University Housing

Terms of Assignment

General Terms Of Assignment

  • All campus-housing applicants must be accepted into classified programs of study at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo or Hawaiʻi Community College before being eligible for housing placement. Note that UH Hilo provides housing for Hawaiʻi CC students.
  • Residents must be enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours (undergraduate) or 6 credit hours (graduate) for the duration of their housing contract.
  • Hale ʻIkena Apartment Complex is available to students who have completed 30 college credit hours or are 21 years of age of older.
  • For first and second priority consideration, housing applications must be received by the Housing Office designated deadlines (Please see "Important Dates")
  • The housing contract is not transferable; residents may not sublease their assigned space.
  • Hall requests are accommodated according to priority and order of receipt. Applicant preferences cannot be guaranteed. Applicants may elect to remove themselves from the assignment process if none of their choices are available.
  • Requests for specific roommates or rooms are given consideration but are not guaranteed. Roommate requests must be mutual and must have matching hall preferences.
  • Participation in the meal program is required for those living in Hale Kanilehua, Hale Kauanoe, Hale Kehau and Hale ‘Alahonua.
  • Students with qualifying disabilities under Section 504/ ADA, who receive a University-approved housing accommodation as a means of accommodating their qualifying disabilities will not be charged a higher residence hall room rate solely because of the need for the accommodation.

University Housing reserves the right to reassign students as necessary.

Assignment Priorities

First Priority
All Traditional freshmen who apply by the application priority deadline receive the highest housing priority. Traditional freshmen are defined as students who graduated from high school in the spring prior to enrolling at the university. This priority reflects the university's position that living in a residential community is highly beneficial for first-year undergraduate students.
Second Priority
All students from rural Hawaiʻi (Big Island) and the neighbor islands; Kauaʻi, Lānaʻi, Maui, Molokai, Niʻihau and Oʻahu living in the halls and apply by the application priority deadline. Rural areas include and extend outward from the towns of Volcano, Pāhoa and Laupāhoehoe.
Third Priority
All students from the Continental US and Foreign countries who apply by the application priority deadline.
Fourth Priority
Residents living in the Hilo vicinity, including all areas within the boundaries of Volcano, Pāhoa, and Laupāhoehoe who apply by the application priority deadline.