Specialized Communities

Learn more about our Specialized Community options!

For Student Housing, “Freshmen” are defined as students who are enrolled in their first year at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and recently graduated high school in the spring of the current year. Once admitted to UH Mānoa, you can apply for Student Housing.

The four Hale Aloha towers are Freshmen Only environments. There are many Residential Learning Programs available for students residing in Hale Aloha, these programs are an excellent opportunity to get to know peers in your field of study and get involved during your first year.

Graduate Housing is available in the Hale Wainani apartments. In order to qualify for Graduate Housing, you must be a registered full-time UH Mānoa graduate student.

Apartment accommodations available to graduate students include one-bedroom units for two occupants, two-bedroom units for four occupants, and two-bedroom units for two occupants.

Graduate students who wish to apply for housing accommodations in a different community may use the “Non-Freshmen” Application instead.

Additional Information
The priority process for Graduate Housing spaces will run independently of the standard process and will be based on a student’s assignment priority.

Due to the high demand for space, Student Housing Services needs to provide as much on-campus housing to UH Mānoa students as possible. When needed, Student Housing Services may fill the apartments in Graduate Housing area block with single students after all qualified Graduate and Family housing applicants have been offered housing.

Family Housing is available in the Hale Wainani apartments. To qualify for Family Housing, you must be a registered full-time UH Mānoa student as part of the family unit.

Family units include:

  • Married couples
  • Married couples with child(ren)
  • Parents with dependent children
  • Domestic partners
  • Domestic partners with child(ren)

Considerations may also be given for other types of family arrangements.

Requirements and restrictions for Family Housing:

  • At least one apartment occupant must be a student and must be enrolled full-time at UH Mānoa for the duration of the contract.
  • Students with children must provide a copy of the Birth Certificate for each child residing in the apartment.
  • Students with partners must provide a certified copy of legal documentation that demonstrates that the student and partner have entered into a marriage, domestic partnership or civil union, OR
  • Students with partners must show joint responsibility for each other’s common welfare. Shared financial obligations may be demonstrated by submitting copies of two of the following documents:
    • Joint mortgage or lease
    • Reciprocal beneficiary documentation
    • Designation of domestic partner as beneficiary of life insurance
    • Designation of domestic partner as beneficiary of retirement death benefit
    • Joint checking account

Eligibility documents must be provided at the time the signed contract is returned to Student Housing Services in order to qualify for Family Housing.

Qualifications:

  • The student and domestic partner intend to remain in a domestic partnership with each other indefinitely.
  • The student and domestic partner are both at least 18 years of age.
  • The student and domestic partner have a common residence and intend to reside together indefinitely.
  • Neither the student nor domestic partner is a member of another domestic partnership or marriage.

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.

For more information, please visit our Disability Accommodations page.

Rainbow Village is a supportive environment for students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+) or allies. The Rainbow Village is a gender-inclusive community where gender is not taken into account when housing assignments are made. Residents will take part in educational programs that keep them involved with the LGBTQ+ community. The Rainbow Village is part of the UH Mānoa Safe Zone Program and is committed to equity, diversity and social justice.

Learn more on our Residential Learning Programs page.
One of the ways to enhance your on-campus living experience is by joining a Residential Learning Program. Students with similar majors or interests have the opportunity to live together on selected residential floors. Residents will be able to study together, work together and learn from each other. Hall staff will focus programming elements to connect classroom learning with your out of class experience. Learn more on our Residential Learning Programs page.

Open to all majors, the new Residences for Innovative Student Entrepreneurs (RISE) is a cutting-edge live-learn-work facility that brings together under one roof:  student housing, a dining facility, co-working and maker spaces, startups, and programs which include mentorship, startup training, skills development, and funding from the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE).

RISE is designed to allow students to come together and build meaningful relationships, explore their passions, solve complex problems, test their ideas, access support services, and launch companies within an environment that fosters collaboration, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

RISE is managed by B.HOM Student Living as UH’s first externally managed student housing complex. It is being developed as a public-private partnership between the UH, the UH Foundation and Hunt Companies. It is not managed by UH Mānoa Student Housing Services.