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North Hawaii Education and Research Center (NHERC)

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In 2001, House Concurrent Resolution 186 and House Resolution 161, requested that the University of Hawai`i at Hilo (UH Hilo ) explore the feasibility of establishing an education and research center of UH Hilo in the old Honoka`a Hospital. Subsequently,

discussions conducted by a committee of community and university leaders resulted in a proposal to establish NHERC with a fivefold mission, a mission revolving around NHERC's role as an educational and community center for the North Hawai`i region. The UH Hilo 's Strategic Plan provides the basis for the first four missions while the fifth mission addresses the specific needs of the community. The five core missions of NHERC include:

  1. Serving as a distance learning center for UH Hilo programs
  2. Providing higher education outreach services to the North Hawai`i region
  3. Providing lifelong learning opportunities to the North Hawai`i region
  4. Serving as a base station for field research in the North Hawai`i region
  5. Serving as a community center

Approximately 19,000 people currently reside in North Hawai`i , an area underserved by higher education. The center will serve the North Hawai`i region, including communities from Laupahoehoe to Kohala and Waimea to Waikoloa. NHERC will function as an education and research center, a heritage and oral history center, a community education center, and a community center. By operating in these capacities NHERC is intended to foster a sense of place, identity and community pride to the region. The presence of UH Hilo in this area illustrates the State's and the university's commitment to provide educational opportunities and to contribute to the economic recovery plan for the North Hawai`i region.

The community-driven planning process envisions NHERC offering university courses by both UH Hilo and Hawai`i Community College (HawCC) on a variety of topics as well as providing the facilities for use as a community center to host conferences, workshops, and cultural events. NHERC will house a 20-seat classroom, a 30-seat classroom, a computer lab, a distance learning classroom, a 150-seat conference room, two faculty offices, two storage rooms, a director's office, and reception and work areas.

NHERC will serve as an outreach arm of CCECS for continuing education and community service programs and as a depot for providing student services to distance learning students. In the latter role, NHERC will operate as a base station for distance learning courses, providing regional access for residents seeking undergraduate, graduate, non-credit, and continuing education courses. NHERC will be properly equipped to serve as the originating source as well as the receiving site for distance education curricula. NHERC will also serve as a base station for field research in the region by providing office/work space and temporary storage of equipment and supplies.