Hawaii Pacific University

What is the history of Hawaii Pacific University?

Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) is a private university founded in Honolulu in 1965 as Hawaiʻi Pacific College. It later adopted the Hawaii Pacific University name and merged with Hawaiʻi Loa College in 1992. The merger broadened its academic offerings and helped establish the multi-location institution students encounter today.

HPU's history matters to applicants because it is not a single, self-contained campus. Its development brought together downtown Honolulu facilities, programs serving working adults and military-connected students, and academic offerings elsewhere on Oʻahu. The location of a particular major or service is worth checking before enrolling.

What are the faculties and departments at Hawaii Pacific University?

Hawaii Pacific University offers undergraduate and graduate study across business, liberal arts, sciences, health, and professional fields. Its academic organization includes the College of Business, College of Liberal Arts, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, and College of Health and Society.

Representative areas of study include business administration, computer science, marine and environmental science, communication, psychology, social work, and nursing. Students considering a licensed profession should check the requirements for the specific degree and state in which they expect to practice; a university-wide accreditation does not by itself establish professional eligibility. Applicants should also confirm a program's teaching location and whether required courses are offered in person, online, or in a combination of formats.

What is the location of Hawaii Pacific University?

Hawaii Pacific University is based in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, with a prominent downtown presence around Aloha Tower Marketplace. Rather than occupying one enclosed campus, university facilities are distributed across locations, making the site of classes and services an important part of planning a schedule.

Downtown Honolulu offers access to employers, public transportation, and community organizations. It also means students may need to allow time to travel between classes, housing, work, and appointments. TheBus serves Honolulu, while students traveling between islands or from the continental United States generally use Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Commuting costs and travel time deserve particular attention for students whose classes are held at more than one location.

What is the mission and vision of Hawaii Pacific University?

HPU describes its educational purpose in terms of practical learning, diversity, and engagement with a global community. Its location in the Pacific and its mix of local, mainland, international, and military-connected students are relevant to that stated outlook.

Those statements express institutional aims, not measured outcomes for every student. Applicants can assess how the aims apply to a particular major by looking at its curriculum, experiential-learning requirements, advising arrangements, and opportunities to work with communities or organizations beyond the classroom. HPU is a private, nonsectarian institution.