First Year Students: Kuleana Checklist

Kuleana Checklist FALL 2025

Welcome to the HPU ‘Ohana! Here is where you will find simplified next steps to ensure you are ready for your arrival on campus. Check back periodically over the summer to view Kuleana Checklists and watch 'Ohana Check-In recordings as we progress toward Fall!

COMPLETE YOUR KULEANA CHECKLISTS BELOW!

Make sure you're on the right track for a smooth transition to HPU! Kuleana means responsibility in Hawaiian. Complete YOUR Kuleana Checklists below!

1. ENJOY THE REMAINDER OF YOUR SENIOR YEAR

Enjoy this time. Yes, there is a lot to accomplish between now and August 21st (the first day of Orientation) but know that you have an entire university community here in Honolulu ready and eager to support you. We've got this together! Your hard work has paid off, and the best is yet to come!

2. SET UP AND NAVIGATE MYHPU

MyHPU (my.hpu.edu) is your self-service student portal. If you haven’t already done so, go ahead and login for the first time. Click here for step-by-step instructions on MyHPU Account Creation.

Otherwise, sign in directly to your student portal by clicking the button above. Explore and get familiar!

Click the different tabs and icons in MyHPU to access important information regarding your:

  • Financial Aid, Loans, and Scholarship requirements
  • Tuition and Fees, eBill Statements *viewable when you are registered for at least one class*
  • Housing Applications and Meal Plans
  • Shark Shuttle Schedules and much more!

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO IN MYHPU PORTAL?

View academic and community events, HPU announcements, update your student profile, check your HPU email, view your degree plan, make online tuition payments, check your grades, and manage other important university business.

Be sure to sign-in to and/or setup your student email account early this summer to ensure you receive official university communications regarding your student account.

PRO TIP: Automatically forward your HPU emails to your personal email account so you don't miss important HPU announcements and deadlines this summer!

Please contact Information Technology Services (ITS) if you need to retrieve your username or if you run into any technical issues when logging into MyHPU for the first time.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
(ITS) HELP DESK
EMAIL:
help@hpu.edu
CALL: (808) 566-2411

3. MEET ALAKAʻI - YOUR PERSONAL GUIDE TO ALL THINGS HPU

Alakaʻi is your friendly 24/7 virtual guide, available to help lead the way as you prepare for life at Hawaiʻi Pacific University.

In Hawaiian, Alakaʻi means to lead, guide, or direct — and that's exactly what Alakaʻi is designed for. Whether you're wondering what to pack for your move to Oʻahu, how to register for classes, when orientation happens, or what local food you have to try first, Alakaʻi is available to connect you to you to the answers you need, when you need them.

You can find Alakaʻi, 24/7, at hpu.edu/connect

1. SATISFY FINANCIAL AID REQUIREMENTS IN MYHPU

If you've already filed your FAFSA, review your financial aid status by double-checking that you've submitted all paperwork necessary to receive aid. Financial documents must be verified through MyHPU.

Check your HPU email in MyHPU regularly. Click the button above for instructions on how to accept or decline your financial aid package.

FOLLOW PATH: my.hpu.edu > Student Services > Financial Aid > Offer/Requirements

Please contact Financial Aid with questions about federal student aid (FAFSA), scholarships, and loan status. And always include your name and HPU student ID number when contacting Financial Aid.

FINANCIAL AID
EMAILfinancialaid@hpu.edu
CALL: (808) 544-0253

2. MEET YOUR ACADEMIC ADVISOR

Click the button above to find out who your Academic Advisor is, so you know who you will be working with this summer to craft your fall schedule. Your advisor will email you a pre-registration form after you submit your enrollment deposit.

If you have only submitted your enrollment deposit in the past two weeks, No stress! Your pre-registration form is coming!

Please contact Academic Advising with questions regarding registration and your class schedule.

ACADEMIC ADVISING
EMAILadvising@hpu.edu
CALL: (808) 544-1198

3. LEVEL UP WITH PLACEMENT TESTING

If you are feeling extra ambitious early this summer, consider leveling up through placement testing! Depending on your declared major, you may need to take a writing test, a math test or both. Once all necessary documents have been received, a voucher number for your placement exams will be uploaded to your portal.

PLACEMENT TEST REQUIREMENTS BY MAJOR

Writing Placement Test: All Majors
Residential Honors students are exempt from the English writing placement assessment.

Math Placement Test: Business Administration, Biochemistry, Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Science, Marine Biology, Mathematics, Oceanography

Click the button above to learn how you can access the placement tests.

ACT AND SAT SCORES

Depending on ACT, SAT, or other test results submitted at the time of applying, you may be exempt from placement testing.

Please review our placement guide and contact advising@hpu.edu if you believe you may be exempt.

Please contact Testing Services (CAS) with questions about English and Math placement testing.

CENTER FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS, TESTING SERVICES
EMAILassessment@hpu.edu
CALL: (808) 544-9334

1. REVIEW HPU'S ACADEMIC CALENDAR

HPU's Academic calendar is your friend. Use it to track important deadlines this summer to plan for fall success.

Click the button above to view our academic calendar early so you know what to expect when you arrive. It is a useful tool that can help keep you organized and on track. It can also help you when planning your holidays and trips back home.

Please contact Registrar's Office with questions about the Academic Calendar and other registration information.

REGISTRAR'S OFFICE
EMAIL: registrar@hpu.edu
CALL: (808) 544-0239

2. FILL OUT A FERPA AUTHORIZATION FORM

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) is a federal law designed to protect the confidentiality of student records that an institution maintains.

HOW DOES FERPA AFFECT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY?

As an HPU student, only you have access to your education records and student account. Under the FERPA law, HPU cannot disclose personally identifiable information from a student's education records to a third party (including a studentʻs parents) without the student's prior written authorization.

If you would like your parents or guardians to have access to your student information/account, please follow the steps below. The link above will take you to your MyHPU portal.

  1. Login to your MyHPU Portal
  2. Look for Student Services
  3. Click on More
  4. Click on FERPA Online Submission

3. SUBMIT YOUR OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS AND EXAM SCORES

When you request official high school or college transcripts, have the institution send them to HPU directly. Unfortunately, we cannot accept transcripts that are sent to HPU directly by students or parents.

Dual credits and other official exam scores such as SAT, ACT, IELTS, TOEFL, AP, IB, etc. should also be sent to the Office of Admissions as soon as possible. We do recognize, however, that AP and IB results may not be available until mid-July.

Have your school send your transcripts to:

OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS
EMAIL:
 admission@hpu.edu

MAILING ADDRESS:
Hawaii Pacific University
Office of Admissions
1 Aloha Tower Drive
Honolulu, HI 96813