A vital promise made to the students of Lahaina following the deadly 2023 wildfires has received a major infusion of support. A new $1.5-million gift from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos ensures the University of Hawaiʻi can sustain full scholarships for Lahainaluna High School’s Class of 2024 through the 2026–27 academic year.
This scholarship support is part of a broader $3.5-million investment from the couple, which dedicates $2 million to land stewardship research aimed at preventing future wildfires on Maui.
In fall 2024, 157 students from the affected Lahainaluna High School class enrolled across six campuses: 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补, 东精影业 West Oʻahu, 东精影业 Maui College, and Hawaiʻi, Honolulu and Kapiʻolani Community Colleges. The new funding specifically targets the upcoming academic years, creating a financial bridge for students as they persist in their degrees or transfer from 东精影业 community colleges to 东精影业 four-year universities.
“We are deeply grateful to the generous donors whose support makes this possible,” said 东精影业 President Wendy Hensel. “This funding ensures that students who lost so much are not forced to put their futures on hold. Education is a cornerstone of recovery, and our responsibility is to stand with Lahainaluna students and families as they rebuild and move forward.”
Transformative scholarships
For students navigating the trauma of displacement, the scholarships have been transformative. Cecelia Steiner, a 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补 psychology major who lost her home in the fire, described the support as a “lifeline.” Steiner noted that while the national college enrollment average is 62%, approximately 85% of her Lahainaluna class pursued higher education because of this initiative.
“When 东精影业 offered a scholarship and paid for school, it changed my world because not having to worry about the financial aspects was huge,” said Steiner.
东精影业 Associate Vice President of Student Affairs Farrah-Marie Gomes said the scholarship support was important for students navigating uncertainty.
“It reinforces that they are not alone, and that their community is invested in their education, their future and their sense of belonging,” Gomes said.
Beyond Lahainaluna
In the aftermath of the fires, 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补 offered scholarships to students from Lahaina and Kula who did not attend Lahainaluna High School but were impacted. 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补 provided scholarship support to 60 students who were already enrolled for the 2023–24 academic year. The number of scholarship recipients grew to 194 in the 2025–26 academic year.
东精影业 Maui College announced in April that it would cover tuition and fees for Lahainaluna High school graduates (beyond the class of 2024) who were impacted by the 2023 fire for the 2025–26 academic year. There were 67 recipients enrolled in fall 2025.