The Hawaii Territorial Legislature established the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in Honolulu under terms of the U.S. land grant legislation in 1907. Only ten students begin classes with thirteen staff in September in 1908.

The campus was renamed College of Hawaii and moved to its present location in Oahu's Manoa Valley in 1912. Some six years later, a William Kwai petitioned the legislature to grant the college a university status leading to the establishment of the University of Hawaii in 1920.

In 1931 the university absorbed the Territorial Normal and Training School (now known as the College of Education) and graduated its first PhD student in Dr J. S. Phillips. Four years later, Professor Gregg Sinclair founded the Oriental Institute, predecessor of the federal government sponsored East-West Center, setting the agenda for the University of Hawaii's ever growing prominence in Asia-Pacific expertise.

The University of Hawaii's community colleges system was established in 1964, with Honolulu, Kapiolani, Kauai and Maui campuses. As at this writing, it has evolved into 10 campuses and dozens of educational, training and research centers across the Hawaiian Islands.

The 1970s saw the addition of Windward Community College, the William S. Richardson School of Law, Hilo College of Agriculture and University of Hawaii-West Oahu and a few years later, School of Architecture and School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology.

A generous gift by Ed Pauley purchased the Coconut Island, known to millions people around world as the Gilligan's Island for expanded marine biology research. The university set records by offering the country's first master's degree in an indigenous language, Hawaiian language, and also becoming the first institution to successfully clone multiple mammalian generations such as the Cumulina mouse

The 10 University of Hawaii campuses and educational centers on six Hawaiian Islands provide unique opportunities for both learning and recreation. The university is Hawaii's engine for economic growth and diversification, stimulating the economy with jobs, research and skilled workers. The university academic offerings range from certificate and vocational training programs right up to PhD degrees.

So Hawaii is not just a holiday vacation destination with fascinating tourist attractions, it is also firmly anchored in the area of education as shown by the international credibility of the University of Hawaii.