Kau'i Aplaca.
HPU Master of Medical Science Physician Assistant (MMS-PA) student Alexandra "Kau‘i" Aplaca has been awarded a scholarship by the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program (NHHSP). According to a press release by Papa Ola Lōkahi, the non-profit organization has announced ten scholarships to students in a variety of health care professions where there are shortages.
The 2025 cohort of awardees includes students from physician assistant, nursing, social work, clinical psychology, dental hygiene, and medicine. The ten scholars selected are from the islands of Hawai‘i and Oʻahu.
“I am deeply honored and grateful to be a recipient of the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship,” said Aplaca. “This opportunity affirms my commitment to becoming a physician assistant who serves the people of Hawaiʻi with both clinical excellence and cultural understanding. The support of this scholarship, along with the guidance and encouragement of my faculty, allows me to continue my training with a strong sense of purpose and responsibility to give back through service to our communities and our lāhui.”
NHHSP is administered by Papa Ola Lōkahi, and the program recruits and nurtures professionals-in-training for primary and mental health disciplines most needed. The merit-based program covers tuition, books, and other related expenses. A total of 360 scholarships from across 20 disciplines have been awarded to eligible individuals, and upon matriculation, each scholar is placed in service to a medically underserved area in Hawai‘i (Papa Ola Lōkahi).
“We are extremely proud of Kauʻi's accomplishments, and this distinguished honor,” said HPU PA Program Director and Associate Professor Leocadia Conlon, Ph.D., MPH, PA-C. “The Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship recognizes Kauʻi's potential to become a PA who addresses healthcare disparities and bridges medical practice with the cultural understanding essential to serving the communities of Hawaiʻi. Kauʻi exemplifies our program's mission, and this scholarship will support her journey toward becoming a PA who provides quality healthcare to our local communities.
HPU’s MMS-PA program is the first Hawai‘i-based program to educate physician assistants in the state. The University’s first cohort of students started in spring 2025 and is three years in the making. With nearly 500 applicants competing for 30 spots, a large majority of the first cohort are Hawai‘i residents, and a significant portion are from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The second HPU MMS-PA cohort started this spring semester 2026, with over 700 applicants competing for 30 spots.
HPU’s PA faculty includes a recipient of the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship, and collectively bring over 140 years of clinical experience, including 48 years of experience dedicated to PA education. The rigorous curriculum integrates Hawaiian values and Native Hawaiian health topics, preparing students for cultural awareness in their practice. The hybrid structure curriculum allows students from across the state to remain in their communities while completing their education.
“As a former recipient of the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship, I know firsthand how life-changing this honor can be,” said HPU Assistant Professor and Director of Admissions Shayna Inafuku, MPAP, PA-C. “This scholarship doesn't just open doors to medical education—it transforms what's possible for Native Hawaiian students who are called to serve their communities through healthcare. I'm incredibly proud of Kauʻi for earning this recognition and for her commitment to becoming a physician assistant who will bring culturally responsive care to our people. This scholarship invests in more than an individual; it invests in the health and wellbeing of our entire lāhui.”
For more information on the MMS-PA program at HPU, click here.
