Manoa Service Award

Frequently Asked Questions

If I am from a neighbor island, can I complete my service in my home community?

You may volunteer in your home community as long as it is a non-profit organization operating in the
State of Hawaii. We will also accept service performed at for-profit hospitals. We will not accept hours
performed in other states or countries. If you are unsure whether your site is an allowable site, please
call 956-4641.

What happens if I run out of time and am not able to complete my 100 hours?

Your service should be completed within the semester you receive the award. We will not accept partial
completions. In rare cases we may make exceptions. If you do not think you can complete your service,
you should contact our office ASAP.

What if I complete more than 100 hours?

If you have completed more than 100 hours in the fall semester, you may apply those hours in excess of
100 hours to the spring semester as long as you are approved to receive the award in the spring. This
does not apply to excess hours served in the spring semester—spring hours may not be carried over to
the fall.

I’ll be carrying the equivalent of a full-time course load, but at two UH campuses. Will I be able to
receive the MSA?

No. You must be a full-time student at UH Manoa.

If I plan on going on an international student exchange and am enrolled at UHM as a full-time

student, will I be able to receive the MSA?

It depends on whether you will be able to meet your service requirement within the time allowed. Don’t
forget that your service has to be performed in Hawaii.

What happens if I decide I don’t want to continue with my MSA?

If you have already accepted the award, please notify the Office of Civic and Community Engagement in
writing and we will notify the Office of Financial Aid. If your award is declined or cancelled, the amount
of your award will be debited from your myUH account.

Can I volunteer over the breaks and use those hours toward my service?

We will accept hours served over the winter and spring breaks. We will accept service logged in August
toward your fall hours, but not for the months of June or July.
If I receive the Manoa Service Award this fall, will I automatically receive the award following
semester?

Not necessarily. In order to receive the Manoa Service Award, you must meet the eligibility criteria for
each semester you are awarded. Also, if you did not successfully meet the obligations of your award in
any previous semesters, you may not continue to receive the award.

My major requires me to perform 50 hours as an intern before I graduate, would I be able to count
those hours toward my Manoa Service Award?

As long as your internship is with a non-profit or government organization and is unpaid, we would
accept the hours. If you are performing clinic hours through your UH department, please check to make
sure the clinic supervisor would be willing to sign off on your service logs.

If I have a scholarship that requires me to volunteer, would I be able to count those hours?

Yes, we would accept those hours.

My friend wants to receive the Manoa Service Award, how can he apply?

To be considered for the MSA, your friend would need to submit a FAFSA and meet the award criteria for
the award. The Office of Civic and Community Engagement will notify students of their eligibility.

Whom do I contact if I have questions?

Liane Akana, Program Coordinator

Office of Civic and Community Engagement
Queen Liliuokalani Center for Student Services Room 209
Phone: 956-4641
Email: helphi@hawaii.edu