Hawaii Pacific University
Hallmarks and Quirks
Things I'm Good At:
- Marine biology. Since I'm right by the ocean, I offer a lot of opportunities for marine biology students to get hands-on experience in the field (or the ocean).
- Travel. From Great Britain to Thailand, I can promise that you'll find a cool place to study abroad.
- Acrobatics and tumbling. What can I say? I'm more flexible than you think.
My Top 5 Must-Haves:
- Swimsuits. Yes, I meant to make that plural—when you're not in class or studying, chances are decent you'll be on the beach.
- Raincoat. It rains here a lot. The last thing you want to do is get stuck walking to class without a raincoat. Trust me.
- Sunscreen. When it's not raining, it's super sunny so you definitely want to protect your epidermis.
- Bus pass. Make sure you ask for a bus pass when you pick up your student ID since the city bus is the cheapest way to get around town.
- Patience. During your walk to class, you'll spend just as much time waiting at lights as you will actually walking. Oh, and the city bus is usually late, too. Deep breaths.
Why You Might Have Heard of Me:
- I overthrew most of the businesses at Aloha Tower Marketplace.
- Most of my downtown campus can be found right in the middle of Fort Street Mall. That's right—you can go shopping in between your classes. How awesome is that?
On a regular Saturday night, you can find me...
I love an evening at Waikiki Beach, the North Shore, or Ala Moana Mall. Those are just a few of the biggest attractions on the islands, and you'll find a lot more if you go exploring. There's so much to see and do here, plus the weather's pretty much perfect year-round. I definitely like to spend my evenings out and about.
Consider yourself warned, though: don't forget to watch the time since the city bus stops around 11:00PM. I promise that the last thing you want to do is get stranded on the streets overnight.
Favorite Hangouts:
- Aloha Tower Marketplace. Besides being home to the student apartments, Aloha Tower Marketplace offers a student lounge, learning commons, and a view of the ocean. What's not to love?
- Walmart. What can I say? It's super convenient, especially for students living in the apartments.
- Starbucks. There are two Starbucks locations on the walk to my Bishop Street buildings, and let me tell you, you'll need that coffee (especially during finals week).
Quirks:
- If you live on campus, you'll probably wake up to a fire alarm at least once a week. Don't worry—it's usually a false alert. Usually.
- Because I'm very small, you'll come across times when there are less than ten people in one class. That's okay, though: you'll find it easier to learn and make friends that way.
Famous Alumni:
- Sarah Palin. She only dropped in for a semester, but I sure do remember it.
- Vivian Wu, an actress who was in The Joy Luck Club
- Jennifer Fairbank, former Miss Hawaii
- Benny Agbayani, former professional baseball player
- Christopher Loeak, president of the Marshall Islands