University of Hawaii to Halt 55-Year Community Arts Program

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa will stop offering its free community arts and culture classes in June 2027. For half a century, these programs have provided public access to cultural education across the state. The decision forces local residents to lose a long-standing source of affordable artistic engagement.

The Outreach College announced the closure earlier this month. The interim dean cited shifting institutional priorities and tight budgets as the primary reasons. The letter stated that the university must prioritize the academic needs of enrolled students. This move ends a specific funding arrangement that has supported the department for decades.

The Community Programs began in 1971. They currently include up to 160 offerings per year. About 85 percent of these classes are free to the public. Activities take place on campus as well as in schools, libraries, senior centers, nursing homes, correctional facilities, and public housing units. The portfolio includes the Statewide Cultural Extension Program, UH Presents, and the Asia Pacific Dance Festival.

Faculty members and students reacted with shock to the news. Yukie Shiroma, an Okinawan dance instructor, said she cried after learning of the termination. "I think there was disbelief. Most of my students said, 'No, this can’t happen,'" Shiroma said. She noted that her students felt the class had value that justified its existence.

Janice Shiira, a 70-year-old student who has attended Shiroma's classes for over a decade, described herself as heartbroken. "I tried not to cry, but I told her that we have to fight this," Shiira said. The last Okinawan dance class met earlier this week due to scheduling conflicts. This was the final session for that specific group before the program shuts down.

The university says the programs were designed to be financially self-sufficient. However, they currently require a subsidy of approximately $500,000 per year in student tuition funds. The UH Mānoa statement emphasized that the university remains open to reconsidering the decision if a sustainable financial model emerges. Potential solutions include alternative revenue sources, grants, or philanthropy. The chair of the Community Programs is in conversations with the chancellor to find a path forward.