The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo is seeing promising momentum in key areas of student success. At the 2025 State of the University address on September 10, Chancellor Bonnie Irwin and her leadership team pointed to growth in key student groups, record gains in retention and graduation, and expanded faculty development, while also addressing challenges from recent federal policy shifts.
This semester, UH Hilo welcomed its largest increase in new freshmen in four years, which is up 18.8% compared to last fall. That pace surpasses both UH Mānoa and UH West Oʻahu. UH Hilo also reported an enrollment increase in students from Hawaiʻi Island, with growth among Filipino, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students.
“This shows the good work of our admissions staff, fanning out across the state to tell the story of UH Hilo,” Irwin noted during the address.
Retention and graduation trends also hit new highs. The 2024 freshman-to-sophomore retention rate was the strongest in UH Hilo history. Both four-year and six-year graduation rates also rose.
Faculty development, AI integration
UH Hilo leadership also discussed how faculty have expanded professional development tied to career readiness and community engagement. Some will serve on new task forces focused on artificial intelligence. Staff numbers are also up, strengthening student support.
Federal impacts
Chancellor Irwin also addressed impacts from recent executive orders and federal funding shifts. Although UH Hilo lost a long-standing federal grant which provided research stipends for undergraduates across the Pacific, leaders are finding ways to continue those opportunities.
“Our values remain the same,” Irwin said. “We are here to make sure that each student gets the support they need to thrive.”
Shared, visible kuleana
Pele Harman, director of Native Hawaiian Engagement, shared how UH Hilo is putting its commitments into practice on the path to becoming a Native Hawaiian place of learning. Her team leads kīpaepae welcome ceremonies, organizes ʻāina (land)-based service days with community partners, promotes everyday use of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) and links students to cultural resources and practices.
While Native Hawaiian enrollment has dipped throughout the past several years, preliminary data this fall marked a positive turnaround with a 4% increase. Native Hawaiian students now make up a third of the student body.
Still, Harman expressed that the first year is a critical window: only about six in ten Native Hawaiian students return for year two.
“Our kuleana to convert the first-year foothold into sustained momentum so that more of our Native Hawaiian students, our students not only return—but cross the finish line on time is the goal that we are working toward,” noted Harman.
Resilient future
The address also highlighted priorities for the year ahead. Leaders outlined plans to strengthen budget management, upgrade campus IT and software systems, and advance marketing efforts aimed at attracting new students, engaging alumni and deepening ties with community partners.
