The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa recognizes the importance of providing reasonable accommodations in its housing policies and practices where necessary for residents with disabilities to use and enjoy University student housing. Student Housing Services at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is in compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 as amended; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and the Fair Housing Act of 1968.
Students with accessibility needs are required to follow all general housing application processes and procedures.
As a partner of Mānoa’s Student Housing Services (Housing), the KOKUA Program (Office of Disability Services) handles and reviews all student housing disability accommodation requests (e.g., single room, accessible shower, air conditioning, assistance animal). Accommodation requests and disability-related information and documentation should be provided directly to KOKUA Staff and are considered confidential.
For more information about disability accommodation requests, please visit KOKUA’s website. KOKUA can be contacted at (808) 956-7511 or (808) 956-7612. It is the responsibility of the student who has a qualifying need for a housing accommodation to submit their request(s) to KOKUA well before Housing’s deadline as review and processing of accommodation requests may take approximately 30 days.
Deadlines listed below indicate when KOKUA must formally notify Student Housing Services of verified accommodations.
Housing Accommodation Deadlines for KOKUA to Notify Housing of Verified Accommodation Requests:
Applicant/Resident
Term
Returning Resident
(9-month housing)
June 1
There is no guarantee that accommodations will be provided for the requested term if requests are received after stated deadlines. On-campus housing is limited; a student with a disability is not guaranteed accommodations if their request is received late.
Family housing applicants with a disabled family member who are requesting accommodations should follow the same guidelines for submitting request(s) to KOKUA.
Housing’s dining team includes an on-site Dietician who is available to develop a plan with residents who have food allergies and other special dietary needs. In situations where residents have documented disabilities and their dietary needs cannot be managed through a dining services’ plan, residents must also follow the process for requesting an accommodation.
Residents with qualifying disabilities who receive a university approved housing accommodation as a means of accommodating their qualifying disabilities will not be charged a higher residence hall room rate or other surcharges solely because of the need for the accommodation.
Residents will be required to renew their request for housing accommodations with KOKUA each academic year or for each needed term (if not the full academic year).
All residents are expected to abide by the responsibilities and policies set forth by Student Housing Services.