Connecting Learning, Life and Aloha
‘O ka ‘imi na‘auao, ke ola a me ke aloha kā kākou e huliāmahi ai

Division of Student Affairs (DSA)

Lehua, the UH Hilo AI Chatbot

UH Hilo is excited to announce the launch of Lehua, a new behaviorally intelligent SMS chatbot designed to help strengthen connections with our students, support their success, and enhance retention across campus.

Lehua Chatbot in a phone screen with message bubbles

Lehua is an AI-powered chatbot developed in partnership with EdSights, a company that specializes in student engagement through smart, text-based communication. Instant answers to hundreds of UH Hilo related questions. Whether you need help with common questions, finding important deadlines or connecting to campus resources, Lehua is here to help.

But Lehua offers more than just answers. She’ll check in from time to time and make sure you're connected to all the resources you need to thrive at UH Hilo. And the best part? Lehua’s support gets smarter the more you interact, offering you more personalized advice over time!

So, keep your phone handy. Lehua will be texting you soon!

Through friendly text messages, Lehua will:

  • Check in with students about their campus experience
  • Connect them with helpful campus resources
  • Answer a wide range of campus-specific questions

Think of Lehua as our own version of Siri or Alexa — but built especially for our campus community.

How Lehua works

Students will receive text messages from Lehua throughout the semester. Based on their responses, Lehua can:

  • Offer personalized support
  • Share timely information
  • Guide students to academic, financial, mental health, and other student services

Lehua is more than just a chatbot. It’s part of our larger effort to:

  • Support students wherever they are
  • Improve communication and feedback loops
  • Build a stronger, more connected campus community

Lehua supports your work by helping identify students who may need additional support early. It’s a proactive tool that can improve student outcomes and streamline referrals to existing services.

If you have questions about Lehua, feel free to direct them to our support email at lehuauhh@hawaii.edu.

When will Lehua text you?

Lehua will send an introductory "hello" text to every undergraduate UH Hilo student during the beginning of the semester.

After that, Lehua will contact you about once a week throughout the semester to check in on you. She might ask how you're doing in your classes, let you know about essential campus updates or ask your opinion about something on campus.

Text Lehua is currently only available to undergraduate students enrolled in classes on the UH Hilo campus, and can only message students with a valid US cell phone number saved to their student acccount.

How to text Lehua

Add Lehua’s number to your contacts once you receive her introductory message, and simply reply to start chatting.

Lehua can provide you with information or guide you to the right resources 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If Lehua can't answer your question, don't worry as she'll direct you to a real person who can.

Please note: Call 911 if you are in danger or have an emergency. Text Lehua is an AI support system that cannot help you in an emergency situation.

What is Lehua’s phone number?

  • If you haven’t already received a text from Lehua, email lehuauhh@hawaii.edu for assistance.

What happens when I text Lehua?

When you text Lehua:

  • Lehua will answer your questions and perhaps share a relevant campus resource with you based on your questions and responses.
  • If you indicate that you need extra support, a human being will follow up with you. That might be your academic advisor or someone else from your student support team. It all depends on what assistance you need. So remember to check your UH Hilo (hawaii.edu) email often to see if anyone has reached out to you.

Text Lehua is not working. What do I do?

Reasons why you might not be able to reach Lehua.

  • Lehua has not sent you the introductory text message.
  • You are not currently enrolled as an undergraduate student in courses on the UH Hilo campus.
  • You replied “STOP” to a text message from Lehua.
  • Changes to Lehua can be made through the MYUH Hilo directly.
    • Go to MyUH Services
    • In the search bar, type "Update Personal Information"
    • Scroll down and click on, "Address/Phone update"
    • Under Phones, click on "Primary," and select "Cellular Phone"
    • Enter your phone number then click "Submit"

If you require additional support, email lehuauhh@hawaii.edu for assistance.

How Lehua can support you

Lehua Chatbot

Lehua is your friendly virtual guide, here to make navigating campus life easier and more enjoyable. Whether you have a quick question about dining hours, need help finding a class, or want to explore student resources, Lehua will provide accurate information or point you to the right place. If she doesn’t have the answer, she’ll seamlessly connect you with a real person who does—no dead ends, just real support.

Lehua is constantly learning and improving with every conversation. The more you interact with her, the better she understands your needs and preferences, making future assistance even more personalized and helpful. She's available 24/7, so you can get answers any time, whether it's late at night before an exam or during your first week on campus. With Lehua by your side, you'll have a reliable digital companion to guide you through your college experience, efficiently, supportively, and with a human touch when it matters most.

What types of questions/topics can Lehua help me with?

Once you have received your first text from Lehua, she can connect you with support services and information regarding:

  • Academics (tutors, academic advisors, study skills)
  • Financial matters (financial aid, filling out the FAFSA, bill payment plans)
  • Student life and involvement activities (clubs, organizations, events)
  • Mental and physical health and overall well-being (counselors, wellness info, campus recreation)

What are the most popular questions for Lehua?

  • Where can I find out if the campus is closed due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g., a storm or weather)?
  • Where can I find upcoming school events?
  • How do I contact Financial Aid?
  • When is the dining hall(s) open?
  • Can I see a full academic calendar?
  • How do I contact my advisor?
  • When is break?
  • How do I get a refund (e.g., housing or tuition)?
  • Where can I find information on clubs and organizations?

What kinds of things do students ask the most about?

  • Academics/Calendars
  • Academics/Registrar
  • Dining/Dining Services
  • Campus/Other
  • Services/Information Technology
  • Activities/Events
  • Financial Aid/Contact
  • Financial Aid/Types of Aid
  • Academics/Advising
  • Services/Counseling

Opting In and Out of Lehua

Can I opt out of Text Lehua?

Yep. Just text “STOP” at any time.

How do I opt back into Text Lehua?

If you'd like to opt back into Text Lehua, email lehuauhh@hawaii.edu for assistance.

Please note: Text Lehua is an AI-powered texting service that strives for accuracy, but mistakes can happen. Because of this, your texts aren’t anonymous and all replies are monitored by UH Hilo staff.