs and merits, according to the resort. To date, 22 students have received more than $128,000 in aid, with two receiveing scholarships in mutliple years.
“While annual award totals are not publicly released, the scholarship is designed to meaningfully support students’ educational goals and help open doors into Hawaiʻi’s hospitality industry,” the company noted.
Nascimento expressed how grateful she is to have a job, “where I can enjoy the presence of fellow cast members and guests” from around the world.
“I also get to use my gift of talking to people and learning about new things.”
Outside of work, she enjoys going to the beach and making lei, as well as volunteering in the local community. She also dances hula and teaches keiki classes.
Her mentors include her parents, professors and leadership at Aulani.
When asked what Hawai’i could be doing better at, she replied, “I think Hawai’i is taking the right steps to educate tourists about the culture and people, but I think it also stems from educating the people that live here. So, part of my goal is to share my stories and knowledge with guests, but it’s also building that knowledge from within. If businesses/corporations continue that pathway to build up and educate their employees, then it will be able to transcend and be passed on."
Her advice to other young professionals? Don’t be afraid to grow and take challenges.
“Sometimes people may feel that it’s hard to break into the industry, but you just have to take every opportunity as an opportunity,” Nascimento noted.
Values she’s learned along the way are hoʻokipa, being welcoming and open, and continuing to give the Aloha Spirit in every interaction.
“This scholarship has blessed me in many ways; it has helped me to get my degree,” she said. “As someone who grew up here, college was on my radar but funding it was always the challenge. To be given this gift to achieve higher education – and it’s helping me in my career – is something that I will always be grateful for.”
Applications are open now through Feb. 26. For more information and to apply, click here.
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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
