Higher education
Universities in Hawaiʻi
The University of Hawaiʻi system anchors public higher education across the islands — with unique research centers in oceanography, astronomy, and Hawaiian studies.
Overview
The UH system
The University of Hawaiʻi is a single statewide public system with three universities and seven community colleges. The flagship campus — UH Mānoa on Oʻahu — is the largest research university in the Pacific, ranked R1 for "very high research activity." Hawaiʻi also hosts a handful of private institutions, including the state's oldest: Chaminade University and Hawaiʻi Pacific University.
If you're considering studying in Hawaiʻi — or visiting as a researcher or speaker — the islands' academic centers are concentrated but deep.
Main campuses
Where the universities are
| Institution | Island | Type | Notable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| UH Mānoa | Oʻahu | Public R1 | Oceanography, Asian studies, astronomy, marine biology |
| UH Hilo | Big Island | Public | Astronomy (Mauna Kea access), pharmacy, Hawaiian culture |
| UH West Oʻahu | Oʻahu | Public | Online and applied programs, sustainability |
| Kapiʻolani CC | Oʻahu (Honolulu) | Community college | Hospitality & culinary arts; international students feeder |
| Leeward CC | Oʻahu (Pearl City) | Community college | Theatre, digital media, liberal arts transfer |
| Windward CC | Oʻahu (Kāneʻohe) | Community college | HAWAIʻI STUDIES certificate, sustainability, Hawaiian patriotism |
| Hawaiʻi CC | Big Island (Hilo) | Community college | Trades, agriculture, transfer pathways |
| Maui CC | Maui (Kahului) | Community college | Sustainable agriculture, hospitality, nursing |
| Kauaʻi CC | Kauaʻi (Līhuʻe) | Community college | Auto-diesel, Hawaiian studies, culinary |
| Chaminade University | Oʻahu (Honolulu) | Private | Small Catholic liberal arts; sciences and business |
| Hawaiʻi Pacific University | Oʻahu + Big Island | Private | International business, marine biology, nursing |
| Brigham Young–Hawaiʻi (BYU-H) | Oʻahu (Laie) | Private | Multicultural campus, low-cost private education |
Research
What makes UH unique
- Oceanography: home to the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), one of the leading ocean-science programs in the U.S.
- Astronomy: access to Mauna Kea observatories through the UH Institute for Astronomy.
- Marine biology: programs centered in coral reef, cetacean, and pelagic ecology.
- Hawaiian studies: one of the leading programs for indigenous language and culture revitalization.
- Tropical agriculture: CTAHR works with farmers on island-appropriate crops and pest management.
- Volcanology: direct ties to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Mauna Kea's dry, low-light sky is one of the world's premier observation platforms.
UH Mānoa's open-air classrooms and quads are a major part of campus life.
Visitors
Visiting & events
Most campuses welcome visitors for lectures and cultural events open to the public.
- UH Mānoa: Hamilton Library, Kennedy Theatre, and the campus art gallery are open to the public.
- ʻIolani Palace tours: a separate historic site, not part of UH, but a popular cultural visitor stop.
- Honolulu Museum of Art: near UH Mānoa, hosts Hawaii-focused exhibitions.
- Public lectures: the East-West Center and Hawaii Imin International Conference Center host visiting scholars.
- Astronomy visitors centers: the Mauna Kea VIS (ʻImiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo) is open to the public for daytime visits.
For prospective students
Practical notes
Hawaiʻi is significantly more expensive than mainland college towns: housing and food costs track tourism levels. The UH system, however, offers one of the strongest values in public higher education, with in-state tuition among the lowest in the country. Hawaiʻi State residential classification can be complex to obtain for those without strong ties to the islands.
For international students, the islands can be a once-in-a-lifetime academic setting — and a hard adjustment due to isolation. The community college system has a long history of welcoming students from Asia and the Pacific.