Hawaii Community College

What Hawaii Community College does

Hawai'i Community College is a public community college founded in 1941 and operating as part of the University of Hawai'i Community Colleges (UHCC) system under the governance of the UH Board of Regents. The institution serves approximately 2,154 students across three physical campuses on Hawai'i Island — Manono (Hilo, the main campus), Pālamanui (Kailua-Kona), and Kō Education Center (Honoka'a) — plus the University Center West Hawaii. It delivers 26 degree and certificate programs spanning career and technical education (Automotive Mechanics, Carpentry, Culinary Arts, Diesel Mechanics, Electrical Installation and Maintenance, Welding) and academic transfer pathways (Liberal Arts, Natural Science, Hawaiian Studies, Nursing). Enrollment is split 26% full-time and 74% part-time, reflecting a heavy workforce and adult-learner mix.

The college's core technology infrastructure is the UH system's Lamakū learning management system, used to deliver distance education via online, interactive television (ITV), and cable television modalities. NC-SARA membership extends distance-education reach to other U.S. states. The institution integrates with third-party platforms including Tutor.com for online tutoring, Tableau for institutional dashboards, ECMC Solutions for student loan counseling, ProVerifier+ for financial aid document verification, and STAR Balance for academic advising appointments. Associate degree graduates are automatically admitted to UH four-year universities as juniors, and a consortium agreement with all seven UH community colleges allows cross-enrollment for financial aid eligibility.

The business model is non-commercial: as a state-funded public institution, Hawai'i CC is funded through state appropriations, federal financial aid (Pell Grants, student loans), the Hawai'i Promise scholarship program, and per-credit tuition set by the UH Board of Regents. Tuition rates are tiered by residency status and are structurally lower than four-year universities. The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer with open-door admissions; students apply through the UH system application, supported by school-counselor outreach, community events, campus visits, and dual-credit partnerships with Hawai'i Island high schools. Quantified outcomes include a 28–31% graduation rate (150% normal time) and a 13% transfer-out rate to other institutions for the Fall 2021–2022 cohorts.

Name

Hawaii Community College

Legal name

Hawai'i Community College

Website

https://hawaii.hawaii.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Hawai'i Community College is a public two-year college serving approximately 2,154 students across three Hawai'i Island campuses (Hilo, Kona, Honoka'a), delivering 26 degree and certificate programs ranging from trades to liberal arts transfer pathways within the University of Hawai'i system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community College Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (6112), Junior Colleges (611210), Junior Colleges (61121), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Community Colleges (EDAHADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE), Junior Colleges (Associate-Degree Granting) (EDAHADAC), Rural/Regional Community Colleges (EDAHADAK)

Keywords

• Community college education
• Associate degree programs
• Vocational training certificates
• Higher education Hawaii
• Career technical education

Headquarters

HQ city

Hilo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Public community college funded primarily through state appropriations, federal financial aid (Pell Grants, student loans), state programs (Hawai'i Promise), and student tuition and fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Hawaii Community College is a public community college located in Hilo, Hawaii, operating as part of the University of Hawaii system. It provides associate degree programs, academic certificates, and vocational/technical training to students on the Big Island of Hawaii, with additional offerings through its West Hawaii campus.

Product overview

Hawaii Community College offers a comprehensive portfolio of 26 degree and certificate programs across multiple campuses (Hilo, Kona/Palamanui, Honoka'a/Ko, and University Center). The college provides both career and technical education (CTE) programs in fields like automotive mechanics, carpentry, culinary arts, diesel mechanics, and healthcare, as well as academic transfer programs in liberal arts and natural sciences. Programs include certificate pathways, associate degrees, and guaranteed transfer to UH four-year universities. The institution serves over 2,000 students and operates with an open-door admissions policy, providing both in-person and distance education options through the UH system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Manono Campus: Main campus located in Hilo, offering a wide range of academic programs including four-year transfer pathways and non-credit options.
• Pālamanui Campus
• Kō Education Center
• University Center

Products and services

• Associate Degree Programs Two-year Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) degree programs designed for students planning to transfer to a four-year university or enter the workforce directly.
• Career and Technical Education Certificates Certificate programs in fields such as nursing, automotive technology, carpentry, culinary arts, and other vocational areas designed to prepare students for direct entry into skilled occupations.
• Associate of Arts in Hawaiian Studies Associate degree pathway emphasizing Hawaiian language (ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi), Hawaiian culture, and related academic disciplines, serving students interested in indigenous and cultural studies.
• Nursing Program Accredited associate degree nursing program providing the clinical and didactic training required for students to pursue RN or LPN licensure in Hawaii.
• Continuing Education and Workforce Training Non-degree courses and workforce training offerings for adults seeking professional development, certification renewal, or new skills without enrolling in a full degree program.
• Online and Distance Learning Courses Online and hybrid course sections allowing students to complete associate degree and certificate requirements through remote instruction.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduation rate of 31% (Fall 2022 cohort, 150% normal time completion)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Oregon State University (OSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium agreement allowing certain courses taken at OSU to count toward a student's enrollment level for financial aid funding at Hawai'i CC.
• University of Hawai'i SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the UH community college system. Students can enroll in distance education courses from all seven UH community colleges. Associate degree graduates are automatically admitted to UH four-year universities as juniors.
• Pāmaomao Indigenous Exchange ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange program weaving Indigenous wisdom into higher education, connecting with other institutions to share knowledge and practices.
• UH Community College Consortium (All 7 UHCC Campuses)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBroad consortium agreement with all six other UH community college campuses allowing degree-applicable coursework to count toward financial aid enrollment as long as student is enrolled in at least one Hawai'i CC course.
• ECMC SolutionsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner providing free student loan counseling and borrower support for current and former Hawai'i CC students navigating Federal Student Loan repayment.
• Hawai'i Data eXchange Partnership (DXP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership of five state agencies committed to cross-agency data sharing to improve education and workforce outcomes in Hawai'i.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Chaminade University of Honolulu: Private Hawaii-based university offering associate and bachelor's pathways that overlap with Hawaii CC's transfer-friendly academic portfolio.
• Brigham Young University-Hawaii: Private four-year institution on Oahu's north shore that competes for Hawaii-based students with cultural/Indigenous-focused programming similar to Hawaii CC's Hawaiian Studies offerings.

Emerging players

• Portland Community College: Large multi-campus U.S. community college with comparable associate degree and workforce training portfolio, Oregon State University consortium partner, and similar enrollment scale.

Direct peers

• Windward Community College: UH community college on Oahu's windward coast offering associate degrees, transfer pathways, and Hawaiian-focused cultural programs with comparable institutional structure.
• Leeward Community College: UH community college on Oahu offering similar associate degrees, certificates, and career-technical programs with overlapping student demographics.
• University of Hawaii at Hilo: UH four-year university on the same Hilo campus that serves as the primary transfer destination for Hawaii CC associate graduates under the guaranteed junior admission policy.
• Honolulu Community College: UH community college in Honolulu with similar career-technical and transfer program offerings, sharing the same system-level distance education and financial aid infrastructure.
• UH Maui College: Another UH community college serving a neighboring Hawaiian island with comparable associate degree programs, workforce training, and UH system transfer pathways.
• Kaua'i Community College: UH community college serving a rural Hawaiian island with comparable size, open-door admissions, and associate degree/transfer pathway model.
• Kapi'olani Community College: Fellow University of Hawaii Community Colleges campus located in Honolulu, offering associate degrees, certificates, and transfer pathways with a similar admissions model and degree portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/hawaii-community-college

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Hawaii Community College