University of Hawaiʻi at West Oʻahu

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The University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu (UHWO) is a public undergraduate college in Kapolei, Hawaii, and part of the University of Hawaiʻi system. It opened in January 1976 to serve Leeward Oʻahu and became a four-year college in 2007. In 2012, UHWO moved to a newer campus in Kapolei and has since grown as the system’s newest campus.

UHWO offers eight bachelor’s degree programs in liberal arts and professional studies, with more than 40 concentrations. It also provides eight certificates and emphasizes Hawaiian language, history, and culture. The college is known for its strong distance-learning options, allowing students across Hawaii to take courses online and in person.

Enrollment is about 3,000 students, with many from Leeward Oʻahu. The campus sits on roughly 500 acres of former sugarcane land, with an additional nearby parcel. UHWO also offers intramural sports, a campus newspaper called The Hoot, a mascot named the Pueo (an owl), and school colors of red and black. In fall 2017, about 29% of students were enrolled exclusively in distance education, and 38% took at least one online course. The university system notes UHWO’s rapid growth and its role in expanding access to higher education in Hawaiʻi.

Eight certificates offered:
- Applied Forensic Anthropology
- Asian Studies
- Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management
- Gender Studies
- Health Care Administration
- Music
- Risk Management & Insurance
- Substance Abuse & Addictions Studies