Hawaii Community College

Hawaii Community College
Name	Hawaii Community College
Type	Public community college
Parent	University of Hawaiʻi
Established	1941
Chancellor	Lincoln K. Paelicke
City	Hilo
State	Hawaii
Country	United States
Campus	Urban, rural
Colors	Blue and green

Hawaii Community College is a public two-year institution located on the island of Hawaiʻi with campuses in Hilo and Pālamanui. The college is part of the University of Hawaiʻi system and offers career, technical, and transfer programs aligned with regional workforce needs and cultural priorities, drawing students from Hilo, Kailua-Kona, Honolulu, Maui, and other Pacific communities. It maintains partnerships with agencies such as the Hawaii Department of Education, Hawaiʻi Department of Health, Pacific Islands Development Program, and community organizations including the Native Hawaiian Education Council.

History

The institution traces origins to vocational training initiatives that paralleled developments in territorial Hawaiʻi during the era of the Territory of Hawaii and the aftermath of World War II, responding to demand tied to the Hawaiian Pineapple Company, Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association, and military installations such as Hickam Field and Bellows Field. Throughout the late 20th century the college expanded in coordination with the University of Hawaiʻi board actions and state legislative measures like those enacted by the Hawaii State Legislature. Major milestones include program accreditations related to standards from regional bodies such as the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges and collaborations with institutions like Kapiʻolani Community College, Windward Community College, and Leeward Community College. Natural events including 1983 Mauna Loa eruption and storms that affected Hawaii (island) infrastructure have shaped campus resilience and rebuilding efforts.

Campus and Facilities

The main campus in Hilo fronts the Hilo Bay corridor and neighbors landmarks including Liliʻuokalani Gardens, Wailoa River State Park, and the Pacific Tsunami Museum. Facilities include trade-oriented spaces for programs linked to organizations like United Association (plumbers) apprenticeships, healthcare labs connected to clinical affiliates such as Hawaii Health Systems Corporation hospitals, and agricultural sites reflecting ties to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Cooperative Extension and Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority. The Pālamanui campus near Kailua-Kona provides programs tailored to the West Hawaiʻi economy, leveraging proximity to Kona International Airport at Keāhole and research partners including Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and marine centers like the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology.

Academics and Programs

Academic offerings span associate degrees, certificates, and workforce training across divisions with articulation pathways to institutions such as University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Career and technical education areas include healthcare pathways linked to Queen's Medical Center, welding and manufacturing aligned with Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company, culinary arts influenced by hospitality employers such as Hilton Worldwide and Hyatt Corporation, and natural resources programs connected to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service. Programs in Hawaiian studies and language coordinate with entities like Kamehameha Schools, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and cultural practitioners tied to ʻAha Pūnana Leo. STEM curricula include transfer-ready coursework relying on articulation agreements with California State University partners and research collaborations with NOAA and United States Geological Survey laboratories in the Pacific.

Student Life and Services

Student support integrates advising and career services interfacing with statewide initiatives from the Hawaii Workforce Development Council, financial aid offices administering programs under statutes from the United States Department of Education, and tutoring centers modeled after best practices from peer institutions such as Oregon State University and University of Washington. Campus intercultural programs engage with organizations like Nā ʻAikāne O Ke Ao and student groups that affiliate with national networks including the American Association of Community Colleges and the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. Health and counseling services coordinate referrals to agencies like the Hawaiʻi Keiki Program and community clinics operated by Community Health Centers of Hawaiʻi.

Athletics and Extracurriculars

Intercollegiate athletics and recreation align with regional conferences and draw comparisons to programs at Kapiʻolani Community College and Leeward Community College. Intramural offerings, cultural clubs, and student media collaborate with organizations such as College/University Student Communications and event partnerships with festivals like the Merrie Monarch Festival and Hilo Bayfront Farmers Market. Extracurricular technical competitions see students participate in associations including SkillsUSA, National Technical Honor Society, and regional chapters of the American Culinary Federation.

Governance and Administration

Administrative oversight follows policies set by the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents and state regulatory frameworks influenced by leaders from Hawaii State Board of Education and executives formerly associated with offices like the Governor of Hawaii. Academic leadership coordinates with accreditation and workforce alignment organizations such as the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges and collaborates with philanthropic partners including the Hawaii Community Foundation and private sector stakeholders like Kamehameha Schools. Institutional planning integrates emergency management protocols referenced by Federal Emergency Management Agency and environmental stewardship guided by Hawaiʻi State Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Notable Alumni and Faculty

Faculty and alumni have included practitioners and scholars connected to organizations and fields represented by names such as those active in Hawaiian sovereignty movement circles, educators associated with Kamehameha Schools, healthcare professionals who've worked at The Queen's Medical Center – West Oʻahu, and public servants who served in roles across the Hawaiʻi State Legislature and county administrations like Hawaii County. Other affiliates have collaborated with research and cultural institutions including Bishop Museum, Hawaiʻi Academy of Arts and Sciences, Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority, and national agencies such as NOAA and United States Geological Survey.

Category:University of Hawaiʻi