Leeward Community College

Leeward Community College. It is a public community college located in Pearl City on the island of Oahu and is part of the University of Hawaiʻi System. Founded in the late 1960s, the college serves the educational needs of the central and leeward regions of Oahu, offering a wide range of associate degree programs, certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year institutions. With a commitment to open admissions and serving a diverse student body, it plays a vital role in the higher education landscape of Hawaii.

History

The college was established by the Hawaii State Legislature in 1968 to address growing demand for accessible higher education in the rapidly developing leeward coast communities of Oahu. It initially held classes at various temporary locations, including Waipahu High School, before moving to its permanent campus in the early 1970s. The institution's development was closely tied to the post-World War II expansion of the University of Hawaiʻi System and the economic growth in areas like Ewa Plain and Central Oahu. Over the decades, it has expanded its facilities and program offerings significantly, notably constructing the James & Abigail Campbell Library and the ʻŌhiʻa Building to support its mission.

Academics

The college offers over 40 associate degree and certificate programs across diverse fields including liberal arts, STEM fields, health sciences, business administration, and creative media. It maintains a strong transfer articulation with University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and other University of Hawaiʻi System campuses, as well as with institutions like Brigham Young University–Hawaii. Notable academic units include the Language Arts Division, the Mathematics and Sciences Division, and the acclaimed Pacific Center for Advanced Technology Training. The college also hosts the Leeward Theatre and the Gallery ‘Iolani, which serve as cultural and instructional resources for students in the performing arts and visual arts.

Campus

The main 49-acre campus is situated in Pearl City, near the H-1 and H-2 freeways, with views of the Waiʻanae Range. Key facilities include the James & Abigail Campbell Library, the Science and Technology Building, the Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Leeward, and the Learning Commons. The campus architecture incorporates open-air designs and features the Malia and Joseph Aiona Jr. Hawaiian Garden. The college also operates several satellite locations, including an education center in Waiʻanae to better serve the Native Hawaiian communities of the leeward coast.

Student life

Student life is supported by the Associated Students of Leeward Community College, which funds various clubs and organizations such as the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, Hawaii Club, and Anime Club. The college athletic teams, known as the Leeward CC Dolphins, compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region I. Annual events include Hoʻolauleʻa and Discover Leeward CC Day. Students have access to support services like the Veterans Resource Center, Kākoʻo ʻIke for Native Hawaiian students, and the TRiO Student Support Services program.

Notable people

Notable alumni include Daniel K. Inouye Jr., son of the late U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye; actress and singer Tia Carrere; and former Honolulu City Council member Ann Kobayashi. Faculty have included renowned ukulele master Roy Sakuma and poet and professor Juliet S. Kono. The college's theatre program has been associated with figures like director Harry Wong III of the Hawaii Theatre Center.

Category:University of Hawaiʻi System Category:Community colleges in Hawaii Category:Educational institutions established in 1968 Category:Pearl City, Hawaii