Consistently ranked a “best value” among U.S. colleges and universities, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa will hold its annual open house on February 25, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Mānoa Experience—University Preview Day will feature interactive hands-on activities, demonstrations and displays that showcase the vast opportunities at UH Mānoa.

More than 180 academic programs and student services will be represented by faculty, staff and current students in tents along the tree-lined McCarthy Mall. The Office of Admissions will also be open for prospective students to check on their application status or to pay tuition deposits.

New this year at the Campus Center Courtyard will be the Art + Flea urban market, sponsored by the Ka Leo campus newspaper and UH Mānoa Student Media Board. Local businesses will be selling clothing, crafts, jewelry and more.

“The Mānoa Experience provides an excellent opportunity for the community and prospective students to interact with our faculty and staff,” said Ryan Yamaguchi, associate director of admissions. “This open house is designed to highlight the exciting programs that the university has to offer and how it impacts our community. Because of events like the Mānoa Experience, we saw an increase in the number of incoming freshmen from Hawaiʻi in fall 2016.”

Students and faculty come from across the world to take part in UH Mānoa’s research, diverse community, nationally ranked Division I athletics program, and opportunities unique to an island location in the Pacific. The National Science Foundation currently ranks UH Mānoa 71 among the top research universities in the U.S.

Added Jan Taniguchi, associate director of admissions, “We are very excited to showcase UH Mānoa and invite everyone to visit. Take a tour of our campus, residence halls, Warrior Recreation Center, School of Nursing’s Translational Health Simulation Center and Engineering Research Labs. There’s a lot to do, and we hope the community will join us in this UHM -azing opportunity.”

Registration open

Registration is free and required for prospective students and groups to receive a free parking pass and an exclusive UH Mānoa tote bag at the event.