Edward Payson And Bernice Piilani Irwin Scholarship

Hawaii Community Foundation

This scholarship is named in honor of Bernice Pi'ilani Irwin who was a friend of Queen Lili'u'okalani. Bernice was the author of a collection of Hawaiian tales called In Menehune Land. She also wrote a popular column for the Honolulu Advertiser and later for the Honolulu Times, which was edited by her husband Edwin Irwin. Her column was entitled Kahuna Nui, the Old Sage of Kaka'ako, and was a discourse on politics and civic affairs, written in pidgin. The Irwins set up this trust fund to students who, like Bernice, wish to have careers in journalism.

Applicant must major in Journalism or Communications, preference may be given to college juniors, seniors or graduate students, be a resident of the State of Hawaii, demonstrate financial need, attend an accredited four year college or university as either an undergraduate or graduate student, be a full-time student, maintain a minimum 2.75 GPA.