Hawaii Pacific University

Infobox_University
name = Hawaiokinai Pacific University


motto = Holomua Me Ka Oiaio (Hawaiian: Forward With Truth)
established = 1965 as Hawaiokinai Pacific College, later in 1990 as Hawaiokinai Pacific University
type = Private
endowment = US $80 million
president = Chatt G. Wright, MBA
city = Honolulu
state = Hawaiokinai
country = USA
undergrad = 7,500
postgrad = 1,500
campus = Urban and Rural
nickname = Sea Warriors
website = http://www.hpu.edu

Hawaiokinai Pacific University (also known as HPU) is a private coeducational university in Honolulu, Hawaii, founded in 1965 as Hawaiokinai Pacific College by Paul C.T. Loo, Eureka Forbes, Elizabeth W. Kellerman, and Reverend Edmond Walker.

Hawaiokinai Pacific University is the largest private university in the central Pacific, most noted for its diverse student body of almost 9,000 students, representing over 100 countries. The school's largest academic programs are in Business Administration, and International Relations.

Hawaiokinai Pacific University has two main campuses and access to scientific facilities. HPU's downtown Honolulu campus serves most of the business, liberal arts, and other general programs. This campus occupies much of Fort Street Mall and surrounds the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace. The HPU traditional campus is the Hawaiokinai Loa campus. It is located near Castle Junction in Kāneokinaohe, on the windward side of the Kookinaolau Range. This campus was originally built by Hawaiokinai Loa College, a liberal arts school that was merged into Hawaiokinai Pacific University in 1992. The campus is also referred to as the Windward campus. This campus houses the majority of the science programs and the nursing program. However, other general courses are offered on the Windward campus and recent talks of developing the Windward campus into a full service campus have emerged. HPU's Military Campus Programs operates campuses on Ookinaahu's US military bases, including Pearl Harbor, Hickam Air Force Base, Tripler Army Medical Center, Camp H. M. Smith, Schofield Barracks, and Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Hawaii. A significant online program is also offered. Over 2,500 HPU students take courses through Military Campus Programs. Retired US Navy Captain Robert E. Cyboron serves as Dean of Military Campus Programs. Lastly, the Oceanic Institute is affiliated with HPU, thus providing HPU students with access to significant research programs in the marine and oceanic sciences.

History

Wanting a private liberal arts college in Honolulu, four prominent and public-spirited citizens -- Eureka Forbes, Paul C.T. Loo, Elizabeth W. Kellerman, and The Reverend Edmond Walker — applied for a charter of incorporation for a not-for-profit corporation to be called Hawaiokinai Pacific College. The state of Hawaiokinai granted a charter of incorporation to Hawaiokinai Pacific on September 17, 1965.

In September 1966, Honolulu Christian College merged into Hawaiokinai Pacific College, and a new charter was granted by the state of Hawaiokinai.

In 1967, James L. Meader became Hawaiokinai Pacific College's first President. President Meader, in consultation with community leaders, developed a comprehensive educational program.

When President Meader retired on June 30, 1968, the Board of Trustees elected the Reverend George A. Warmer as Hawaiokinai Pacific's second President. Under President Warmer's leadership, the College implemented academic programs in the liberal arts and cooperative education.

In 1972, Hawaiokinai Pacific College graduated seven students in its first commencement class and in the same year established a School of Business Administration. Chatt G. Wright became the founding Dean of Hawaiokinai Pacific's new School of Business Administration.

In 1973, the College received full accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The following years saw the creation of the English Foundations Program, offering instruction to non-native speakers of English, and the Division of Special Programs, administering off-campus instruction on various military installations on Ookinaahu.

President Warmer retired in 1976, and Chatt G. Wright became Hawaiokinai Pacific's third President. Under President Wright's leadership, Hawaiokinai Pacific has seen rapid and continuous expansion. Augmenting its undergraduate program of baccalaureate and associate degrees, Hawaiokinai Pacific launched a Master of Business Administration program in 1986, a Master of Science in Information Systems program in 1989, and a Master of Arts in Human Resource Management in 1991.

Hawaiokinai Pacific continued to expand and develop throughout the 1980s, and in 1990 became Hawaiokinai Pacific University (HPU).

In 1992, Hawaiokinai Loa College, a small, independent, liberal arts college located on the windward side of Ookinaahu, merged into Hawaiokinai Pacific University.

In 1992, Hawaii Pacific University graduate Carolyn Sapp was the first Miss Hawaii to achieve the title of Miss America. She is a motivational speaker, entertainer, actress and product spokesperson.

In 2004, the HPU International Vocal Ensemble made their Carnegie Hall debut where they performed Morten Lauriden’s "Lux Aeterna and O Magnum Mysterium".

