New Graduate Student Orientation 2026

Congratulations on your acceptance to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UH Mānoa)!  Your journey to an advanced degree begins now! Graduate Division is excited to welcome you and invites you to attend New Graduate Student Orientation (NGSO). Participating in NGSO is a great opportunity to prepare for a successful graduate student experience. Session topics include learning about what to expect in grad school, developing good relationships with mentors, planning for funding opportunities, and much more.  

Please continue to check this NGSO webpage for updates throughout the summer. For any questions, please email gdevents@hawaii.edu.

NGSO Registration & Instructions

Event Schedule

Dates: August 3, 2026 to August 22, 2026

On-Demand Topic Sessions (August 3rd)

NGSO topics sessions will be available on-demand starting August 3, 2026. Participants have the flexibility to select which topics they would like to learn about at their convenience. Current topics include:

• What to Expect in Graduate School
• Finding Mentors & Building Effective Relationships
• Pono Research
• Funding Your Graduate Studies 
• UH Library: Basic Library Resources 

Live Q & A with Topic Session Presenters (August 14th)

After watching the on demand topic session videos, attend a live Zoom session with presenters to ask deeper questions about their topic. Spend 20 minutes per topic engaging with guest speakers in a facilitated Question & Answer. This synchronous event is scheduled for August 14, 2026, 2:30 – 4:30 pm (Hawaii Time). Please check back for a detailed itinerary.

Resource Fair & Activities (August 17th) 

Join us on campus August 17, 2026, 9:00 am - 12:30 pm as we connect with Mānoa, our place of learning and each other. Begin the day exploring our relationships with ʻāina, community, and self through the Welina Mānoa Oli (Chant) Workshop co-hosted by the Hawaiʻi Papa o ke Ao Native Hawaiian Place of Learning Advancement Office. Then connect with key resources who support graduate students at UH Mānoa. This is a great time to also pick up your UH Student ID Card and make any last purchases at the bookstore to prepare for school. If you are in need of a headshot to use during graduate school, we will have a limited spots available to have your photo taken during the fair. Headshots will be first come, first serve the day of. Stay tuned for details! Finally, end your morning at the Graduate Student Organization (GSO) New Student Mixer. Meet elected GSO representatives and learn about how they support graduate students and opportunities to get involved. View the day’s schedule below.

• (9:00 - 10:00 am) Welina Mānoa Oli Workshop @ Campus Center Courtyard
• (10:00 - 11:30 am) NGSO Resource Fair @ Campus Center Ballroom
• (10:00 - 11:30 am) Limited Free Headshot Photos @ Campus Center Courtyard
• (11:30 am - 12:30 pm) Graduate Student Organization New Student Mixer @ Campus Center 307/308

Community Work Day (August 22nd) 

Gather as a community on August 22, 2026, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm to engage and mālama ʻaina at Ka Papa Loʻi ʻO Kānewai on the Mānoa campus. Part of Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, this site is a vital resource and home to the loʻi approximately 800 years old. Learn what to expect during this group visit. Registration will be limited. 

Accessibility

To ask questions about accessibility or request accommodations, please contact Graduate Division at gdevents@hawaii.edu or 808-956-7542.  At least two weeks’ advance notice will help us to provide seamless access.

Additional Graduate Student Events

Teaching Assistant Training 

Dates: August 17-19, 2026 

If you will be a new Teaching Assistant (TA), you are required to participate in the free Teaching Assistant Training (TAT). Sponsored by the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE), Graduate Division, and the English Language Institute, this program includes sessions to help TAs prepare for their teaching responsibilities. For details and to register for TAT, please visit the CTE website.

International Student Welcome

Dates: August 18-20, 2026

Presented by the International Student Services (ISS) Office, the Welcome Week for new international students is the ISS version of orientation. Programming consists of information sessions and social opportunities, leading up to a "The Welcome Orientation and Reception." All events are optional, but you are highly encouraged to participate and get the chance to gain important information and meet other international students and the ISS staff before school starts. For details and to register Welcome Reception, please visit the ISS website.

Admitted Student Steps to Enrollment

Visit our admitted students webpage to help you prepare for your enrollment at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

Campus Resources for Graduate Students 

Start browsing through a list of selected Campus Resources for graduate students to make connections before the semester begins.

Campus Map

Need to find a classroom, office, or water refill station?  Our virtual campus map will help you navigate UH Mānoa and provides a general campus map as well as specified resource maps.

UH ID

All incoming UH Mānoa students should obtain a UH ID card known as the Mānoa One Card. Cardholders are eligible for certain university privileges and benefits. For details on how to obtain your card in person, please visit the Mānoa One Card website.

To expedite the process of obtaining a Mānoa OneCard, upload your photo in advance at the Mānoa One Card Upload site. Carefully review the photo requirements before uploading to avoid having to resubmit. Valid photos uploaded by August 7th, 4:00 HST will be ready for pick up on August 17th for the Resource Fair & Activities Day. Please note that in order to produce your card, you must also be registered by August 7th for the Fall 2026 semester.  All UH ID cards must be picked up in-person at the Campus Center ID Office and will not be mailed. 

UH Bookstore

The UH Bookstore is the authorized on-campus retailer for books, UH spirit merchandise, school supplies, and commencement regalia.  They also provide copying and printing services, office supplies, snacks, and sundries.  Educational pricing is also available for Apple computers with proof of UH ID.