Noah Eddins pictured in front of a U.S. Coast Guard Cutter.
Born and raised in Kailua, Noah Eddins describes himself as a typical local kid, a “waterman” who grew up surfing, spearfishing, and free diving. But for him, the path to higher education wasn’t a straight line drawn immediately following high school graduation.
After receiving his diploma from Kalaheo High School, Eddins was at a crossroads. “I wasn’t entirely horrible at school,” he joked. “But I don’t think college was for me at that moment.”
Facing the choice between a traditional educational path at a university or exploring the world, a chance encounter on the waves changed his trajectory.
“I was surfing North Beach one day on the Marine Corps base and I met somebody who was in the Coast Guard and he loved his life,” Eddins recalled. “I was totally sold.”
That decision kicked off a nearly decade-long career in the U.S. Coast Guard that would take him from the icy waters of the Arctic to the desert heat of the Middle East, eventually leading him back home to Hawaiʻi and to Hawaiʻi Pacific University (HPU), where he is now a standout student leader and aspiring attorney.
A Global Education in Service
Before stepping into a classroom at HPU, Eddins received an intense education in global operations and crisis management. His service began on a 378-foot high-endurance cutter out of Seattle, where he found himself patrolling along the maritime boundary with Russia in the Bering Sea.
“We interacted with the Russian Navy as a cordial adversary, which was really cool,” Eddins said.
His missions were as diverse as they were dangerous. He participated in drug interdiction patrols in Central America, helping seize tons of narcotics, and deployed to the Middle East, operating out of Bahrain to support navigation and territorial integrity in the Arabian Gulf. But for Eddins, one of his most impactful experiences took place during the Coast Guard’s hurricane response efforts in North Carolina.
Charged with operating a USCG Aviation Logistics Center, Eddins found himself shouldering immense responsibility at just 21 years old, coordinating disaster response efforts with FEMA for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.
“I ensured dozens of pallets of supplies were directly loaded onto C-130s and sent down to disaster zones in the southern United States,” he explained. “It was really rewarding to see the individual impact I had in the whole grand scheme of things.”
Eddins credits the Coast Guard—the smallest branch of the military—for forcing him to become a “jack of all trades” and instilling a deep sense of accountability.
“The Coast Guard makes do with very little. You don’t get micromanaged the same way as other services. You’re expected to handle a lot of responsibility early,” he explained. “It was a critical stepping stone in my foundation of how I succeeded in college.”
Returning to Roots, Embracing Academics
As he approached the end of his Coast Guard contract in Hawaiʻi, Eddin’s perspective began to shift. He realized that while the military had provided him with professional development and real-world experience, he needed to evolve outside of the uniform to open new doors.
“Higher education is important for many meaningful jobs, especially in a market like Hawaiʻi,” he said. “College helps to build critical thinking and keeps you learning.”
Choosing HPU was a “no-brainer.” Eddins was drawn to the university’s strong reputation, its local roots, and specifically the Military Campus Programs, which offered a level of support he couldn’t find elsewhere.
“I had an advisor directly on the Coast Guard base. She was incredibly knowledgeable,” he explained, contrasting his experiences with other institutions that were less accommodating to the unique needs of service members.
Currently a senior majoring in History with a Pre-Law focus, Eddins has maintained a 3.8 GPA while working full-time. He has found mentorship in professors like Russell Hart, Ph.D., and Jon Davidann, Ph.D., who have both facilitated unique learning experiences, including a mock trial for a genocide class that Eddins described as “incredibly informative.”
His academic and career ambitions are also deeply personal. Eddins comes from a family of legal professionals. His mother is a former attorney, and his father serves on the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court.
Witnessing his father’s work as a defense attorney and judge was the catalyst to—and motivation behind—his pursuit of a law degree, specifically to protect precedents and serve the community.
“I grew up running around the public defender’s office when I was a little kid. I had a lot of aunties and uncles from that time who are still practicing law, and I still have incredible relationships with all of them,” he explained. “Through them, I get to see how cases are handled behind the scenes and it’s really inspired me to pursue public service law.”
Bridging the Gap Between Military Service and the Future
Eddins isn’t just attending classes at HPU’s Military Campus either. He is actively working to shape the student experience. He serves as a Senator for the Student Government Association (SGA) and is a member of the Constitution Committee. He is also a member of the Pi Kappa Theta Honor Society for History.
From left to right, Student Government Association Veterans Senator Nicolas Uriostegui-Valadez, Graduate Students’ Senator Tyler Blonder, Military Senator Noah Eddins .
His involvement in student life is practical, not performative. “I like having responsibility and I enjoy contributing and helping to solve problems,” he said. One of his primary goals is to bridge the disconnect between military students and the wider HPU ‘ohana.
“There is a hurdle for military members to clear,” he admitted. “Hawaiʻi can be lonely if you’re stationed here. If you’re just working and coming home, you may not have those opportunities to make connections.”
He hopes to boost those efforts by encouraging his fellow military students to build relationships outside of their respective units on island through university assets like the Outrigger Canoe Club.
“I think that this would be a really good opportunity to incorporate the military campus through clubs and to explore the island,” he said.
As he looks towards graduation, a gap year for an internship, and eventually law school, Eddins is passionate about encouraging military servicemembers to take advantage of the educational opportunities in front of them.
“Do not discount what college can offer you,” he advised. “It takes away the monotony of the military sometimes, and it allows you to grow as a person.”
For Noah Eddins, HPU has been more than just a school. It has been the bridge between his service to the country and his future service to his community.
“The Coast Guard gave me incredible experiences and responsibility. Now, HPU is giving me the education and opportunity to move forward,” he concluded.
