Kīpuka Native Hawaiian Student Center - University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo

Kīpuka Native Hawaiian Student Center - University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo The Kīpuka Native Hawaiian Student Center’s vision is to provide a Hawaiian place of learning at UHH

The Kīpuka Native Hawaiian Student Center’s vision is to ensure a Hawaiian place of learning at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. Kīpuka promotes Native Hawaiian student success through the provision of culturally appropriate and responsive student support services and activities; supports the academic development and success of Native Hawaiians by promoting learning environments that are culturally responsive and appropriate; and implements community and cultural programs to increase educational opportunities for Native Hawaiians within Hawaiian and Pacific communities.

10/08/2026

Meet Kepa Laʻa, Hilo-based designer and owner of “MORE”

Inspired by the familiar saying “less is more,” THE MORE CO. flips the sentiment through a lifestyle streetwear brand rooted in Kepa’s upbringing in Hilo. His work challenges preconceived notions of what it means to come from a small town, using that foundation to pursue more excellence, more creativity, and more aloha.

Come talk story with Kepa and shop “MORE” at Wela Ka Hao this Friday, 10/01 from 5–8PM at University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo alongside some of Hawaiʻi Island’s finest creatives.

See you there!

10/08/2026

Māhuahua Makers, the first in a series, is bringing Hilo-based block print artist and entrepreneur Mālie Moana to University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo for a hands-on block printing workshop!

Born on Hawaiʻi Island, Mālie has always been drawn to working with her hands and creating through art. After returning to block printing as an adult, what began as a simple series of ginger plant carvings grew into a body of work shaped by the people and communities she calls home.

This series will bring Hilo-based artists and creatives to our campus to share their art and creative processes with students.

Through these opportunities to learn directly from artists and makers in our community, we hope the creativity and practice will māhua and flourish, too.
No experience needed. All printing supplies provided. Come create and learn!

Students are welcome to bring their own clothing pieces to print and personalize during the workshop.

🗓️ Tuesday, 10/23
⏰ 1:00–3:00 PM
📍 UCB 127

Space is limited to the first 30 students. We hope to see you there!

10/06/2026

Meet Moeariʻi, creator and owner of ARII HAWAIʻI Jewelry & Mea 💫

Inspired by moʻolelo Hawaiʻi and her upbringing in Lanihau, Kailua-Kona, Moeariʻi creates handcrafted, engraved jewelry rooted in story and place. Each piece becomes an extension of these stories, with motifs and design elements that reflect the life of these places.

Shaped by a lifetime surrounded by hula, lei making, and lawaiʻa. More than representations of what grows upon the ʻāina, her designs reflect the ways these plants are gathered and cared for.

Talk story with Moeariʻi and shop her one-of-a-kind pieces at Wela Ka Hao this Friday, 10/01, alongside some of Hawaiʻi Island’s finest creatives.

Ua kāhiko ʻia ka hale i ka nuʻa lehua o Mōkaulele. Our kīpuka was filled with mele Hawaiʻi and good company. Heahea Kauh...
10/05/2026

Ua kāhiko ʻia ka hale i ka nuʻa lehua o Mōkaulele. Our kīpuka was filled with mele Hawaiʻi and good company.

Heahea Kauhale is all about welcoming new faces into our space, and we love seeing familiar ones too! We hope you all keep stopping by our pop-up spaces to connect with our Makamakalehua Peer Mentors and our services, and make Kīpuka part of your time here University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo

Mahalo to our friends Ei Nei Lina Robins and YourNextFix for sharing your talents with us.

A hui hou!

10/01/2026

🔥 WELA KA HAO IS BACK! 🔥

Come join us on Friday, October 9 from 5–8 PM at the UH Hilo Campus Center Plaza for a night market celebrating Hawaiʻi Island’s creatives, makers & small businesses! 🛍️

🎧 DJ Set by Selector Mawae
🍜 Food by Ānuenue’s Kitchen & Catering Co.

🎓 UH Hilo students! The first 200 students to register will receive a bowl from Ānuenue’s! (While supplies last)

Wela ka hao is an epithet used by our kūpuna that encourages us to seize opportunities while the iron is hot. Inspired by this manaʻo, we hope our Wela Ka Hao mākeke continues to create opportunities for students and our community to meet, learn from, and connect with talented Hawaiʻi-based creatives.

Meet the makers. Discover their stories. Embrace creativity rooted within our community. Come down, shop local, find new favorites, and celebrate the people and creativity that make Hawaiʻi Island special!

🎟️ This event is FREE & open to the public + UH Hilo community!

Hilo SupportLocal

Officially locked in 🔒✅ Mahalo nui to everyone who joined us for our First-Year Lock In resource fair! We loved connecti...
09/30/2026

Officially locked in 🔒✅ Mahalo nui to everyone who joined us for our First-Year Lock In resource fair! We loved connecting with you all alongside some of our awesome on-campus resources, helping you get familiar with the people and services here to support you and keep you locked in for a successful school year.

Couldn’t have done it without Edwin H. Mookini Library at UH Hilo UH Hilo Title IX Kilohana at UH Hilo Hale Lako + UH Hilo Basic Needs Program UH Hilo Campus Rec and Advising Center for joining us and sharing their resources with our haumāna!

Stay locked in 🔐🤞🏽Follow us here and check out the link in our bio for more campus resources and upcoming events like this.

See you at the next one!

09/30/2026

Delayed, but definitely worth the wait! 💌 We’re so excited to welcome our University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo community and ʻohana to Kīpuka for Heahea Kauhale.

Join us this Thursday for an afternoon of live music and ʻono food as we welcome you into our space to meet our staff and learn about our services.

🏡 Kīpuka Lānai, PB-12
🗓️ Thursday, October 1
⌚️ 4–6 PM

Live music by Ei Nei ft. Lina Robins
ʻono food by YourNextFix

09/24/2026

HEAHEA KAUHALE POSTPONED

Because of the uncertainty around the impacts of the impending storm Nolo, we have decided to postpone Heahea Kauhale to next Thursday, 10/01, from 4–6PM.

We appreciate your understanding and hope everyone stays safe! We look forward to welcoming you next week for all the same ʻono food and live music 🌿 ♥︎ 🏡

09/17/2026

Calling all the braddahs and sistahs of University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo 🗣️

Join us for an afternoon of live music and ʻono food as we welcome our UH Hilo community to Kīpuka! We’ll also have kīpuka plant giveaways and some brand-new merch 👀

🏡Kīpuka Lānai, PB-12
🗓️Thursday, September 24
⌚️4–6 PM

Live music by Ei Nei ft. Lina Robins
ʻono food by YourNextFix

09/11/2026

E mai, e mai, nou ka hale!

Join us for Heahea Kauhale, an opportunity for haumāna to engage in community and get to know Kīpuka! Come by to meet and connect with your Makamakalehua Peer Mentor, learn more about our services and support available to all haumāna.

🗓️Thurs. Sept. 24
⌚️4PM-6PM
🏡PB-12, Kīpuka Lānai

Live music by Ei Nei ft Lina Robins
‘Ono food by YourNextFix

Save the date, bring your hoa makamaka, and we’ll see you there! 🫶🏽🫵🏽

Address

200 W Kawili Street
Hilo, HI
96720

Opening Hours

Monday 7:45am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 7:45am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 7:45am - 4:30pm
Thursday 7:45am - 4:30pm
Friday 7:45am - 4:30pm

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