Philosophy of Service

The KOKUA Program (Kahi O Ka Ulu ‘Ana - "The Place of Growing") is UH Mānoa’s primary campus unit responsible for providing disability access services to students with disabilities toward equal opportunity. Creating equal access is a shared responsibility of students, faculty, KOKUA, and the entire campus community. KOKUA is administratively situated in the Office of Student Equity, Excellence & Diversity within the Division of Student Affairs.

Respecting the worth, dignity and rights of students with disabilities, the KOKUA Program has, since its inception in 1966, striven:

• To promote equal educational opportunity for/with these students by providing appropriate disability access services, upon request and in accordance with legitimate need, in order to offset restriction related to their disability;
• To promote the growth and development of these students by encouraging their self-reliance, resourcefulness, and responsibility; and
• To foster faculty, administrative and staff receptivity, flexibility and objectivity in their interactions with these students.