KOKUA PROGRAM: ON-CAMPUS HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa welcomes all students and recognizes the importance of providing reasonable accommodation(s) in its housing policies and practices where necessary for residents with disabilities to use and enjoy University housing.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Student Housing Services is in compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 as amended; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and the Fair Housing Act of 1968.

Meet with KOKUA

As a partner of Mānoa’s Student Housing Services (Housing), the KOKUA Program (Office of Disability Services) handles and reviews all student housing disability accommodation requests (e.g., single room, accessible shower, air conditioning, service or assistance animal). Accommodation requests and disability-related information and documentation should be provided directly to KOKUA Staff and are considered confidential.

Any current or prospective resident with a qualifying disability who needs a disability-related housing accommodation must:

  1. Meet Housing’s published application and payment deadlines;
  2. Complete an in-person or phone intake appointment with a KOKUA Counselor; and
  3. Submit a "Disability Accommodation Request Form", a "Disability Verification for Housing Accommodation(s) Form", and any supporting documentation to KOKUA. (Forms will be provided during the intake appointment.)

Request Process

It is the responsibility of the current or prospective resident who has a qualifying need for a housing accommodation to submit their request(s) to KOKUA well before Housing’s deadline as review and processing of accommodation requests may take approximately 30 days. Housing’s deadlines indicate when KOKUA must formally notify Student Housing Services of verified accommodations.

Failure to submit an accommodation request (with complete forms and appropriate and sufficient supporting documentation) in a timely manner may result in a delay of verification to Housing.

There is no guarantee that accommodations will be provided for the requested term if requests are received after the stated deadlines. On-campus housing is limited; a current or prospective resident with a disability is not guaranteed accommodations if their request is received late.

Eligibility for and verification of disability-related housing accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis.

If after carefully reviewing the accommodation request and supporting documentation, KOKUA determines that the disability-related accommodation request is verified, KOKUA will notify Housing (and the resident) in writing of the verified disability status and the verified accommodation.

If an accommodation request is denied, communication regarding this denial will be provided to the resident in writing with an accompanying reason.

Residents will be required to renew their request (via the "Disability Accommodation Request Form") for disability-related housing accommodations with KOKUA each academic year or for each needed term.

All residents are expected to abide by the responsibilities and policies set forth by Student Housing Services.

Follow-Up with Housing

Once KOKUA verifies an accommodation to Housing and Housing offers an accommodation to the resident, the resident with a disability must follow-up with Housing. Housing will review what accommodation has been verified by the University and the type of living option to which the resident has been assigned including the contracted rate.

Residents with qualifying disabilities who receive a university-approved housing accommodation as a means of accommodating their qualifying disabilities will not be charged a higher residence hall room rate or other surcharges solely because of the need for the accommodation.