University of Hawaiʻi community college students can seamlessly transfer to UH Mānoa thanks to the Kaʻieʻie Transfer Program, under the Mānoa Transfer Coordination Center. The program offers an innovative and supportive pathway to a four-year degree at UH Mānoa that provides specialized guidance every step of the way.
The Kaʻieʻie Program is named after the channel that separates the island of Kauaʻi and Oʻahu, as well as the ʻieʻie plant, which is used in the traditional process of preparing koa trees to become waʻa (sailing canoes). Just as the channel serves as a connection between the islands, the Kaʻieʻie program connects community colleges and UH Mānoa, helping students navigate their transition with confidence.
One of the key benefits of the program is the early access to academic advising that students receive to ensure their UH community college coursework aligns with their UH Mānoa degree requirements. Transfer specialists, which are assigned to each of the seven UH Community College campuses, are available to assist any student interested in transferring to UH Mānoa. They not only assist with academic planning but help students determine the best time for them to transfer, taking into consideration each student’s unique circumstances (e.g. finances, work-school balance, etc.).
“Kaʻieʻie students have higher retention rates and graduate at a higher rate within two and three years after entry, compared to other UH Community College transfer students. Many of them receive the Transfer Merit or Presidential Scholarship with guidance from our transfer specialists, who help identify opportunities and support them through the application process,” said Lauren Prepose-Forsen, Director of the Mānoa Transfer Coordination Center.
In addition to the specialized support provided by the transfer specialists, there are additional financial incentives designed to help reduce the costs associated with transferring to UH Mānoa. Kaʻieʻie Program participants will receive a waived $70 application fee and a waived $200 tuition deposit when they transfer to UH Mānoa. This financial relief helps make the transition smoother and more affordable, allowing students to focus on their studies.
“The Kaʻieʻie Program has been very helpful in my future endeavors once I transfer to UH Mānoa,” said Faith Setik, a Kapiʻolani Community College student and Kaʻieʻie Program participant. “My transfer specialist, Shauna, has helped me in planning ahead with my classes, providing me scholarship updates, as well as figuring out the best cost-effective plan for the classes I can take both in Kapiʻolani CC and UHM.”
Furthermore, the Mānoa Transfer Coordination Center in partnership with UH Mānoa’s Admissions Office are now offering Kaʻieʻie Transfer Students a scholarship upon transfer to UH Mānoa. The first group of students who will receive these scholarships are students who transferred through the Kaʻieʻie Program for Spring 2025.
“I think this is just an amazing opportunity for community college students, and it highlights one of the strengths of being a 10-campus system where we really have made an effort to create a supportive pathway for community college students who are interested in pursuing any of the majors offered at UH Mānoa,” said Andrea S.D. Hazzard, Director of Mānoa Academic Advising.
For more information, or to schedule an appointment with a transfer specialist, go to https://manoa.hawaii.edu/undergrad/transfer/
—By McKenzie Kurosu, Lauren Prepose-Forsen and Jill Sur
