Brigham Young University-Hawaii

What is the history of Brigham Young University-Hawaii?

Brigham Young University-Hawaii is a private university in Lā'ie, Hawaii, founded in 1955 as the Church College of Hawaii. Established by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it was intended to bring students from Hawaii, the Pacific, and Asia together for higher education.

The institution adopted the Brigham Young University-Hawaii name in 1974. Its international focus remains central to its identity. The nearby Polynesian Cultural Center, which opened in 1963, is a separate organization but has long been connected to the university community through student employment and cultural activities. Applicants should distinguish BYU-Hawaii from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah: they are separate institutions with different programs and admissions processes.

What are the faculties and departments at Brigham Young University-Hawaii?

BYU-Hawaii is primarily an undergraduate university. Its academic offerings span business, computing, education, social sciences, humanities, languages, performing arts, mathematics, and natural sciences.

Representative fields include accounting, business management, computer science, biology, psychology, education, social work, and music. The university also uses majors, minors, and certificates to let students combine a primary field with more focused study. Because program names and requirements can change, an applicant comparing degrees should use the current BYU-Hawaii academic catalog - not a program list for BYU in Utah - to check required courses, prerequisites, and whether a desired credential is offered.

What is the location of Brigham Young University-Hawaii?

BYU-Hawaii is in Lā'ie, a community on the northeastern shore of O'ahu. Its setting is distinct from Honolulu's urban campuses: students live and study in a smaller community, while major government offices, hospitals, and many employers are farther away.

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu is the principal airport for travel to and from O'ahu. Bus service connects Lā'ie with other parts of the island, but trips can take substantially longer than driving. Applicants planning off-campus work, clinical placements, or frequent trips to Honolulu should account for transportation time and cost.

What is the mission and vision of Brigham Young University-Hawaii?

BYU-Hawaii describes its purpose in explicitly religious and international terms: it seeks to educate students who can serve in their families, communities, and professions, with particular attention to Asia and the Pacific. It is sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

That affiliation affects more than campus worship. Students are expected to follow a university honor code, and ecclesiastical endorsement is part of the admissions and continuing-enrollment framework. Applicants of any faith should review those requirements alongside the academic curriculum to decide whether the institution's expectations fit their circumstances.