Brigham Young University–Hawaii

Brigham Young University–Hawaii (BYU–Hawaii) is a private college in Laie, Hawaii. It is owned and operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). BYU-Hawaii was founded in 1955 and it became a satellite campus of Brigham Young University (BYU) in 1974. In 2004, it was made a separate institution. The college's sole focus is on undergraduate education.

The institution is broadly organized into four colleges and its parent organization, the Church Educational System (CES), sponsors sister schools in Utah and Idaho. Approximately 97 percent of the college's 2,800 students are members of the LDS Church. BYU-Hawaii students are required to follow an honor code, which requires behavior in line with LDS teachings (e.g., academic honesty, adherence to dress and grooming standards, and abstinence from extramarital sex and from the consumption of drugs and alcohol). A BYU-Hawaii education is less expensive than similar private instututions since a large portion of tuition is funded by LDS Church tithing funds.
The college partners with the LDS Church-owned Polynesian Cultural Center, the largest living museum in the State of Hawaii, which employs roughly one third of the student body.
The LDS Church was established in the islands in 1850 following the Edict of Toleration promulgated by Kamehameha III, giving the underground Hawai‘i Catholic Church the right to worship, while at the same time allowing other faith traditions to begin establishing themselves.[citation needed] By 1919, the church was prominent enough in the area to build a temple in Laie. Two years after the temple was dedicated then-LDS Church apostle David O. McKay stated the church would build a school in the area in the future. In 1951, McKay, as church president, began preliminary plans on the school, and in 1955 ground was broken for the new institution. Classes began at BYU-Hawaii in September 1955 as the Church College of Hawaii to accommodate the burgeoning LDS population in the Territory of Hawai‘i. This was largely a result of McKay's views on both education and strengthening the church outside of its longtime intermountain west U.S. base. The original class consisted of 153 students and 20 faculty meeting in old World War II buildings, with Reuben D. Law as the school's first president. The school's first buildings were dedicated on December 17, 1958. The college was at first a two-year college but was reorganized in 1959 to become a four-year college. By 1961 the college had been granted four-year accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Dormitories, a cafeteria, and other buildings had also been constructed.
LDS elders established the Polynesian Cultural Center in November 1963 as a means of preserving the Pacific cultures that the Latter-day Saints had encountered in their missionary work. In the 1970s, the school was also used to teach LDS missionaries pacific languages and cultures before going out to the islands. The center also provided jobs for students of the college. In 1974, the Church College of Hawaii was renamed Brigham Young University–Hawaii by the Church Board of Education and began reporting to the president of BYU in Provo, Utah.[7]
The school was governed as a satellite campus of BYU until 2004, when it was announced that the school would report directly to the Commissioner of Church Education. In 2007, Steven C. Wheelwright was appointed the college's president. On May 12, 2015, Russell M. Nelson, chairman of the Executive Committee of the BYU-Hawaii Board of Trustees announced that effective July 27, 2015, John S. Tanner would succeed Wheelwright as president. On May 12, 2020, Jeffrey R. Holland, chairman of the Executive Committee of the BYU-Hawaii Board of Trustees, announced that Tanner would be succeeded as the institution's president by John S. K. Kauwe III on July 1, 2020.

Friendly and warm welcome throughout. The students were enthusiastic to share their cultures and passionate about their heritage. The show is a pumped up version of true polynesian culture and arts. The villages give the authenticity the show is beautiful entertainment showcasing the beauty of polynesian song and dance. It was spectacular!

I love BYU–Hawaii! It is an amazing place of learning mixed with the Savior and culture. You will find no where else like here. There are so many unique experiences that each individual has here that are divine and inspired, including myself. I love it here and am so grateful! I am also excited for the plans and updates for this campus- it is long overdue and is in the best interest of current and future students.

Beautiful campus with a great community.

BYU-Hawaii is such an awesome university! They have good staff, kind professors, and awesome facilities. The cafeteria is also good, there's a variety of food to choose. This place is so beautiful!

A great university full of diverse cultures and an 'ohana feel throughout the whole campus. The small class sizes are fantastic and the professors truly care about students. The online systems however are slow and the advertisement of events are lacking.

BYU Hawaii has been an incredible experience for me. The professors are dedicated, and the academic programs provide a well-rounded education. The emphasis on cultural diversity and the strong sense of community have enriched my college journey. I'm grateful for the opportunities for personal and spiritual growth. BYU Hawaii truly feels like a second home, and I'm proud to be part of this vibrant and welcoming ohana! Mahalo

The diverse and inclusive environment at BYUH sets it apart. Interacting with students from around the globe provided me with a rich cultural experience, broadening my perspectives and enriching my college journey.

beautiful location in Laie, Oahu. You can meet awesome people from all over the world. Small class style allow us to get to know professor easily. but living cost is little bit expensive.

It is the best wonderful place. This campus is a beautiful place and people. BYUH is full of diverse cultures and nationalities. BYUH is one Ohana, and we share our spirit with others.

What an awesome place. Wet for a visit with my family and enjoyed the atmosphere, culture and general vibe of the campus. Also spent a few minutes in the bookstore and found several fun items! Great place to visit and, from what I’ve heard, a great place to study!

Amazing place and great people! I love the overall atmosphere, especially the vibe of the students. We love that is is minutes by walk away from the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Come to BYUH and see the beauty and uniqueness of this special place. It's awesome, there's so much to do, plenty of food, and beaches to swim. Spirit of Aloha is very present here!

This is my school, this is my home. And I love this place, it is such a nice and friendly enviroment. I would definitely recommand studying here, but the food of cafe could be improved.

BYU-H is a beautiful campus. It is diverse in culture. It also provides unique learning opportunities like no other school. One thing that can be improved is the landscapers mowing in the rain because it leaves a mud trail. Overall, I love learning here!

I’m grateful for being able to study here in BYUH, one great thing about this school is that it truly provide an environment that’s safe and encouraging student to learn not only from the lecture but also with its diversity in its students. Another great thing about this school is that there are many professors who are passionate about what they are teaching and are very supportive and understanding to their students. One thing I think the school can try to improve is by adding more options of majors that students can choose from.

I am so happy and grateful to get to attend this amazing school. The campus is absolutely beautiful and the student body is so diverse! You can really make friends from all over the world. The professors are incredible and really care about their students. My only complaint would be the limited types of majors offered. I hope they can expand the options in the future!

This is the best place for learning! It has a very good learning environment and my favorite part about it is being surrounded by so many different cultures. I love the diversity and opportunities to network. One thing that I would change about the learning culture here is how some professors focus more on grades than on learning. Other than that, one of the best school to attend!

BYUH is a beautiful campus full of opportunities. The faculty is very welcoming and helpful, and give their full effort to provide a safe yet challenging environment for students growth. The campus is well maintained and is a great place of learning.

Great place to study with positive, kind and understanding professors who want their students to succeed. The tuition here isn’t too bad also compared to other universities. The only thing is the lack of housing to accommodate students that want to come here.