University of Hawaii

What University of Hawaii does

The University of Hawaii is a public state university system established in 1907 as a land-grant institution and governed by a Board of Regents under the State of Hawaii. It operates 10 campuses across the Hawaiian Islands — three universities (UH Mānoa as the Carnegie R1 flagship research campus, UH Hilo, and UH West Oʻahu) and seven community colleges (Hawaiʻi CC, Honolulu CC, Kapiʻolani CC, Kauaʻi CC, Leeward CC, UH Maui College, and Windward CC) — serving approximately 51,000 students and employing roughly 10,000 staff on a consolidated $1.3 billion operating budget. Its product surface spans certificates, associate, baccalaureate, graduate, and professional degrees; financial aid and scholarship administration via a unified system application; the MyUH student portal; and major research and infrastructure initiatives including the NIH-funded Pacific Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science in Medicine (PAC-AID), the $140 million Hawaiian Islands Fiber Link undersea broadband project, and the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center.

The business model is that of a public higher-education institution rather than a commercial enterprise. Revenue is composed of state appropriations, tuition and fees, federal research grants (NIH, NSF, NASA, ONR, Department of Commerce, USDA), private donations through the UH Foundation, athletic broadcasting rights ($7.5M annually from Hawaii News Now), and workforce development grants. Go-to-market is multi-channel: direct admissions, community college transfer pathways, high school dual enrollment, continuing education, and workforce training aligned with in-demand state sectors (healthcare, clean energy, technology, creative industries). Customer segments are concentrated within Hawaii residents and include degree-seeking students, incumbent workers, emergency managers, small businesses (via the Google-funded Cybersecurity Clinics), and federal research partners. The system is currently led by President Wendy Hensel (since January 1, 2025), with recently appointed Chief AI Officer Gloria Niles, VP/CIO Brad Christ, and CISO Jodi Ito driving a system-wide AI and technology integration strategy.

Name

University of Hawaii

Legal name

University of Hawai'i

Website

https://hawaii.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1907

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The University of Hawaii is a public state university system operating 10 campuses across the Hawaiian Islands, serving roughly 51,000 students and 10,000 employees on a $1.3 billion budget through three universities, seven community colleges, and federally funded research and workforce programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Junior Colleges (611210)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Research Universities with Major Extension & Outreach Missions (EDAHAAAG), University & Educational Venue Operations (Auditoriums, Campus Arenas) (MPAGALAI)

Keywords

• Public higher education
• Community college degrees
• Workforce development training
• Research university programs
• Online distance learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. State Appropriations and Public Funding: As a public university system, UH receives state budget appropriations. The system oversees a $1.3 billion public university system with state funding supporting operations, research, and student programs.
2. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, fees for various programs and services across the 10-campus system.
3. Federal Research Grants: Major grants from federal agencies including Office of Naval Research ($2.4M), NSF ($1M), NASA ($3.8M shared), NIH ($12M), and others supporting specific research programs and initiatives.
4. Workforce Development Programs: Federal workforce development grants (e.g., $16M for sustainable workforce development) targeting training for healthcare, clean energy, technology, and creative industries.
5. Athletic Broadcasting and Media Rights: Athletic broadcast agreements generating revenue from media rights. Shifted from Spectrum Sports to Hawaii News Now, expected to generate $7.5 million annually.
6. Private Donations and NIL Funding: Private sector commitments ($5M over 5 years for NIL funds), donations through UH Foundation, and alumni giving supporting athletics and student programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The University of Hawaii is a public state university system that delivers higher education and training through 10 campuses across the Hawaiian Islands, offering certificate, associate, baccalaureate, graduate, and professional degree programs to approximately 51,000 students. It supplements instruction with workforce development programs, applied research (including AI-driven biomedical and ocean/energy science), community extension services, and inter-island broadband infrastructure. Revenue is generated from state appropriations, tuition and fees, federal and private research grants, and auxiliary activities such as athletic media rights.

Product overview

The University of Hawai'i System is a 10-campus public university network offering comprehensive educational services across the Hawaiian Islands. The system consists of three universities (UH Mānoa as the flagship research institution, UH Hilo, and UH West O'ahu) and seven community colleges. Educational offerings span certificate programs, associate degrees, baccalaureate degrees, graduate programs, and professional degrees across disciplines including liberal arts, sciences, business, health sciences, engineering, and technical trades. Supporting services include financial aid administration, scholarship programs accessible through a unified UH System Common Scholarship Application, and the MyUH student portal providing access to registration and academic records. Major infrastructure initiatives include the Hawaiian Islands Fiber Link (HIFL) broadband project connecting all major islands. Research centers such as the Pacific Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science in Medicine (PAC-AID) represent specialized research units within the system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• University of Hawaii 10-Campus System Comprehensive public university network comprising three universities (UH Manoa, UH Hilo, UH West O'ahu) and seven community colleges offering degree programs across the Hawaiian Islands.
• UH Manoa Flagship research university of the UH system, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs including medicine, law, and engineering.
• UH Hilo Comprehensive university on the island of Hawaii offering undergraduate and graduate degrees with emphasis on Hawaiian language, culture, and Pacific/Asia studies.
• UH West O'ahu Four-year university serving West Oahu with bachelor's and graduate degree programs in applied sciences, business, and social sciences.
• UH Community Colleges (7 campuses) Seven community colleges (Hawaii CC, Honolulu CC, Kapiolani CC, Kauai CC, Leeward CC, UH Maui College, Windward CC) offering associate degrees, certificates, and transfer pathways.
• Financial Aid Services Federal, state, and private financial aid programs including grants, scholarships, work-study, and loan programs administered at each UH campus.
• UH System Common Scholarship Application A unified online application system allowing students to apply for multiple UH System and campus-specific scholarships simultaneously.
• MyUH Services Portal Portal providing students access to registration, academic records, financial aid information, email, and other campus services across the UH System.
• Workforce Development Programs Community college-based training programs delivering skills certification and career pathways in high-demand sectors for Hawaii residents.
• UH Cybersecurity Clinics Free virtual cybersecurity workshops and clinics providing cybersecurity hygiene, AI threat detection, and incident response training to Hawaii small business owners.
• National Disaster Preparedness Training Center Training programs delivering disaster preparedness and emergency management certification to first responders, emergency managers, transportation agencies, and stadium operators.
• Direct2UH Admissions Application Streamlined college application system serving Hawaii public high school seniors applying to the University of Hawaii system.
• Continuing Education Non-credit courses and professional development offerings delivered through Continuing Education departments at each campus.
• Dual Enrollment / Early College High school dual enrollment programs allowing students to earn college credits before graduation, with transfer pathways across the system.
• Pacific Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science in Medicine (PAC-AID) Research center focused on using AI and data science to accelerate biomedical research and improve health outcomes in Hawaii and the Pacific region.
• Hawaiian Islands Fiber Link (HIFL) Interisland broadband infrastructure project supporting statewide digital connectivity, education delivery, and research networking.

