Expanding Access to Design Education at Honolulu Community College

Honolulu Community College (HCC) continues to demonstrate the role of community colleges in supporting nontraditional students seeking new career paths. One recent example is a student who, after earning a degree in fashion, returned to HCC to pursue an associate degree in architectural technologies, aligning creative experience with hands-on training in design and construction.

HCC’s Architecture, Engineering & Construction Technologies (AEC) program emphasizes applied learning while integrating students’ diverse perspectives — such as those rooted in art, culture, and lived experience — into spatial design thinking. Supportive faculty and initiatives like Poʻi Nā Nalu, which provides culturally responsive guidance for Native Hawaiian students, have been key in fostering student success and retention.

The story reflects how HCC and similar institutions can expand access to workforce-relevant, equity-centered education, particularly for returning adult learners preparing for roles in architecture, engineering, and the built environment.