Give Back, Get Back Education Loan Repayment Program Application

General Information

The Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute is pleased to announce the Give Back, Get Back Education Loan Repayment Program (GB>GB), funded by the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health (DOH). GB>GB provides qualified educational loan repayment to public health professionals in an effort to increase workforce retention within the public health sector in Hawaiʻi. The objective of the program is to strengthen Hawaii's public health workforce by incentivizing employee retention, minimizing workforce shortages, and allowing recipients to continue working and living in Hawaiʻi strengthening the expertise of the workforce.

 Eligibility Criteria: 

To qualify for GB>GB, applicants must have completed a minimum of one (1) year working full-time in the public health workforce in Hawaiʻi, be a resident of Hawaiʻi, and have student loan debt.

Applicants must be a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident, no judgement lien against their property for a debt to the U.S. government, and not be excluded, debarred, suspended, or disqualified by a Federal agency.

All applications will go through a blind review process by the GB>GB Review Committee. All applications will be date and time stamped. Eligible applicants will be scored back on their debt-to-income ratio, employment site, length of employment, ties to Hawaiʻi, and first-generation graduate status.

The GB>GB Review Committee is made up of four (4) public health professionals representing academic, government, and philanthropy organizations. All applicants who are selected for the GB>GB program and choose to participate must work and reside in the state of Hawaiʻi at the time of the award and commit a minimum of two (2) years of full-time service at a public health organization (government or non-government) in the state of Hawaiʻi. 

Funding maximum amount will be $25,000.00 paid directly to the debt lender in two installments. Check payments will be made directly to the educational loan lender company. This is not a reimbursement opportunity. Payments are for existing educational loan for the applicant. PARENT Plus Loans are not eligible for repayment.

Funding for the program is currently capped at $600,000.00 for the second year. Anticipated funding of an additional $600,000.00 is expected for a third cohort. Subsequent funding is subject to additional funds appropriated by the state legislature. At least 25% of the allocated funds are reserved for employees working at the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health.

Please note: It is not guaranteed that all eligible and approved applicants will be awarded the maximum $25,000.00 amount.

Instructions for Applying:

The following documents must be submitted for an application package to be considered complete:

• Completed Application, including all parts.
• Educational Debt Reporting Information, Part F of the application.
• Copy (copies) of current lender statements, dated within one month of application submission, to be included in the loan repayment request. The lender statement must include the:
  • Applicant's Name: applicant name and statement must match
  • Current Loan Balance: within the last 30 days of application submission
  • Account Number: to be referenced on check payment to lender
  • Lender Check Payment Remittance Mailing Address
  • Approved examples cane found on the www.hiphi.org/givebackgetback website. If you do not submit the proper documentation, your application will be considered incomplete.
• Completed Employment Verification Form, signed by the applicant and supervisor. Form can be found on www.hiphi.org/givebackgetback.
• Copy of a valid government-issued photo identification (such as passport or driver's license).

If you have any questions regarding the application, application process or your eligibility for the GB>GB program, please email HIPHI at studentloan@hiphi.org with the subject line: GB>GB Question(s) or via telephone at (808) 591-6508 x 28.

Please refer to the application instructions before you begin. Complete each part of the application form. Make sure all supporting documents are attached and submitted with your application. 

The application closes on Wednesday September 30, 2026 at 5:00 P.M. HST

Examples of approved employment sites:

• Public Health Government or non-government entities
• Clinics/Community Health Centers (funding for population-level staff, not direct patient care)
• Environmental health Agencies
• Health Insurance Companies (roles such as Patient Navigator, Health Educator, Community Health Worker/Community Health Outreach Worker)
• Hospitals (funding for population-level health staff, not direct patient care)
  
• Human Services Providers (including faith-based organizations, food banks, transportation services)
• Laboratories
• Mental Health Organizations
  
• Nursing Homes
• Community-based organizations
• Public Safety Agencies
• State or local health department

Please complete the Give Back, Get Back Program Employment Verification Form and attach it below to be considered. This form can be found under the "Instructions For Applying" tab. Click "Give Back, Get Back Employment Verification Form," to download the document, and collect signatures from the applicant and employer prior to submitting.

In the event you change employment during the two-year award period, you are requried to update HIPHI with your new employment information.

We seek to award applicants who perform core public health functions within their roles with the purpose to protect and promote the health of all people in Hawaiʻi's communities. The de Beaumont Foundation defines the 10 Essential Public Health Services as a framework to achieve optimal health for all. The Essential Services actively promote policies, systems, and services that enable health and seek to remove obstacles and systemic and structural barriers, such as poverty, racism, gender discrimination, and other forms of oppression that have resulted in health equities. 

Directions:

• List the source and amounts of outstanding educational loans used to finance your education. All spaces on this form must be completed even if the information appears on the lender statements that you will be submitting. Any missing information will make the entire application incomplete and delay the review.
• You must submit evidence of the educational debts listed below. If your loans have been consolidated, submit proof of consolidation. If your loans have been refinanced via a commercial lender, provide evidence of original educational loan debt.
• Screenshots are not allowed.
• Current lender statements need to be dated within 30 days of submission, and MUST include the current balance, account number, and the mailing address to remit payment. Online printouts are acceptable if they include all the required information. Approved examples are available on the Give Back, Get Back Education Loan Repayment Program website.

Certification & Committment

I certify that I am the person herein named subscribing to this application; that I have read the complete application, know the full content thereof, and declare under penalty of perjury, that all the information contained herein, and evidence or other credentials submitted herewith are true and correct and I am willing to sign a written agreement to commit a minimum of two (2) years of working full-time in the public health sector and residing in Hawaiʻi upon receiving award.

Authorization

I authorize representatives of the Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute (HIPHI) to contact educational institutions I attended, institutions holding any of the listed educational loans, and employers to verify the accuracy of the information contained in this application.

Program Conditions

I understand that I am not allowed to receive loan repayment from an additional source that requires a commitment that may conflict with GB>GB (such as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program or the Hawaiʻi Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program during my participation in the GB>GB. I understand that HIPHI staff will periodically contact my employer to verify employment. 

Indemnification

I agree to defend, indemnify, and hold HIPHI harmless and its affiliated entities and each of their officers, directors, partners, members, employees, and agents, from and against any and all third-party claims, causes of action, liabilities, damages, judgments, settlements, costs and expenses, (including reasonable attorneys' fees), arising or resulting from or caused by the investigation of my background in connection with my application to become a participant of GB>GB.