Athletics

The university's athletic teams are called the Sea Warriors. They compete in the Pacific West Conference as part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division II. Hawai`i Pacific University's first venture into intercollegiate athletics came with the formation of the men's basketball team. Men's basketball has been joined in intercollegiate competition by men's teams in baseball, cross country, golf, soccer, and tennis, and women's teams in basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, volleyball, and tennis. The school's most successful athletics program has been its women's volleyball team, which has won multiple national championships. HPU also has nationally recognized Division II cheerleading and dance teams.

Academics

Education at Hawaiokinai Pacific University is based on a traditional liberal arts foundation. Hawaiokinai Pacific University is made up of multiple colleges, these include the; College of Business Administration, College of Communication, College of International Studies, College of Liberal Arts, College of Natural Sciences, College of Professional Studies, and the School of Nursing. HPU offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in each of its colleges and schools.

Hawaiokinai Pacific University is also home to specific academic environments through the [http://www.hpu.edu/index.cfm?section=acadprograms9289&contentID=9289 Hawaiokinai Pacific University Entrepreneurship Center] , ELS Language Center at Hawaiokinai Pacific University, the [http://www.oceanicinstitute.org/nav.php Oceanic Institute] , and the university participation in the Army ROTC program. The university also has an extensive Distance Learning and Online based platform for many of its programs [ [http://www.hpu.edu/index.cfm?parent=dlearning Distance Education at HPU] ] . HPU also has an extensive Study Abroad and Student Exchange Program [ [http://www.hpu.edu/index.cfm?contentID=1573&siteID=1 Study Abroad with HPU] ]

Hawaiokinai Pacific University is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Notable alumni

*Benny Agbayani, BA, former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played for the New York Mets, the Colorado Rockies, the Boston Red Sox, the Cincinnati Reds, and Kansas City Royals. Currently he is signed with Chiba Lotte Marines in the Japanese Pacific League of the Nippon Professional Baseball organization. He is also the author of his own autobiography "Big League Survivor" w/Shayne Fujii.

*Daniel Brackins, MBA in Economics, 2009. Economist and candidate for Congress, Republican - Hawaii's 1st Congressional District.

Notable attendees

*Sarah Palin, One semester in Business Administration (as Hawaii Pacific College) in 1982; City Council Member, Wasilla, Alaska, Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, 11th Governor of Alaska, and 2008 Republican Vice Presidential candidate on the McCain presidential ticket. [http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=//BREAKING01//-1/LOCALNEWSFRONT McCain's VP pick attended Hawaii Pacific College] ]

Notable faculty

* Ken Schoolland, Associate Professor of Economics and Political Science, Author of "Johnathan Gullible" and "Shogun's Ghost: The Dark Side of Japanese Education", Member of the Board of Directors for the International Society for Individual Liberty, and Sam Walton Fellow for Students in Free Enterprise.

* Carlos Juarez, Ph.D., Dean of the College of International Studies and Professor of Political Science, Member of the Board of Governors of the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council (PAAC), the World Affairs Council for the State of Hawaii, and a consultant to the Fulbright program of the US Department of State, and a consultant to the United States Institute of Peace.

* Adly Mirza, Ph.D., Instructor of Arabic, also an accomplished portrait artist, musician, and photographer, Arabic Instructor to the US Army, US Air Force and other US Military Branches in Hawaii. He is also the Arabic coach and a freelance set designer for the popular TV series "Lost".

* Vincent Tsushima, Ph.D., J.D. - Assistant Dean of Liberal Arts and Program Chair of Psychology, Justice Administration, and Law, Professor of Psychology. Recipient of the "Outstanding Teacher of Psychology" Award.

In the news

* 2007/05/14 - HawaiOkinai Pacific University was named marketer of the year by the American Marketing Association's HawaiOkinai chapter. [Pacific Business News 2008 [http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2007/05/14/daily67.html] ]

* 2007/12/31 - The Military Advanced Education magazine named HawaiOkinai Pacific University one of the top 30 colleges and universities for military service members. [Pacific Business News 2007 [http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2007/12/31/daily23.html] ]

* 2008/06/30 - HPU announces Windward campus expansion, new facilities, academic centers, student residences, and more. [Pacific Business News 2008 [http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2008/06/30/story1.html HPU plans Windward campus expansion] ]

* Sarah Palin, the current Governor of Alaska and 2008 Republican Vice Presidential running mate to John McCain once attended Hawaii Pacific University in 1982 as Hawaii Pacific College. [http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080829/BREAKING01/80829031/-1/LOCALNEWSFRONT McCain's VP pick attended Hawaii Pacific College] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.hpu.edu/ Hawai'i Pacific University]
* [http://www.oceanicinstitute.org/ Oceanic Institute]