Embedded Files
Senior Citizen Visitor Program/Nā Kūpuna Program at UH Mānoa
Senior Citizen Visitor Program/Nā Kūpuna Program at UH Mānoa
The Senior Citizen Visitor Program/Nā Kūpuna (SCVP/NK) program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UHM) allows Hawai‘i residents aged 60 years or older to attend up to two courses at UHM free of charge without receiving credit.
Around 300 senior citizens attend classes at the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa each semester through the Senior Citizen Visitor Program/Nā Kūpuna Program. They add to a rich campus culture and contribute from their life experience to the classroom setting.
The program has been administered by the SEED Office since 1995.
Starting college at any age can feel overwhelming at times. We’ll guide you in taking some initial steps to help get you on your way. You can always reach out to us for help if you have any questions or just need some guidance along the way nakupuna@hawaii.edu, (808)-956-4642.
Program Eligibility
Program Eligibility
- Participants must be 60 years or older.
- Must have been a bona fide resident of Hawaiʻi for at least one calendar year (365 days) prior to the first day of classes in which they would like to register.
- Medical Clearance for In-Person/Hybrid Participation. Clearance not needed if participation is for online classes.
- TB Clearance
- If born after 1957, MMR immunizations are also required.
- Lastly, one Tdap (Tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis) vaccine is required and must be administered on or after age 11.
- COVID-19 vaccination not required to participate though it is strongly recommended for those who want to participate in-person.
Steps to becoming a participant
Steps to becoming a participant
Step 1: Do you meet the participate eligibility?
To join the NK program, all participants must be 60 years or older and, must be bonafide residents of Hawaiʻi
Step 2: Gather Health Clearance
For those interested in participating in-person, health clearance must be provided with pre-registration form. Participants are required to submit:
TB Clearance, the TB clearance must be less than one year old, effective the first day of the semester. If you are a returning participant, please confirm with the program that our records are up to date. UHM accepts only the Mantoux Test (PPD) or report of a negative chest x-ray completed by a physician/clinic in the United States.
If born after 1957, MMR immunizations are also required.
Lastly, one Tdap (Tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis) vaccine is required and must be administered on or after age 11. Submit Health Clearance with your Senior Program Registration form.
Step 3: Establish your goals and intentions
The Senior Program is only available during the Fall and Spring semesters, and summer classes are not available.
You may take a maximum of 2 courses per semester, or six credits in total. Excluded courses for NK Participants include: courses numbered 500 and above, creative writing courses in the English department, Tai Chi, Yoga, Spring 2025 “Extension Courses” with the Outreach College, Law & Medical courses.
Class registration must first be approved by the faculty member teaching the course before joining the course.
Step 4: Consider the Pros & Cons
Registered under this program, you will not be charged tuition, but some fees might apply such as purchasing course textbook (not required but may be suggested by course instructor).
You will be enrolled into credit classes as an auditor, which means you do not receive academic credit, you’re not listed on official class lists, and do not receive a letter grade for the work you do.
You will not be eligible for educational discounts, access licensed academic resources and databases which includes texts that requires UHM login bypass. NK participants do not have access to the Warrior Recreation Center (WRC), Campus Center Computer Lab, Sinclair Library, and Rainbow Shuttle.
Step 5: Register
NK Pre-registration form will be open during the 10-day registration period. NK registration days will be announced through NK Registration Website and NK Newsletter. Be sure to subscribe to receive updates.
In selecting courses, you should refer to the Class Schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: “Am I eligible to register for the Senior Citizen Visitor Program/Nā Kūpuna (SCVP/NK) Program?”
A: In order to participate in the SCVP/NK program, 1) all participants must be 60 years or older, 2) must be bonafide residents of Hawaii, and 3) must demonstrate TB clearance via a TB skin test (PPD – Mantoux) or chest X-ray within one year of enrollment. COVID-19 fully vaccinated participants are eligible to participate in-person including hybrid participation. Vaccine verification must be provided via LumiSight UH. COVID-19 Vaccination is not required for online only participation.
Q: Do I need an email address to participate in the SCVP/NK Program?
A: Yes. All participants will be required to maintain and regularly check a working email address, as part of the Terms and Conditions that all participants sign during registration. All official communications from the Nā Kūpuna/SCVP Program this semester will be sent out via email.
Q: I don’t have an email address or a computer! How can I create an email address or check my email?
A: If you don’t already have an email address, there are many options available to set up a personal email address for free. Some examples of free email providers include Gmail (gmail.com), iCloud/Apple mail (icloud.com), Outlook (outlook.com), or Yahoo (yahoo.com). You can find public access computers at public libraries across the state as well as at the Hamilton Library.
Program Details
Program Details
Class Availability
Class Availability
Senior Citizen Visitor Program/Nā Kūpuna Program participants may register for up to two courses for Spring 2025, undergraduate courses at the UH Mānoa campus. Majority of courses will return to in-person and some courses will remain online. Participants are able to participate in either with faculty approval. Courses for the Spring 2025 semester can be found at this link (under Spring 2025):
The following are NOT available to our program participants: Courses numbered 500 and above, creative writing courses in the English department, Tai Chi, Yoga, Fall 2023 “Extension Courses” with the Outreach College, Law & Medical courses.
