The University of Hawaii Manoa

Date: Oct 30 2003
Major: Political Science (This Major's Salary over time)
I was both a graduate student and an instructor at UH-Manoa. There is a distinct difference between the undergrad and grad students there. The majority of undergrad students could not afford to attend and/or could not gain entrance into better institutions on the mainland; some of them are only at UH-Manoa only because their parents forced them to attend college or they got bored bagging groceries after finishing high school. Most undergrads grew up in Hawaii, have a local mentality, and will probably never leave Hawaii because they are unwilling or unable to seek out better lives elsewhere. Almost all graduate students, on the other hand, come from elsewhere, are more academically talented, and have a more diverse outlook.

The quality of UH-Manoa's degree programs varies wildly. Some programs are challenging and others have faculty who would never have gotten tenure at another doctoral-granting institution. Because of Hawaii's extremely high cost of living and low salries, UH-Manoa has a very difficult time retaining young faculty; many depart for the mainland after a few years.

The university's budget is controlled by the state legislature, which does not value education (the state's public school system is one of the worst in the country). When I was a student at UH-Manoa, the legislature began cuting the university's budget, which contributed to the lousy condition of campus facilities. The campus itself is unbelievably ugly—a jumble of concrete, small-windowed, multi-story boxes in the middle of a beautiful subtropical valley; no comprehensive design plan. Possibly this is one reason the campus has a commuter school feel—by 3:00 p.m. the campus is deserted.

My recommendation: only go to UH-Manoa as a grad student if you are getting most or all of your graduate education paid for with a TAship or RAship. If you're an undergraduate student, go elsewhere if possible.