From FAFSA to registration: Kauaʻi Community College ʻOhana Night simplifies path to college

Kauaʻi Community College invites new students — and their ʻohana — to the sixth annual ʻOhana Night next week.

The free event is from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, at Kauaʻi Community College Learning Resource Center.

It serves as a one-stop shop, where students can complete their enrollment steps with personalized support from college staff and faculty. Representatives from admissions, financial aid, academic counseling and student services will be available to help students — especially those not yet registered — apply, register for classes and prepare for the upcoming semester.

Participants can also learn about on-campus employment opportunities, receive free tuberculosis testing to satisfy health requirements, take campus tours and explore transfer pathways to University of Hawaiʻi bachelor’s programs.

The event is designed to provide individualized, face-to-face assistance that helps students overcome common enrollment barriers.

“If a student is stuck on their [Free Application for Federal Student Aid], a financial aid expert will sit down and walk through the form with them,” said Kauaʻi Community College Admissions Specialist Keanna Pavao in a release about the upcoming event. “If they aren’t sure what classes to take, a counselor will help map out their schedule on the spot. It’s highly personalized, one-on-one support that ensures no student feels lost or falls through the cracks.”

ʻOhana Night is intentionally designed to include family members and support networks in the college transition process, unlike traditional orientations students navigate independently.

“We know that student success is closely connected to the support they receive at home,” Pavao said. “By inviting parents, spouses, siblings and other loved ones to share a meal, talk story with faculty, staff and current students and participate in college readiness workshops, the entire family gains a better understanding of what the college experience looks like.”

The event is especially valuable for first-generation college students and their families.

Nearly 48% of Kauaʻi Community College students during the 2025-26 academic year were the first in their families to attend college, reflecting a growing trend throughout the University of Hawaiʻi System.

“For students, it’s a tremendous time-saver,” Pavao said. “They can accomplish in just a couple of hours what might otherwise take weeks of phone calls, emails and separate appointments. Many leave with a finalized class schedule, financial aid questions answered and health clearances completed.”

Pavao added that the event helps make higher education more accessible for the entire Kauaʻi community.

“ʻOhana Night lowers the barriers that often make college seem intimidating or confusing,” she said. “It transforms what can feel like a complicated process into a welcoming community event where students and their families are celebrated and supported as they begin their educational journey.”

Students are encouraged to register for ʻOhana Night in advance at the Kauaʻi Community College website to receive customized assistance; although, walk-ins are welcome.