"I have never been to a city that is so vibrant and alive! I grew up thinking that my world was so small because I lived in Hilo, but having this opportunity to go study abroad has really changed the way I see the world. I will definitely be studying abroad again because this is truly an experience of a lifetime!"
Allena Ikehara
Allena Ikehara
Seinan Gakuin University, Japan
Major: Japanese Studies
“For me it was like a dream, I never thought that I would be able to have the chance to travel to a foreign country. The time I spent in Japan is one I’ll never forget. I’ve made friends from all over the world and throughout this whole experience, I have learned so much about different cultures, lifestyles, values, and myself. I hope one day I’ll be able to return, see everyone again.”
Randall Yamaoka
Randall Yamaoka
Kyoto Sangyo University, Japan
Seoul Women's University, South Korea
Major: Japanese Studies & Linguistics
“Studying abroad has changed my life forever and expanded my global awareness. I was one of the lucky ones that had the opportunity to study abroad in two different countries. My first experience was a yearlong session at Kyoto Sangyo University in Japan, where I was able to immerse myself in my cultural heritage, meet people across the world and be fortunate enough to meet relatives for the first time. My second study abroad session was with the Bahrom International Program in South Korea. I engaged myself in a different Asian culture and visited many historical landmarks. Studying abroad will change your perspective of the world.”
Makamae Nāone
Makamae Nāone
University of Waikato, Aotearoa (New Zealand)
Major: Hawaiian Studies and Anthropology
“Tēnā rā tātou! Aloha nui kākou! Honestly, there is absolutely no way that I can explain the experience I had in Aotearoa in just 3 sentences. That 1 year at Waikato changed my life forever, it was way more than I had ever expected. I got to live my dream by immersing myself in the Māori culture and it was just the most epic experience. I can't even begin to explain the people that I have met and the connections I have made with my new "family" in Aotearoa! Its like I now live two lives, I have my family here in Hawaiʻi but I also have a huge loving family in Aotearoa! If there is one thing I could tell others who are thinking about studying abroad, I'd say, Do It! Trust me, you will not regret it. Kia ora!”
Campus Security, (808) 974-7911 or 7911 from a campus phone.
We also encourage you to submit a Silent Witness report if you wish to remain anonymous and it's a non-emergency safety or security concern.
Campus Safety Concerns
The safety of the community and its members is very important to us. If you become aware of a situation that you believe may pose a threat, please submit a Student of Concern form to the UH Hilo Care Team.
Physical Health Resources
If you are having a medical emergency and require immediate assistance, please call 911.
If you need non-emergency health services or assistance, please contact the Student Medical Services at (808) 932-7369.
Environmental Alerts and Information
Contact the Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense at (808) 935-0031.
Office hours are 7:45am - 4:30pm, Mondays through Fridays (except holidays). Emergencies or crises are handled as expediently as possible by an available counselor.
If you need assistance on an emergency or crisis basis outside of office hours:
If you would like to talk to someone on a crisis or emergency basis, or if you need assistance, please call the 24/7 Crisis Line of Hawaiʻi at 1-800-753-6879. This number will route you to local crisis mobile outreach services.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number is 1-800-273-8255. (Please note: if you call this number from a phone with an out-of-state number, you will be routed to a crisis support center local to that area code.)