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October 13, 2022

College is such an exciting milestone, but it can be daunting if you don’t know where to start. KHON2’s John Veneri got the inside scoop from Sheldon Tawata, Community Relations Chair at the Hawaii Association for College Admission Counseling (HACAC) and Stacie Rosa, Community Partnerships Manager at HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union.

The Hawaii Association for College Admission Counseling (HACAC) is a non-profit organization of professionals working in the realm of college admissions, both on the secondary and post-secondary levels. Like their parent organization, the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), they are dedicated to helping students transition to post-secondary education through education, collaboration, and community building.

HawaiiUSA began as a credit union for teachers and students, so helping teens realize their dream of higher education is an important part of their Life matters commitment. That’s why they have been partnering with HACAC since 2013 to provide free college planning resources.

Money is a big part of college: of course tuition and associated costs, but also preparing teens to be able to manage money on a daily basis. In the frenzy of college applications and financial aid this is often overlooked, but smart financial habits are critical to build before leaving for college. HawaiiUSA helps young people to set a foundation for financial wellbeing and avoid costly mistakes.

Don’t miss these college planning events:

In-person college fairs on Oahu and neighbor islands during the week of October 17

  • Mon 10/17 on Kauai at Island Schools 8:15-11:15am
  • Tue 10/18 on Oahu at the Convention Center 8 :30-11 :30am and 5pm-8pm
  • Wed 10/19 on Maui at Maui Prep Academy 10:30 a.m. – 12 noon
  • Wed 10/19 on Maui at Kamehameha School Maui 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. (Registration required)
  • Thurs 10/20 on the Big Island at Old Kona Airport Special Events Pavilion 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
  • Fri 10/21 on the Big Island at Edith Kanakaole Stadium in Hilo 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Walk-ins are welcome for most fairs; we just ask that you register in advance for the afternoon session in Maui. Learn more at https://hawaiiacac.org/college-fairs-information-for-students-and-families/

HACAC and HawaiiUSA will be holding two virtual workshops on November 3 and November 8. The first workshop is for high school seniors.

At the November 3 workshop HACAC will cover how to develop concrete next steps after the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The November 8 workshop is for non-seniors (middle school to HS juniors). You’ll learn the basics to get started on your college journey.

Both virtual workshops will include tips on how to build smart money habits and the tools to make it simple and convenient.

To register visit hawaiiusafcu.com/events