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 SEED within the Division of Student Success.

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.