Skip to content
Reading time: 2 minutes

Hilo families

International students attending the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and participating in the Host Family Program gathered together on Friday evening with their extended ʻohana.

The Host Family Program matches international students with families in the community to help the students learn more about Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island and the state, as well as develop a “second” family while attending UH Hilo.

“It’s a way for students to not only get to know the local community and build bridges there, but also for local families to learn more about other countries and cultures,” says Jim Mellon, who initiated the Host Family Program and serves as director of UH Hilo’s International Student Services and Intercultural Education. Mellon hosted Friday’s event.

Host families do not provide a place for students to live, but rather meet with their student periodically throughout the year for things like home-cooked meals, trips around the island, shopping and other fun and interesting things to do on the island.

Sign up

Students interested in participating in the program can fill out the Host Family Request Form and submit it to the International Student Services and Intercultural Education office.

Local families living in the Hilo area who are interested in hosting a UH Hilo international student, can fill out and print the Host Family Information Form and submit it to the International Student Services and Intercultural Education office, or fill out the form and submit it electronically.

From UH Hilo Stories

Back To Top