Quantifiable outcome

• National rankings: UH Community College System ranked 11th best in nation among 41 statewide systems (2025 WalletHub)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Consortium of Cybersecurity ClinicscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026National consortium of university cybersecurity clinics. UH is one of 15 institutions establishing cybersecurity clinics to help protect small businesses from cyber threats.
• Ocean Networks Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationSubsea cable company based in Georgia contracted to lay the Hawaiian Islands Fiber Link (HIFL) undersea cable network connecting all six main Hawaiian islands.
• Hawaii News NowmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver-the-air broadcast partner for UH athletics. Gray Media-owned station group replacing Spectrum Sports for athletic broadcasts, expected to generate $7.5 million annually.
• Hui Ho'oleimaluōminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner maintaining traditional Hawaiian fishpond at Kaumaui. UH Hilo genetics class conducted field work and DNA analysis in partnership with this organization.
• Hawai'i Symphony OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Symphony of the Hawai'i Seas performance combining ocean-themed music, animation, and hula to celebrate marine conservation.
• Kamehameha SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents from Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Art Department contributed to Symphony of the Hawai'i Seas animation project.
• FIFA World Cup Organizing BodiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Disaster Preparedness Training Center providing extreme weather preparedness training for World Cup 2026 emergency managers and stadium operators.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• California State University: California State University operates 23 campuses combining universities and community colleges under one public system — structurally the closest analog to UH's 3-university + 7-community-college model. Comparable in student population, transfer-pathway design, and workforce development mandate.
• State University of New York (SUNY): SUNY operates 64 campuses across universities, community colleges, and statutory colleges within a single state system, mirroring UH's mandate to deliver public higher education across a geographically dispersed state. Comparable in multi-tiered structure, in-state tuition model, and workforce credentialing programs.
• University of Alaska System: The University of Alaska is a public multi-campus system serving a geographically dispersed, low-population state — the closest structural peer to UH's challenge of delivering higher education across remote islands. Comparable in rural access mission, limited population base, and federal funding reliance.
• Brigham Young University–Hawaii: BYU-Hawaii is a private university located on Oahu that directly competes with UH Mānoa and the community colleges for Hawaii-resident and Pacific Islander students. Operates in the same labor market for faculty and competes for similar in-state applicants.
• Chaminade University of Honolulu: Chaminade is a private nonprofit university in Honolulu offering undergraduate and graduate programs that compete with UH Mānoa and UH West Oahu for Hawaii-resident students. Comparable in mission and student demographic focus.

Broad incumbents

• University of California System: The UC system is a multi-campus public research university system with comparable graduate/professional programs and R1 classification on flagship campuses (UC Berkeley, UCLA) versus UH Mānoa. Larger scale and endowment, but operates under a similar state appropriations + tuition + federal grants revenue model.
• University of Texas System: The UT System is a public multi-campus university system combining R1 research flagships with regional comprehensive universities. Comparable in state appropriations model, NCAA athletics presence, and federal research grant mix (NIH, NSF, DOD).
• University of Florida: UF is a Carnegie R1 public research university with comparable federal grant mix (NIH, NSF, NASA), Division I athletics (relevant to UH Mānoa's broadcast deal), and state-appropriated funding model. Larger scale but operates under a similar institutional logic.

Regional players

• University of Guam: UOG is the primary public university in a U.S. Pacific territory and shares UH's Pacific-region research focus, federal grant mix (NIH, NSF), and Pacific/Asian studies emphasis. Comparable as a regional Pacific higher-education institution with similar grant dependency.

Emerging players

• University of New Mexico: UNM is a Carnegie R1 public research university serving a state with significant rural/underrepresented populations, comparable to UH's Pacific-region health equity mission (PAC-AID) and land-grant extension role. Similar scale and federal grant profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uhawaiinews
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/uhmagazine
• Facebookfacebook.com/universityofhawaii
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1781130
• Instagraminstagram.com/uhawaiinews

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds11 records

Investors7 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of Hawaii