Writing

Writing Tutoring by Appointment is open on STAR Balance!

Connect With a Writing Tutor!

Book an appointment on STAR Balance

OLA Writing Tutoring uses “STAR Balance” to schedule and act as an online tutoring space. Once scheduled, you will receive a confirmation email!

1. Login to STAR Balance via “https://www.star.hawaii.edu/appointment/.”

2. Select “Tutoring, Tech & Learning Centers” from the left navigation box.

3. Select “OLA Writing Tutoring.”

4. View the available time slots and select when you want to make an appointment to meet with your tutor.

5. Complete the appointment questions sharing what you hope to cover in the appointment.

A confirmation email containing the Zoom link for your tutoring appointment will be sent to your hawaii.edu email account!

How can we help?

Meet our writing tutors!

Writing Tutoring:

Building confidence in foundational writing mechanics for first- and second-year college students.

OLA Writing tutors, comprised of English students at the University of Hawaii, support primarily underclassmen (Freshmen and Sophomores) in writing functions such as:

General Writing Mechanics: Grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and clarity.
Organization & Structure: Outlining, structuring, and flow.
Citations: MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.
Evidence: Finding and integrating sources.

We help with a multitude of types of academic writing, such as research papers, rhetorical analyses, narrative essays, creative writing, personal statements, and more.

Our tutors are here to help you lay a solid groundwork for your college career.

Amy

Writing Tutor
Major: Secondary Education (Concentration in English)
Minor: Art Studio
Hello everyone! My name is Amy and I am majoring in Secondary Education in English. I have a passion for teaching others and self-expression through writing. In my free time, I like to draw, listen to new music, and hunt for new food spots on island! I hope to help you in your academic writing journey and look forward to working with you.

Lani

Writing Tutor
Double Major: English and Pacific Island Studies
Hi, my name is Lani! I have an open, non-judgmental, and patient tutoring style and can help you with grammar, structure, and more. I also enjoy reading, crocheting, and listening to music.

Shawna

Writing Tutor
Major: English
Hi, I’m Shawna, a senior at UH Manoa! I’ve been tutoring for OLA since Spring 2024. I have prior experience in journalism, particularly in magazine writing. After graduating with my bachelors, I hope to attend graduate school and research British literature. Ultimately, my goal is to become a professor in English. I’ve also partaken in social studies research.

Our Focus

OLA Writing Tutoring is dedicated to providing foundational academic support to underclassmen (Freshman and Sophomore students). Our focus is on helping you build the essential writing and organizational skills necessary for a strong start to your college career. We emphasize the core writing skills that benefit students across disciplines.

Our tutors, comprised of English students at the University of Hawaii, support primarily underclassmen (first- and second- year) in writing functions such as:

General Writing Mechanics: Grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and clarity.
Organization & Structure: Outlining, structuring, and flow.
Citations: MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.
Evidence: Finding and integrating sources.

If you are an upperclassman requesting support with specialized coursework, capstone projects, or major-specific writing assignments, we strongly encourage you to visit your campus Writing Center (e.g. The Writing Center at Mānoa) for expert, in-depth assistance.

Appointment Policy

To keep OLA services accessible to all students, we ask that you give us adequate notice of changes to your appointment by email, or canceling your appointment through STAR at least one (1) hour before the start time. Students may book a maximum of two (2) appointments per week.

Accruing the following infractions will result in a suspension of services:

Failing to show up to two (2) appointments without notifying us at ola@hawaii.edu.
Canceling two (2) appointments within one (1) hour of your appointment time.
Engaging in disruptive or inappropriate behavior, not limited to: Cutting your tutor off repeatedly, making discriminatory, threatening, or explicit comments, asking personal questions, etc.

Tutor and Tutee Privacy Policy

OLA is committed to providing a safe environment for our tutors and students (tutees). To facilitate a safe and comfortable learning environment, we ask tutors and tutees to refrain from the following behavior during a tutoring appointment:

Asking to meet in-person. OLA tutoring-by-appointment is conducted online via Zoom. OLA does not conduct in-person tutoring sessions. For in-person academic support, please connect with the Academic Resource Center, Learning Emporium, and The Writing Center.
Asking for personal details like age, personal email, phone numbers, location of residence, etc.

Failure to follow these guidelines will result in potential termination of employment (tutor) and/or suspension of OLA services (tutee).