North Hawaiʻi Education and Research Center (NHERC)

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Farrah-Marie Gomes, Director (fmgomes@hawaii.edu)
45-539 Plumeria St., Honokaa, HI 96727
Tel: (808) 775-8890
Fax: (808) 775-1294
hilo.hawaii.edu/academics/nherc/

The North Hawaiʻi Education and Research Center (NHERC) is UH Hilo’s outreach center located in Honokaʻa, 40 miles away from the main campus. The Center opened in May 2006. NHERC was designed to serve the approximately 20,000 residents in North Hawaiʻi from Laupahoehoe through the Hamākua Coast to Kohala and Waikoloa. The five core missions of NHERC include:

1. Serving as a distance learning center for UH Hilo programs;
2. Providing higher education outreach services to the North Hawaiʻi region;
3. Providing lifelong learning opportunities to the North Hawaiʻi region;
4. Serving as a base station for field research in the North Hawaiʻi region;
5. Serving as a community center.

NHERC currently features a computer lab, multi-purpose conference room, student lounge, classrooms, staff offices, and reception and work areas. Students are now able to pursue their first two years and achieve all of their general education requirements at NHERC.

The Center is home to Dr. Adam Pack’s marine laboratory and the North Hawaiʻi Heritage Center. In addition to students who attend credit and non-credit classes, community users also utilize the facility for meetings, trainings, and workshops. Phase 2B-1 of NHERC is currently under construction and expected to be complete by fall 2011. This expansion of the center is designed to include an outdoor pavilion for additional student access and work space.