UH Hilo reports Native Hawaiian enrollment up 4% after years of decline
Native Hawaiian enrollment rose after years of decline, now making up a third of the student body.
Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island
Source: University of Hawaiʻi News
UH Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin shared record gains in retention, graduation, and enrollment during the 2025 State of the University address. Native Hawaiian enrollment rose 4% after years of decline, now making up a third of the student body.
Still, only about six in ten Native Hawaiian students return after their first year — a gap the university says it must close through cultural programming, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi use, and ʻāina-based learning led by the Office of Native Hawaiian Engagement.
💭 What would it take to turn these first-year footholds into long-term success for Native Hawaiian students in higher education?
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