In Hawaiʻi, we know that a resilient future depends on a strong local workforce. But even the most motivated student won’t complete a program they can’t afford.
That’s why the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, in partnership with Social Finance, launched the Hawaiʻi Renewable Learning Fund—a zero-interest, no-fee loan program now available to low-income juniors and seniors at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s College of Engineering. The goal: make higher education more accessible and affordable.
Structured as a pay-it-forward model, the fund allows students to borrow up to $15,000 per year for tuition, books, or living expenses. Repayment doesn’t begin until they earn income, and payments are income-based and capped. All repayments are recycled back into the fund to support future students.
It’s a student-first approach, built for long-term financial stability.
The Fund also partners with local employers who offer loan repayment assistance to graduates they hire and retain—strengthening both workforce pipelines and long-term affordability. Partner engineering firms currently include Bowers + Kubota, Hawaiian Dredging, SSFM International and The Limtiaco Consulting Group.
It’s a promising pilot—with the potential to grow and reshape how we finance opportunity in Hawaiʻi.
Learn more about the fund here:
At the Castle Foundation, we’re committed to ensuring every student in Hawaiʻi has the support they need to succeed. This fund is one more step toward that vision.
Read more about the Hawai’i Renewable Learning Fund:
Hechinger Report: A new way to help some college students: Zero percent, no-fee loans
University of Hawaiʻi News: New zero-interest loan program for UH engineering students
Social Finance: New Hawaiʻi Renewable Learning Fund to Offer Zero-Interest Loans to Local Students