Japan’s Tokai University Coming To Kapolei, Next To UHWO

UH West Oahu chancellor Rockne Freitas and Tokai University chancellor Kiyoshi Yamada sign a memorandum of understanding at the Kapolei campus Jan. 9, for Tokai University’s campus opening in April. Photo courtesy UH West Oahu.

When Tokai University opens its Kapolei campus in April, it already will have a strong relationship in place with its next-door neighbor, University of Hawaii-West Oahu.

UHWO and Tokai’s Hawaii Tokai International College have agreed to an academic partnership that will allow their students and faculty to enjoy classes and resources at both campuses.

“Developing an academic partnership with Tokai University was always the intent of UH-West Oahu officials when it was agreed Tokai would build its campus adjacent to the university,” said UHWO interim academic program officer Sherry Proper.

Under the terms of the agreement, the two schools will share resources — both in the classroom and in research studies — and allow students to take certain classes at either campus.

Proper explained that Tokai students will be able take classes at UHWO, borrow books and use computers and study rooms at UHWO Library, and have access to UHWO’s wireless network, bookstore and on-campus dining.

Students at UHWO will be able to take language classes and participate in Tokai study abroad programs in Japan, Korea and China.

UHWO also has formed an international committee of faculty, staff and students that will explore other ways the campus can work with Tokai.

The university previously stated that it was looking into an articulation agreement that would allow Tokai graduates to transfer to UHWO.

“As the only public university on Oahu’s west side, UH West Oahu is now able to offer an amazing opportunity for our students to learn together with an international student body,” Proper said.

The Japan-affiliated HTIC currently is located on Kapiolani Boulevard, and is an accredited international junior college.

Its new campus will instruct 300 students in 26 classrooms.

Tokai University purchased the land for its new campus from UH for $6 million in 2011, though the school did not break ground or start construction until 2013 because of delays in receiving the lease from UH.

Originally, the two campuses were intended to share student-housing facilities — 200 beds for UHWO students, 100 beds for Tokai students — but such plans are still pending.

For more information, call UHWO at 689-2800 or HTIC at 983-4000.