Financial Aid
HYS is proud to be able to offer assistance to students, so that any interested youth may participate, regardless of financial conditions. Financial Aid is available for Hawaii residents only.
Why was the HYS Financial Aid program established?
The Financial Aid Program was established over thirty-five years ago to offer all of HYS’s young musicians equal opportunities to participate in every aspect of the HYS program regardless of financial conditions. Because of state, corporate, and private donations, all HYS students receive “financial aid” of sorts. The registration fee required is only a fraction of the cost of running the HYS program, currently more than $4,000 per student. However, HYS realizes there are families who may still find it difficult to cover the non-subsidized portion of the fee. The Financial Aid Program ensures that all students will be able to benefit from our program.
Can I declare my award as a scholarship award on my college application?
No. HYS’s Financial Aid Program is not a scholarship program and should not be referred to as such. Selections are based on financial need and not musical ability.
Where do the funds come from?
The Michael Nakasone Legacy Scholarship Fund in Honor of Youth Symphony II was established in 2010 thanks to a generous donation from Ms. Olivia De Jane. Financial aid awards draw from the Nakasone Legacy Fund, and other funds, in hopes that no student will be turned away.
What expenses do these funds cover?
The financial aid program will subsidize financially deserving students in one or more of the following ways: 1. Partial aid for private lessons. 2. Partial aid for registration fees: up to 50% per person. 3. Free instrument loans (only for instruments rented from HYS).
On what factors are awards based?
Awards are based on financial need, not on the musical ability of the applicant. Consideration is given to each student’s attitude and evidence of responsibility (i.e. rehearsal attendance and preparedness). The majority of recipients make the most of what the Financial Aid Program can offer, as reflected by teacher evaluations. Out of hundreds of recipients, there have been only a few students in recent years whose subsidies have not continued because of poor preparation, tardiness and/or poor attitude. In these cases, the amounts allocated were given to an alternate applicant.
How do I apply for Financial Aid?
1.) Navigate to our online registration to register for the class that you want the aid to be applied to. There is a Financial Aid section on the registration form. Please select “YES” in the section that asks if you would like to apply for financial aid.
2.) Complete the financial aid section of the registration form and upload a copy of the first two pages of your most recent Federal Income Tax Return (Form 1040) More information may be requested from you at a later time to better assess your need.
3.) A 10% deposit is required at the time of online registration. Your financial aid award and remaining balance will be emailed to you about a week or two after the financial aid deadline has passed for registration.
Have more questions?
If you are looking for other payment options or have any general financial aid questions, call our office at (808) 941-9706 or e-mail financialaid@hiyouthsymphony.org.