What Windward Community College does

Windward Community College (WCC) is a public community college established in 1972 and operated as part of the University of Hawai'i system, located in Kāne'ohe on the Windward side of O'ahu, Hawai'i. The college delivers associate degrees, certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities, with specialized academic programs including Hawai'iloa Hawaiian Studies, Mental Health Technician, Veterinary Technology, Agripharmatech, Cybersecurity, Aerospace, and Entrepreneurship. Student enrollment draws primarily from Windward O'ahu, with a Fall 2024 demographic mix of 48.2% Hawaiian/Part Hawaiian students.

The college's distinctive physical and intellectual infrastructure centers on the Hōkūlani Imaginarium, a state-of-the-art 360-degree fulldome planetarium housing a library of more than 70 educational and culturally-themed shows, supported by a Center for Aerospace Education. Additional campus facilities include the Palikū Theatre (performing arts), Gallery 'Iolani (recognized as one of Hawai'i's finest exhibition venues), the Aerospace Exploration Lab, and the Lamakū learning management system (D2L/Brightspace). Student support services encompass TRiO Student Support Services, Ka Piko tutoring, counseling and advising, mental health counseling, the Hānaiaulu Childcare Center, and disability services.

Revenue mechanics rely on a hybrid model: state appropriations through the University of Hawai'i system, tuition and fees set by the UH Board of Regents, federal Title IV financial aid administration, and ancillary transactional revenue from Hōkūlani Imaginarium box-office sales ($6–$10 per ticket, $5 per K-12 student). GTM motion is community-led, with student acquisition driven by direct enrollment applications, the Direct2UH high school outreach pipeline for the Class of 2026, the tuition-free Ho'olei Scholarship for Windward O'ahu public/charter high school graduates, and the Ahupua'a Systems Apprenticeship (in partnership with Ho'okua'āina) offering a $4,500 annual stipend plus paid tuition for youth ages 17–24. The college is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), enabling federal financial aid eligibility and Title IX/FERPA compliance.

Name

Windward Community College

Legal name

Windward Community College

Website

https://windward.hawaii.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Windward Community College is a public community college in Kāne'ohe, O'ahu, part of the University of Hawai'i system, offering associate degrees, certificates, and transfer pathways to Windward O'ahu residents with specialized programs in Hawaiian Studies, veterinary technology, and aerospace.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Community College Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (61121)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Community Colleges (EDAHADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE)

Keywords

• Community college education
• Associate degree programs
• Career technical education
• Hawaiian studies programs
• Online distance learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Kaneohe

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from student tuition and fees for credit programs. Tuition rates are set by the UH Board of Regents and vary based on residency status, enrollment level, and program type.
2. State Funding: Public community college funded by the State of Hawaii and part of the University of Hawaii system
3. Financial Aid Administration: Federal Title IV financial aid processing including grants, loans, and work-study programs for eligible students
4. Imaginarium Box Office: Ticket sales for public planetarium shows, school/group tours, and special events at the Hōkūlani Imaginarium

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Windward Community College is a public community college that delivers associate degrees, certificate programs, career and technical education, and transfer pathways to four-year universities for Windward O'ahu residents. The college also operates distinctive cultural and scientific facilities — including the Hōkūlani Imaginarium planetarium, Palikū Theatre, and Gallery ʻIolani — that serve both enrolled students and the broader community. Complementary student services include counseling, financial aid administration, tutoring, disability services, and on-campus childcare.

Product overview

Windward Community College offers a portfolio of academic programs spanning career and technical education, Hawaiian studies, and liberal arts. Key programs include the Mental Health Technician, Agripharmatech, Hawaiʻloa Hawaiian Studies degree, Kumuola Pathway, Veterinary Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Online Education. The college also operates several campus facilities including the Hōkūlani Imaginarium (a 360-degree planetarium), Palikū Theatre, and Gallery ʻIolani. Student support services encompass counseling, tutoring (Ka Piko), testing, TRiO support, and childcare. Educational technology includes the Lamakū LMS platform for distance learning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hōkūlani Imaginarium: State-of-the-art planetarium and multimedia facility offering immersive shows and educational programs in astronomy and space science.
• Palikū Theatre
• Gallery ʻIolani
• Center for Aerospace Education

Products and services

• Mental Health Technician Program

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ho'okua'āinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Ahupua'a Systems Apprenticeship program offering youth ages 17-24 a pathway combining hands-on 'āina (land) stewardship, leadership development, and cultural education with a $4,500 annual stipend plus paid college tuition. Applications open for Windward O'ahu youth.
• Ebb & Flow ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit arts organization co-producing the Music of the Spheres program at the Hōkūlani Imaginarium. Founded in 1999 and directed by Maui composer Robert Pollock, Ebb & Flow enriches the community through contemporary music concerts and multimedia events.
• Ho'olei Scholarship PartnerscoreOthersCollaborative scholarship program exclusively for Windward O'ahu public and charter high school graduates providing FREE tuition. Partnership enables recent high school graduates to attend college tuition-free.
• Hawai'i State Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerK-12 school partnerships providing field trip opportunities to the Hōkūlani Imaginarium with curriculum aligned to Hawaii DOE educational standards. Shows designed for specific grade levels with activity resources.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wcchawaii
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/wcchawaii
• Facebookfacebook.com/139453269469890
• Instagraminstagram.com/windwardcc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Windward Community College