Generations Rooted
Rooted in place, Guided by generations
Generations Rooted
Rooted in place, Guided by generations
Kapi‘olani Community College is a model indigenous-serving institution whose graduates strengthen the social, economic, and sustainable advancement of Hawai‘i and the world. Kapi‘olani Community College provides open access to higher education opportunities in pursuit of academic, career, and lifelong learning goals to the diverse communities of Hawai‘i.
2026 marks the celebration of Kapi‘olani Community College's 80th Anniversary. This timeline highlights notable events and milestones celebrating the accomplishments of our students, staff, faculty, and administration over the last eight decades. Through photographs, personal histories, and multimedia archives, we celebrate our enduring contributions and the many communities we continue to impact.
Kapiʻolani CC faculty, staff, and students are welcome to contribute to the timeline by submitting nominations through this form. Submissions will be accepted until January 31, 2026 and the timeline will be updated in February.
Kapiʻolani Community College is named after Queen Kapi‘olani, wife of King Kalākaua (r. 1874-1891). Learn what her name means and how to pronounce it correctly. The Queen's motto, Kūlia i ka Nu‘u (Strive for the Highest) has been adopted by Kapi‘olani CC where faculty, staff, and students from culinary arts to health sciences find inspiration.
Queen Kapi‘olani's excellent fundraising skills and deep concern for her people led to the establishment of the Kapi‘olani Home for Girls whose parents had leprosy and the Kapi‘olani Maternity Home. In 1887, she traveled to London to represent the Hawaiian Kingdom at Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, along the way she visited seven cities and eleven schools, including six for women or girls and two for the deaf.