Hawaiʻi Community College has unveiled the newly renovated Kō Education Center, which now boasts two additional classrooms, a certified science lab, and a remodeled instructional kitchen. Alongside these upgrades, the college announced a robust slate of courses for spring 2025, designed to make education more accessible to the North Hawaiʻi community.
The $4-million renovations include:
- Two New Classrooms: Supporting general education and specialized courses, including health programs for nursing education.
- Certified Science Lab: With Biosafety Level 1 certification, this lab will host biology, chemistry and microbiology courses, opening new opportunities for STEM students.
- Instructional Kitchen: While not yet certified for food sales, the kitchen will support culinary instruction, including a planned butchery course—the first of its kind in the state.
“We’re excited to bring these resources to North Hawaiʻi,” said Pele Kaio, assistant professor and contact for Kō Education Center. “This is more than an upgrade—it’s a commitment to our students and the broader community. The new facilities will empower students, support local organizations, and enhance educational accessibility.”
The first day of instruction for the spring semester is January 13, 2025. The last day to add or late-register for semester-length courses is January 21. To register for classes, call the Hawaiʻi CC Information Center at (808) 934-2500. For more information about Kō Education Center, call (808) 775-8890 or email koec@hawaii.edu.
Go to Hawaiʻi CC for more about this story and new course offerings.
