Kīpuka Native Hawaiian Student Center

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Portable Building 12-8

Tel: (808) 933-0897
Web: kipuka.uhh.hawaii.edu

The vision of the Kīpuka Native Hawaiian Student Center is to ensure a Hawaiian place of learning at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. Its mission is to promote Native Hawaiian student success through comprehensive support programs and services that enhance academic excellence, spiritual well-being, and cultural and leadership development for Native Hawaiians at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. The Center provides a “home” on campus for all Native Hawaiian students and assists them to attain their academic and personal goals. Culturally appropriate and responsive support services and activities include:

• academic advising;
• career planning and preparation including placement with mentors and internships on and off campus;
• tutoring in basic skills such as writing and math and content areas including Hawaiian language and the sciences;
• peer mentoring;
• assistance with financial aid (especially scholarships giving preference to Hawaiians);
• advocacy for all Native Hawaiian students at UH Hilo.

In addition, the program provides opportunities for students to develop their leadership skills through academic coursework and service-learning projects in the community. The Center also provides open access to a Mac computer lab and other technologies day and night.

Other activities of the Center include community outreach and recruitment; cultural development forums; presentations and workshops; and an annual gathering for Hawaiian students, faculty, and staff.

Uluākea is a program within the Center dedicated to developing the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo into a Hawaiian place of learning. Uluākea supports and trains faculty in their development of a Hawaiian worldview through which they can develop new courses, modify current courses, and teach courses at all levels.