Winter Break Information

December 20, 2026 – January 10, 2027

Our residence halls remain open during the winter break, and residents continuing to live with us in Spring 2027 do not need to move out of their rooms. 

Please review all the information and complete the necessary forms as laid out below.

🐧Only leaving for the Winter Break period?

You do NOT need to move out of your room if you’re only leaving for vacation, leisure, etc., and coming back to your room in Spring 2027. Please make sure to do the following before you leave for the break:

• Turn off all lights
• Make sure all window(s) & door(s) are secured, closed & locked
• ALL rooms with an air conditioner – please shut off A/C.
• Shut drapes and/or blinds
• Unplug items that do not need to be plugged-in (e.g., lamps, alarm clocks)
• Clean the interior of microfridge and refrigerator and leave them plugged in.
• Sweep or vacuum all floor space and along wall edges
• Remove personal belongings from the floor
• Trash: Dispose of perishable items and trash. Do not put room trash in bathroom trash cans, lounge trash cans or courtyard trash cans – take trash outside to the dumpster and recycling areas.
• Refrigerators: Clean out the refrigerator and throw away any food that will go bad during the break. If there is nothing that needs to be refrigerated during the break, unplug and thoroughly defrost your refrigerator, and leave the door ajar prior to departing for break.
• Be Advised! Cars are not immune to burglary. If you leave your car over break, park it under the lights and remove all valuables from your car.

Vacant Space Reminders

If there is a vacant bed space in your room/suite/apartment, please expect that a new resident will be assigned there for the spring 2027 semester or during winter break. In anticipation of this, make sure to do the following to ensure a smooth welcoming for a new roommate:

• Ensure the unoccupied space is fully cleared for a new resident (including bed, wardrobe, closet, desk, and floor space).
• If you live in a suite or apartment, make sure that common areas (bathrooms/kitchens/living rooms) are cleaned and presentable for an incoming resident.

Please be aware that staff will be entering rooms with vacant spaces during winter break to verify they are ready for a new resident. If the spaces are not ready to receive a roommate, you may be charged for occupying the additional space or for any cleaning that needs to be done. If suite/apartment bathrooms and living rooms are not clean and presentable for an incoming resident, registered occupants may be charged for SHS Operations to clean those spaces prior to spring move-in.

🐨Staying for Winter Break?

Please note that many University offices will be closed over the break. We will still have hall staff members on duty and available to assist with issues that may occur. The UH Mānoa Department of Public Safety (UH Mānoa DPS) continues to operate 24-hours per day, 7-days per week during the break.

Safety Reminders:

• Be extra aware in your community
• Make sure building entries are closed and locked
• Know who is staying on your floor or in neighboring units
• Don’t allow strangers into the buildings – if you are not comfortable with confronting someone you don’t know, please report the incident immediately to hall staff, the Community Desks, or to UH Mānoa DPS.
• If you see something, say something.

If you need staff assistance

• Refer to “Hours of Operations” listed below for appropriate offices and community desks
• After 8:00pm daily and 24/7 Weekends/Holidays: Hall staff on duty can be reached via cell phone: In an emergency, call 911 (Honolulu Police) or 808-956-6911 (UH Mānoa DPS)

In an emergency, call 911 (Honolulu Police) or 808-956-6911 (Department of Public Safety)

Vacant Space Reminders

If there is a vacant bed space in your room/suite/apartment, please expect that a new resident will be assigned there for the spring 2027 semester or during winter break. In anticipation of this, make sure to do the following to ensure a smooth welcoming for a new roommate:

• Ensure the unoccupied space is fully cleared for a new resident (including bed, wardrobe, closet, desk, and floor space).
• If you live in a suite or apartment, make sure that common areas (bathrooms/kitchens/living rooms) are cleaned and presentable for an incoming resident.

Please be aware that staff will be entering rooms with vacant spaces during winter break to verify they are ready for a new resident. If the spaces are not ready to receive a roommate, you may be charged for occupying the additional space or for any cleaning that needs to be done. If suite/apartment bathrooms and living rooms are not clean and presentable for an incoming resident, registered occupants may be charged for SHS Operations to clean those spaces prior to spring move-in.

DINING HOURS DURING WINTER BREAK

During finals week and winter break all on-campus dining options will be modified, so please note that there are special hours for the Hale Aloha Café, Gateway Café, and The Market. All updated hours and options can be found on the UH Mānoa Dining Services website: https://uhm.sodexomyway.com/en-us/locations/hours 

MODIFIED SHS OFFICE HOURS DURING WINTER BREAK

Operations during winter break are modified, scaled back, and closed at some points of the week, please review the schedule and hours below.

Student Housing Services (in Frear Hall)

• Winter Break (December 21-January 3): Open Monday-Friday 10:00am-2:00pm
• Closed December 25, January 1, and weekends
• Beginning January 4, 2027: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:00pm (regular hours)

SHS Mail Center (in Frear Hall)

• Winter Break (December 20-January 10): Open Monday – Friday 11:00am – 3:00pm
• Closed December 25, January 1, and weekends
• Beginning January 11: Regular hours resume, review website

Community Desks:

• Through Saturday, December 19: Review normal hours of operation on community desk services site.

• From December 20, 2026 to January 7, 2027: Gateway Community Desk will serve all communities: 8:00 AM-8:00 PM daily (unless otherwise posted), All other desks will be closed. Closed December 25 and January 1

• Beginning Friday, January 8, 2027: All community desks will open and return to regular services as laid out on our website.

