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About

Facts and Figures

The Institution

Brigham Young University–Hawaii is:

  • An undergraduate university with an enrollment of approximately 3,200 students who represent over 70 different countries and cultures from the Pacific Rim, the U.S. mainland, and other parts of the world.
  • Part of the Church Educational System (CES) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which serves almost half a million people worldwide in higher education, seminaries and institutes, elementary and secondary schools, and continuing education and literacy programs. In addition to BYU–Hawaii, the system includes BYU in Provo, Utah; BYU–Idaho in Rexburg, Idaho; Ensign College in Salt Lake City; and elementary or secondary schools in many countries, including Mexico, Fiji, Indonesia, Tonga and Western Samoa.
  • Accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
  • Download BYU–Hawaii Quick Facts

Location

Laie, Hawaii (population 7,000) is situated 35 miles north of Honolulu on the island of Oahu. The 100-acre campus is nestled between lush mountains and ideal shoreline. The average annual temperature is 77 degrees F (25 C); the average annual precipitation is 23 inches (584 mm).

Partnership With Polynesian Cultural Center

BYU–Hawaii is closely linked with the Polynesian Cultural Center, the number-one paid tourist attraction in Hawaii, where many BYU–Hawaii students work as performers, guides, food service personnel, and in a variety of other positions to help pay for their education at BYU–Hawaii. Each year because of the employment the PCC offers, hundreds of students who would ordinarily be unable to afford a college education have that opportunity.

Approximately 90% of BYU–Hawaii students are employed, either at the Polynesian Cultural Center or on-campus part-time while earning their degree.

Learn more about this unique partnership.

Honor Code

When applying to BYU–Hawaii, each student commits to observe Honor Code standards approved by the University’s Board of Trustees, consistent with the ideals and principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These standards include: Be honest; Live a chaste and virtuous life, including abstaining from any sexual relations outside a marriage between a man and a woman; Respect others, including the avoidance of profane and vulgar language; Obey the law and follow campus policies; Abstain from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee, vaping, and substance abuse; Participate regularly in Church services (required only of Church members); Observe University’s Dress and Grooming Standards and encourage others in their commitment to comply with the Honor Code.

The Dress and Grooming Standards expect students to be modest, neat, and clean in their dress and grooming. Swimming suits, gym clothes, and other extremely casual or grubby attire are not considered acceptable wear on campus. Students are expected to be clean-shaven. Beards are not permitted.

Physical Facilities

Campus facilities include the 4,500-seat Cannon Activities Center, natural history museum, Olympic-size swimming pool, English language institute, artifact collection housed in library, Institute for Polynesian Studies, TV studio, and fitness center. The university also features on-campus housing in six dormitories for single students; 250 apartments for married students; 19 interest-based clubs and 23 cultural associations representing the Pacific Islands and Asia; performing arts and intramural athletic programs; health, counseling and student employment services; and services for the learning disabled, including visual, hearing, and speech impaired students.

Church Services and Activities

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has several wards (congregations) organized into three stakes (dioceses) serving the BYU–Hawaii campus. About 100-150 students attend religious services in each ward. The experience that students gain in these wards as they carry out church responsibilities provides a rich source of leadership when students graduate and participate in wards in their homelands around the world.