The University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu (UHWO), is a public university. It is one of ten campuses of the University of Hawaiʻi system. It offers baccalaureate degrees in liberal arts and professional studies. UHWO opened in January 1976, and since 1981 has been fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.^[5] In 2007 the school added first- and second-year subjects, becoming a four-year university.^[6]

UHWO is the US' fastest-growing public baccalaureate school. It has one of the most diverse student populations among four-year public institutions, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.^[7][8] It is the newest campus in the UH,^[9] It was established in part to provide access to higher education in Leeward Oʻahu.^[10]

The university offers undergraduate education. It enrolled 3,182 students in fall 2018, many from Leeward Oʻahu.^[11][12] UHWO also reaches students around the state with its Distance Learning program. About 10 percent of UH West Oʻahu’s enrollment list another island as their permanent address.^[13][14][15]

UHWO has the highest percentage of distance and online courses and programs and the highest percentage of part-time students in UH.^[16] UH West Oʻahu supports the study of Hawaiian language, history and culture.^[17] The student:faculty ratio is 24:1.^[18] Tuition is among the lowest in the nation.^[19]

The idea for opening a second UH campus on Oʻahu formed in the mid-1960s over concern that the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa could not accommodate everyone.^[20]

In 1966 the UH Board of Regents approved a plan calling for the opening of such a campus.^[21] In 1970, UH executive Richard Kosaki was appointed chancellor for the proposed school known as West Oʻahu College.^[22] Kosaki proposed a new campus to serve the growing population in Leeward Oʻahu, where college attendance lagged other areas on the island.^[23]

Opponents held that another campus was not needed and would take resources from other campuses.^[24]

The College was approved by the Board of Regents as an upper division school in 1975.^[25] It opened in January 1976 with 75 students attending classes held at Mililani, Campbell and Pearl City high schools.^[26] It moved later that year to a Newtown Square office building in ʻAiea, Hawaiʻi,^[27] offering day and evening classes.^[28] The institution gained WASC accreditation in February 1981 and moved adjacent to Leeward Community College in Pearl City.^[29] It began outreach programs in 1981 and 1983 sending faculty to Kauaʻi and Maui to teach classes on weekends.^[30]

In 1989 the school’s name changed to the University of Hawaiʻi-West Oʻahu to better identify it as part of the University of Hawaiʻi System.^[31] It began planning to become a four-year institution.^[32] UH West Oʻahu added lower-division curricula in 2007, and in 2012 moved to a newly built campus in Kapolei.^[33]

An Administration and Health Science building was added in 2018, and construction on a building for the Academy for Creative Media began in January 2019.^[34][35]

UH West Oʻahu has degree programs and concentrations that emphasize liberal arts and practical applications, including creative media, cybersecurity, facilities management, and sustainable community food systems. Students choose among eight degree offerings with more than 40 concentrations. The average class size in Fall 2018 was 20 students.^[36]

A concentration is a subfield within a degree area.^[11] For example, Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration students take broad classes, and can also focus on a specific subfield or concentration, such as accounting. Each major requires that students complete a capstone course (e.g. senior project or senior practicum) except for Education, which culminates in a 15-week Student Teaching semester.^[37]

UHWO offers eight certificates:^[38]

UHWO offers in-person and online classes. Twenty-nine percent of students were enrolled exclusively in distance education courses in Fall 2017; 38 percent took at least one such course.^[39]

UH System Community College students on Neighbor Islands can pursue online four-year degrees and certificates at UHWO.^[40] Classes may also be delivered through interactive television and in person.^[40] Three degrees and 12 concentrations are available.^[40]

Distance Learning students may also earn four certificates:

The campus is located on 500 acres of former sugarcane land. The campus’ property includes a separate 991-acre parcel located above the H-1 Freeway.^[41]

UH West Oʻahu offers an accounting club. The club was created in 2000 to network students with professionals and prepare their skills for the accounting industry.^[42]

The Student National Education Association (SNEA), also known as Education Club, helps students to improve and expand their knowledge of the teaching profession. SNEA provides an opportunity for future teachers to connect with local teachers and participate in the national student leadership conference.^[43]

The Associated Students of University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu (ASUHWO) is an organization of the student body government committee that helps support student groups and organizes school functions and funding. ASUHWO has committee officers such as President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and other Senators from each class division.^[44]

UHWO features an intramural sports program. The program is available to all enrolled students. The program includes of five sports including: flag football, volleyball, basketball, soccer and softball.^[45]

The University of Hawaii–West Oahu was included on the 2010 List of Military Friendly Schools.^[48]

In 2009 the school was awarded a federal grant to create a recovery center and service learning programs in the Leeward community of Waiʻanae.^[49]

In the same year UHWO faculty received a grant from the National Park Service to conduct research on the World War II-era Honouliuli internment site in West Oʻahu.^[50]