GEAR UP Mānoa

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa campus is a proud partner of GEAR UP, which stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, our program aims to give back to the communities that started it all, the plantation communities.

This is the first partnership grant of Gear Up here in the islands.

Gear Up Mānoa is a grant with a purpose: to increase a college going culture, awareness, and also to educate parents as well as students on the benefits of post secondary education.  We hope that in doing so we will significantly increase the number of low-income students pursuing and succeeding in higher education, including attending the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa — the flagship campus within the 10-campus UH system.

Gear Up Mānoa is very aware of the great things that can come from a college degree but also understand that college may not be for all, this is why we also would like to highlight the fact that there are careers such as trades or military.  These are great post secondary options that do not require a college degree, and we would like to educate parents and students on these options as well.

In partnership with Hilo High School, our grant is set to help the class of 2024 reach their goals in going to college or their careers. We will strive to get them to where they want to be through tutoring, ,mentoring, family nights, and more!