New Student Orientation

UH Hilo's New Student Orientation - group photograph of Fall Class of 2024Fall 2024 Orientation class photo

Aloha and welcome new student to the New Student Orientation program! New Student Orientation is filled with fun activities all designed to create connections with other new students, with our amazing UH Hilo faculty, and with numerous campus resources and the awesome staff that run them. We invite you to immerse yourself in the vibrant spirit of our university's culture and traditions during New Student Orientation. By participating in our program, you'll cultivate a strong sense of belonging and place, forging lasting bonds with fellows students, faculty, and staff that will accompany you throughout your journey at our university.

Spring 2025 New Student Orientation

Orientation for Spring 2025 opens for online registration on November 11, 2024 and closes on December 25, 2024.

New Student Orientation is open to freshmen and transfer students of all class standings. There’s a little bit of everything for everyone. The Vulcan Orientation program is on Thursday January 9th through Saturday, January 11th and spans into the first week of instruction with Vulcan'Ohana Week of Welcome.

The orientation schedule of activities will be available in mid-December and emailed out to students who are registered to participate in orientation.

Spring 2025 Vulcan Orientation Schedule: January 9-11, 2025.

Note that times may run a few minutes early or late.

Thursday January 9, 2025 (Students and ʻOhana)

Time Event
9am Check In Campus Center Plaza
9:30am ʻO wai kākou? (Who Are We?) H-I-L-O! Session
10:30am Transport to ʻImiloa Astronomy Center
11am Kīpaepae and Convocation
12:30pm Lunch
1:30pm ʻImiloa Astronomy Center Session (*New and Transfer Students Only)
3:00pm Students Return to Campus Center Plaza
  • ʻOhana registered to participate will be transported back to Campus Center Plaza at 1:30pm for campus tours.

Friday January 10, 2025 (Students Only)

Time Event
8:30am Check In Campus Center Plaza
9:00am Downtown Hilo Huakaʻi Shuttle
11:45am Lunch
1:15pm Campus, Library, Student Life Center Tours
3:30pm End of Day

Saturday January 11, 2025 (Students Only)

Time Event
10:30am Student Life Center Check In Opens
11am-2pm Welcome Pool Party

You may want to review Frequently Asked Questions asked by new students about Orientation.

Getting here…

When should I arrive?

If you are living on campus in the Residence Halls please take time to review the following important dates and rate information.

Travel Arrangements

As you are making your travel arrangements, be sure to check out our Travel Info page. You could be eligible for a discounted flight.

What others have said

We always like to assess the programs that we offer so that we can continue to improve the way in which we support the success of our students. Here are a couple of things our students told us last year about their Orientation experience:

97%
“Orientation helped me feel welcomed to UH Hilo”
93%
“Through Orientation I learned about resources and offices on campus”
99%
“Orientation helped me feel better prepared to start my first semester at UH Hilo”
92%
“I would recommend this orientation program to other new students”

One student said:

“PIZZA POOL PARTY? LIBRARY SCAVENGER HUNT?? SCHOOL BUS FIELD TRIP TO KAULANA MANU NATURE TRAIL?? DIVE INTO SPACE AT THE IMILOA ASTRONOMY CENTER??? FREE UH HILO MERCH AND TASTING OF DELICIOUS LOCAL FOODS/DRINKS?!? CONCERT?!?! There was no better way of kick starting the school year with orientation week. I made 100+ new friends by simply being present and going to every event that the orientation crew set up for us. It's a great crash course of the beautiful campus with constant smiles and adrenaline. Missing out on orientation means you're missing out on 1,000 opportunities. The people you will meet will be your next Ohana or "Family" for the next few years. Can't wait to see you all soon!”--Hayate, Double Major Applied Economics and Finance Fall 2024.

Another student said:

"It was very helpful in my transition into college, I recommend this program to new upcoming freshmen."