“Expression of aloha”: New $1M endowment supports UH Hilo students facing financial challenges
The fund addresses rising concerns about the number of UH students facing housing, food, and financial instability. Chancellor Irwin says the gift represents the very heart of UH Hilo’s mission.
The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo has received a one million dollar gift to help students whose education is disrupted through financial or personal challenges. The Kruschel Endowment to Reduce Insecurity will begin providing awards to students in fall 2026.
Created by a gay married couple with children who relocated to Hawaiʻi Island from San Francisco, the endowment reflects their shared belief that education is a pathway to opportunity and stability. The donors, Gary and John, were moved by their own family histories and a deep commitment to helping others.
“Education changes everything,” says Gary. “My mother was born into abject poverty in a New York City tenement and used education to build a better life for herself through full-ride scholarships. We want to give UH Hilo students the same chance — to focus on their education instead of worrying about their basic needs.”
The fund addresses rising concerns about the number of UH students facing housing, food, and financial instability. The new endowment supports a quick response when students face emergencies.
“We’ve seen how quickly poverty and uncertainty — when you can’t count on where your next meal or rent will come from — can turn everyday challenges into overwhelming barriers,” says John. “It’s hard to focus on school or work under those conditions, so we wanted to make sure UH Hilo students facing financial hardship wouldn’t have to give up their education just to take care of their basic needs or their families.”
“It’s a powerful expression of aloha and belief in the transformative potential of education.”
UH Hilo Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin says the gift represents the very heart of UH Hilo’s mission.
“We are a campus that meets students where they are, both academically and personally,” she says. “The Kruschel Endowment gives us the ability to respond when life’s challenges threaten to derail a student’s dreams. It’s a powerful expression of aloha and belief in the transformative potential of education.”
The fund is in line with UH Hilo’s strategic goal of expanding opportunities, aligning well with other campus programs that help fill the gaps between financial aid, scholarships, and daily living expenses.
-Read full story at the UH Foundation website.