Course Information for Pre-Registration
Course Information for Pre-Registration
Participants must complete pre-registration form prior to the start of semester within designated registration dates. Subscribe to the NK Newsletter to receive important dates and information.
Participants will need to have a working email address which they manage themselves. The program registration form is an online form that will require an email address to complete. Additionally, most correspondence with course instructors and access to course content will be on an online format through Laulima
To fill out the pre-registration form, you will be asked to provide the CRN for each course as well as course details, including Department, Course Number, Course Title, and Instructor for each course. See course listing under "Class Availability" section.
Faculty Approval Forms
Faculty Approval Forms
Once pre-registration form is completed. Those who have successfully submitted registration form and health clearance information, will be instructed to start the process of obtaining Faculty Approvals. NK Participants are required to obtain permission from their course instructor(s) to audit their course. The course instructor has the may approve or deny the participants request. In the event the faculty approval is denied, participants can select an alternative course.
Faculty Approvals Forms are available hardcopy and online. The NK Program will notify participants when to initiate Faculty Approval process which will take place after the review of eligibility and pre-registration form is completed.
Health Clearance (In-person/Hybrid Participation only)
Health Clearance (In-person/Hybrid Participation only)
TB Clearance
If you were born after 1957, MMR Immunization records needed.
One Tdap (Tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis) vaccine is required and must be administered on or after age 11
All new participants to the program must submit a TB test result that has been administered on or after January 8, 2017 demonstrating TB clearance. TB clearance results should be endorsed by a U.S. licensed physician and can be submitted to our office as a scanned copy sent to nakupuna@hawaii.edu or as a hard copy submitted to our office at Queen Lili’uokalani Center for Student Services (QLCSS) 413. If you have registered with our program during any semester since Fall 2016 and already submitted a valid TB result for those semesters, then you do not need to submit a new TB result unless otherwise notified.
Health clearance not needed for Online participation.
COVID-19 Guidelines
COVID-19 Guidelines
COVID-19 vaccination is no longer required to participate but it is strongly recommended by UHM Health Services Office that participants have COVID-19 vaccination while on campus.
Other Learning Options & Opportunities
Other Learning Options & Opportunities
Adult Education Options
Adult Education Options
Besides our program at UH Mānoa, we would like to highlight some other options for continuing education outside of our program. Below, we list information on older adult education programs at UH Manoa and other UH campuses on O’ahu.
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), located at UH Mānoa, offers a number of courses designed for older adults 50 and older. You can find out more about their program at this link: http://www.osher.socialsciences.hawaii.edu/membership-enrollment.html. The OLLI semester begins about a month later than the usual UH semester, so information on the upcoming semester classes may not appear until closer to the start of the semester.
Senior Citizen Visitor Programs at other UH Campuses
Senior Citizen Visitor Programs at other UH Campuses
Windward Community College (WCC), Leeward Community College (LCC), Kapi’olani Community College (KCC), and UH West O’ahu (UHWO) all offer Senior Citizen Visitor Programs similar to our program. Course availability can be found at this website: https://www.hawaii.edu/myuhinfo/class-availability/. To register for these programs, see their websites and/or contact each program individually (see information below):
WCC: https://windward.hawaii.edu/admissions_records/senior_visitor_pass.php
LCC: http://www.leeward.hawaii.edu/registration-types
KCC: https://www.kapiolani.hawaii.edu/admissions/senior-citizen-program/
UHWO: Contact UHWO’s admissions office at: (808) 689-2900 or uhwo.admissions@hawaii.edu
In addition to their Senior Citizen Visitor Program, KCC hosts a Kupuna Education Center, which offers courses “to develop and provide training and education for the older adult community population in active aging, to provide family caregiver training, to create a quality and committed community health wellness workforce, and to coordinate this information with all of the University of Hawaii Community Colleges.” More information can be found at: https://continuinged.kapiolani.hawaii.edu/kupuna-education-center/
Honolulu Community College (HCC) does not have a Senior Citizen Visitor Program, but has a similar program called the Emeritus College. Find more information by visiting pcatt.org/emeritus. Register by calling the Emeritus Office at (808) 845-9296 or in-person at 874 Dillingham Blvd., Bldg. 2, Rm. 507.
Contact Information & Giving
Contact Information & Giving
Supporting the Senior Citizen Visitor Program/Nā Kūpuna Program
Supporting the Senior Citizen Visitor Program/Nā Kūpuna Program
You can support the Senior Citizen Visitor Program/Nā Kūpuna Program at UH Manoa through donations that help to sustain our mission. Donate online at: https://giving.uhfoundation.org/funds/12353504.
Contacting our Office
Contacting our Office
NK Staff is available to provide assistance and student support during regular business hours. NK staff can be reached via email (nakupuna@hawaii.edu) or telephone (956-4642).
Page updated
Report abuse