University of Hawaii Kona

Issue

A decade ago, the University of Hawaii perceived the need for higher education in West Hawaii when its Board of Regents reviewed detailed plans and selected a 500-acre State-owned parcel in North Kona for a permanent facility.

While it seemed appropriate to call for an expanded University of Hawaii Center at West Hawaii in the mid-‘90s, today the focus of that vision has sharpened to reveal the need for a full-fledged UH Kona residential university operating in tandem with UH Hilo.

West Hawaii, encompassing the districts of North and South Kona along with North and South Kohala, remains the only major region within the State of Hawaii without a permanent facility for higher education. Explosive regional growth over the past 25 years indicates the pressing need to anchor the community with UH Kona. 1980 census data reveals a regional population of 27,518. By 2005, the population soared by 129% to 63,000 permanent residents plus another substantial untallied layer of part-time residents.

Position

The 500-acre North Kona parcel is a jewel. It sits at the apex of a triangle with immense potential. To the north are world-class resorts, to the south is the studied remains of ancient Hawaiian culture and in-between are bustling activities of international aviation, marine sciences, aquaculture and research projects. Growing residential communities, including a large concentration of native Hawaiians within Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, crown the area.

UH Kona would serve the region well. It would:
1) build an educated community;
2) elevate workforce development;
3) attract highly skilled jobs; and
4) broaden diversity.

In less than a generation, the region would shift from an under-served population to a highly educated one.

The call for UH Kona also supports the parallel need for a permanent Kona campus and facilities for Hawaii Community College with emphasis on vocational training programs.
Of particular note, UH Kona should complement, never compete with, existing programs now underway at UH Hilo.

Further, a medical crisis has been brewing for some time now in the West Hawaii region. A University Hospital attached to UH Kona – with a biotechnology component and teaching programs for the health care spectrum would be a tremendous regional asset.