Waimea High Graduate Receives 2nd Hawaii Dental Service Community Scholarship

Kiana Marie Soliven, a Waimea High School graduate and second-year dental hygiene student at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, was awarded another $5,000 scholarship from the Hawai‘i Dental Service (HDS) Foundation. This is her second $5,000 from the foundation.

Soliven is one of eight students who received scholarships this year. The HDS Foundation awarded three other dental hygiene students and four dental students with HDS Community Scholarships totaling $60,000.

The scholarship program began last year. To date, the HDS Foundation has awarded a total of $95,000 in scholarships to 10 students.

“Access to quality oral health care for Hawai‘i’s families is a priority for the Hawaii Dental Service Foundation,” said Mark Yamakawa, HDS president and CEO. “We’re pleased to provide scholarships to local students pursuing a degree in the dental profession. By supporting their education and encouraging students to practice in Hawaii, we are investing in the next generation of dental providers for our state.”

The HDS Foundation has invested nearly $2 million in an endowment fund for the Hawaii Dental Service Community Scholarship program which was established in 2018. The fund is administered by Hawai‘i Community Foundation and supports Hawai‘i residents pursuing a degree in dental hygiene and dentistry.