Paubox Kahikina Scholarship Testimonial – From Cofounder Chancen Law

Community to me isn’t just about showing up for one another or offering support. It’s also about representing where you come from and building something that reflects those roots. As a junior at Harvard University studying bioengineering and computer science, I have carried that mindset with me since I left Hawai’i. Over the past few years, I’ve developed a strong passion for business, especially building consumer products that merge health and scalable impact. Receiving the Paubox Kahikina Scholarship played a pivotal role in accelerating that journey. At first, I saw the scholarship as financial support that would ease the financial burden at a prestigious institution. What I didn’t fully anticipate was how powerful the network and mentorship would be. Through the Kahikina community, I was introduced to founders, operators, and investors who understood both where I came from and where I wanted to go. As someone building in the consumer product space, those conversations were invaluable. The mentors didn’t just offer surface level advice but rather took the time to understand our mission, challenge our assumptions, and guide us through how to think about positioning, pricing, and go to market strategy in a competitive space. That mentorship gave us clarity and confidence at a stage where uncertainty can slow you down.

For consumer brands, investors often want to see traction and proof of sales before committing capital. That means founders frequently have to bootstrap for longer periods and grow slowly before anyone takes them seriously. Because of the Kahikina network, my co-founder and I were able to connect with angel investors who believed in our vision early, which greatly changed our trajectory. Instead of spending months trying to piece together small amounts of capital while delaying key initiatives, we were able to move quicker. The initial funding allowed us to invest in marketing experiments, production, and build partnerships that give us credibility in the market.  Having the ability to test campaigns, gather feedback, and iterate quickly gave us momentum that would have otherwise taken much longer to build. Just as importantly, the network opened doors to collaborations with credible people and organizations to build brand ethos. Those relationships would have been much harder to establish without early backing and introductions.

The Paubox Kahikina Scholarship is far more than financial assistance. It is a lifelong community, a mentorship network, and a launchpad for students from Hawaii who want to lead with purpose. The mentorship I received gave me confidence as a young Hawaii leader in pursuing my passions. And the network brought me back to what community has meant to me growing up in Oahu: caring for one another, lifting each other up, and representing your community well. That is why I truly believe Paubox Kahikina can be life changing. It doesn’t just help you pay tuition but also expands your vision, surrounds you with mentors who raise your standards, and gives you access to rooms you might not otherwise enter. For students from Hawaii with big aspirations, that kind of network can alter the trajectory of both a career and a life. I am deeply grateful for everything the community has given me and would strongly encourage students from Hawaii to apply.