🐻‍❄️NOT Returning to Housing in Spring 2027 Semester?

If you are cancelling your housing agreement and not returning for Spring 2027, you must checkout by Saturday, December 19, 2026 by 12:00 PM, or 24-hours after your last final; whichever may come first. Students cancelling for the spring will not be permitted to stay beyond this date and time.

Students are required to complete the following

1. SUBMIT CANCELLATION REQUEST, form in their housing portal.
   1. All early contract terminations are subject to early termination penalties. You may review your housing contract for additional breakage fee information.
   2. If you are participating in the National Student Exchange or Manoa International Exchange programs for the fall semester only, please indicate that on your cancellation request form to avoid any additional fees.
2. MOVE OUT, move out personal belongings and clean their room, review move out checklist
3. CHECK OUT, at the community desk or with the duty staff

Note:

• If a resident arrives at the community desk without doing step 1, the resident will be prompted to submit their cancellation request before checking out.

March 14, 2026 – March 22, 2026

If you will be away from the halls during spring break, please make sure to do the following before you leave:

• Turn off all lights
• Ensure all window(s) and door(s) are closed and locked
• Shut drapes and/or blinds
• Unplug items that do not need to be plugged-in (e.g., lamps, alarm clocks)
• Trash: Dispose of perishable items and trash. Do not put room trash in bathroom trash cans, lounge trash cans or courtyard trash cans – take trash outside to the dumpster and recycling areas.
• Refrigerators: Clean out the refrigerator and throw away any food that will go bad during the break. If there is nothing that needs to be refrigerated during the break, unplug and thoroughly defrost your refrigerator and wipe dry, and leave the door ajar prior to departing for break.
• Residents with AC units (Frear Hall, Hale Ānuenue, and KOKUA approved) 
  • Turn off AC
  • Close windows
  • Do not store damp/wet personal items
  • No standing water (e.g. vases)

Be Advised! Cars/mopeds are not immune to burglary. If you leave your car/moped over break, park it under the lights, remove all valuables, and ensure it is secured and locked. Review: https://manoa.hawaii.edu/dps/prevent-bike-vehicle-moped-theft/ 

STAYING FOR THE BREAK?

Please note that many University offices will be closed over the break. We will still have hall staff members on duty and available to assist with issues that may occur. The UH Mānoa Department of Public Safety (UH Mānoa DPS) continues to operate 24-hours per day, 7-days per week during the break.

Safety Reminders:

• Be extra aware in your community
• Make sure building entries are closed and locked
• Know who is staying on your floor or in neighboring units
• Don’t allow strangers into the buildings – if you are not comfortable with confronting someone you don’t know, please report the incident immediately to hall staff, the Community Desks, or to UH Mānoa DPS.
• If you see something, say something.

If you need staff assistance

• Refer to “Hours of Operations” listed below for appropriate offices and community desks
• After 8:00pm daily and 24/7 Weekends/Holidays: Hall staff on duty can be reached via cell phone: In an emergency, call 911 (Honolulu Police) or 808-956-6911 (UH Mānoa DPS)

In an emergency, call 911 (Honolulu Police) or 808-956-6911 (UH Mānoa DPS)

HOUSING HOURS DURING SPRING BREAK:

• Student Housing Services (in Frear Hall): Regular Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Residential Life Office (behind Johnson Hall A): Regular Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Community Desks (view website)
  • Through March 13: All Community Desks (list below) are operating at standard hours of operations
    • Hale Aloha Lokelani: 8:00 AM-8:00 PM Daily
    • Hale Wainani: 8:00 AM-8:00 PM Daily
    • Frear Hall: 8:00 AM-8:00 PM Daily
    • Hale Ānuenue: 2:00 PM-8:00 PM Daily
    • Hale Kahawai: 11:00 AM-8:00 PM Daily
    • March 14 through March 22: Gateway Community Desk (serving all communities: 8:00 AM-8:00 PM Daily (unless otherwise posted), All other desks will be closed)
    • Beginning Monday, March 23: All Community Desks return to regular hours of operations.
      
• SHS Mail Center (in Frear Hall):
  • Through March 13: Standard hours of operation
  • On March 14 through March 22: 
    • Monday-Friday: Open at 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
    • Saturday-Sunday: CLOSED
• • Beginning Monday, March 23: SHS Mail Center returns to standard hours, regularly closed on Mondays and opens for services on Tuesday, March 24 at 10:00 AM

DINING HOURS DURING SPRING BREAK

During spring break all on-campus dining options will be modified, so please note that there are special hours for the Hale Aloha Café, Gateway Café, and The Market. All updated hours and options can be found on the UH Mānoa Dining Services website: https://uhm.sodexomyway.com/en-us/locations/hours

OUR HALLS ARE CLOSING ON SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2026 @ 12 NOON

Plan for our closing deadline of your housing contract, as…

1. Residents cannot stay later than the date and time stated above per your housing contract.
2. Check your UH email daily – important information about halls closing will be sent there.
3. It is a good idea to plan ahead for your departure from campus to reduce the stress and hassle you may feel during this busy time of year. If you live on Oʻahu, consider taking some of your belongings home before finals week. If you live off-island, consider transferring some of your belongings to storage or mailing them home prior to finals week.