Hawai‘i Community College is making a lasting impact on sustainable agriculture in Hawai‘i through its pioneering use of Korean natural farming (KNF). Since 2016, the college’s agriculture program has trained students in KNF techniques, producing nearly 100 graduates, some of whom are now actively revitalizing Hawai‘i’s farmlands with environmentally friendly methods.
Cathryn Krueger found her passion at Hawaiʻi Community College.
“When I took my first agriculture class, everything in my life changed,” said Krueger, who is Native Hawaiian. “I just fell in love with being in agriculture and working with the land.”
Hawai‘i Community College’s Tropical Ecosystem and Agroforestry Management (TEAM) Program marks its 25th anniversary in 2025. As the only program of its kind in the University of Hawai‘i’s community college system, the TEAM program plays a vital role in training local students for careers in conservation and natural resource management in Hawai‘i.
The University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges are making education even more accessible with reduced tuition rates for summer courses. Tuition will match fall and spring semesters at just $131 per credit for Hawaiʻi residents which will allow students to save money, graduate faster and explore new interests while staying on track academically.
Honoka‘a, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Community College is proud to unveil the newly renovated Kō Education Center (KōEC), which now boasts two additional classrooms, a certified science lab, and a remodeled instructional kitchen. Alongside these upgrades, the college announces a robust slate of courses for Spring 2025, designed to make education more accessible to the North Hawai'i community.
Revitalized Facilities to Serve Students and the Community
The $4 million renovations, which are six years in the making, include:
Hawai‘i Community College proudly releases the names of the following students who have achieved Dean’s List honors for the Fall 2024 semester. The Dean’s List requires students to have completed 12 or more credits for a letter grade achieving a grade point average of at least 3.5 (B+) for the semester. The attached 293 students have attained this distinction. Please join us in congratulating them!
For over 25 years, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawai‘i (JCCIH) has been a vital partner for Hawai‘i Community College, providing over $200,000 in scholarships and program development through the annual “A Taste of Hilo” fundraiser. The event not only supports the college but also gives culinary students invaluable, hands-on experience by hosting food stations and showcasing their growing skillset.
Spring registration is now open at Hawai‘i Community College for the first drone certification program in the state’s community college system. Hawai‘i CC is breaking new ground with the program, backed by a $650,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant. The drone certificate curriculum emphasizes practical applications of drone technology across various industries, including agriculture, civil defense and environmental conservation.
In a move to enhance renewable energy education, Inter-Island Solar Supply — Hawaiʻi’s oldest and largest wholesaler of renewable energy equipment — donated thousands of dollars in inverters last week to Hawaiʻi Community College’s Electrical Installation and Maintenance Technology program (EIMT). This donation will help familiarize students with real-world equipment commonly installed in the clean energy industry around the state.
Hawai'i Community College's Kō Education Center in Honoka‘a announces the launch of its new six-week, non-credit butchery course starting in Spring 2025. The course is made possible through a four-year, $950,000 grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The training is part of the UH Meat & Poultry Workforce Consortium, in collaboration with UH-Hilo and the College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources at UH-Mānoa.