Hawaii Loa College
Encyclopedia
Hawaii Loa College was a private, four-year, liberal arts
college
in Honolulu, Hawaii
, founded in 1963 as Christian College of the Pacific by a consortium of four Protestant church
denominations
in Hawaii, with land deeded by Harold K.L. Castle
on which to build a campus. The idea originated with Rev. Harry S. Komuro, then superintendent of the Methodist Mission
in Hawaii, and the founding trustees were Dr. Joseph Bevilacqua, general secretary of the United Church of Christ
; Rev. Frank E. Butterworth, pastor of First United Methodist Church
of Honolulu; Bishop Harry S. Kennedy of the Episcopal
Diocese
of Hawaii; and Dr. William E. Phifer, Jr., pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu. Other early trustees included Herbert Choy
, Frank Damon, Jr., Dr. Wesley Hotchkiss, Ernest K. Kai, and Ted T. Tsukiyama.
In September 1964, the name was changed to Hawaii Loa College (HLC), a new logo was chosen, and a new motto was adopted: Aole i kaupoo i kaupoo ana no ("My height is not yet reached"). A master planning committee was also formed and an architect hired to plan the new campus on 150 acre (0.607029 km²) of scenic former Kaneohe Ranch
land on the windward side of Oahu
, looking up at the Koolau Range
directly beneath the Pali Lookout. The committee chair was Bruce McCandless and the architect was William L. Pereira & Associates.
In May 1965, the trustees hired the college's first president, Chandler W. Rowe, former dean of academic affairs at Lawrence University
, who began assembling a faculty and administrative staff in order to be able to accept the first students in the fall 1967. Until the windward campus opened in the fall of 1971, the school borrowed facilities on the campus of Chaminade University of Honolulu
(1967–68), then at 2345 Nuuanu Avenue (1969–70) nearer downtown Honolulu. By 1970, the senior class numbered 27 students.
Later presidents include HLC philosophy professor Philip J. Bossert (1978–86) and University of Denver
chancellor emeritus Dwight M. Smith (1990–92).
The beautiful rural campus site was both a blessing and a curse. Lack of infrastructure made it very difficult to expand campus facilities to serve more students and raise more revenue, making operations a constant financial struggle. By 1992, Money magazine
ranked HLC number 13 in the west among America's best college buys. However, in that same year, faced with loss of accreditation and saddled with $3 million in debt, Hawaii Loa College merged with Hawaii Pacific University
.
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
in Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
, founded in 1963 as Christian College of the Pacific by a consortium of four Protestant church
Church Body
A local church is a Christian religious organization that meets in a particular location. Many are formally organized, with constitutions and by-laws, maintain offices, are served by pastors or lay leaders, and, in nations where this is permissible, often seek seek non-profit corporate status...
denominations
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
in Hawaii, with land deeded by Harold K.L. Castle
Harold K.L. Castle
Harold Kainalu Long Castle was a large landowner, real estate developer, and later philanthropist in Hawaii.-Life:Harold Kainalu Long Castle was born July 3, 1886 in Honolulu....
on which to build a campus. The idea originated with Rev. Harry S. Komuro, then superintendent of the Methodist Mission
Methodist Mission
The Methodist Mission was founded in Oregon Country in 1834 by the Reverend Jason Lee. The mission was started to educate the Native Americans in the Willamette Valley and grew into an important center for politics and economics in the early settlement period of Oregon.-Foundation:In 1831, several...
in Hawaii, and the founding trustees were Dr. Joseph Bevilacqua, general secretary of the United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
; Rev. Frank E. Butterworth, pastor of First United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
of Honolulu; Bishop Harry S. Kennedy of the Episcopal
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
Diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of Hawaii; and Dr. William E. Phifer, Jr., pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu. Other early trustees included Herbert Choy
Herbert Choy
Herbert Young Cho Choy was the first Asian American to serve as a United States federal judge and the first person of Korean ancestry to be admitted to the bar in the United States.- Background :...
, Frank Damon, Jr., Dr. Wesley Hotchkiss, Ernest K. Kai, and Ted T. Tsukiyama.
In September 1964, the name was changed to Hawaii Loa College (HLC), a new logo was chosen, and a new motto was adopted: Aole i kaupoo i kaupoo ana no ("My height is not yet reached"). A master planning committee was also formed and an architect hired to plan the new campus on 150 acre (0.607029 km²) of scenic former Kaneohe Ranch
Kaneohe Ranch
Kaneohe Ranch Management Limited manages the real estate owned by the family of Harold K.L. Castle and Alice H. Castle, and their non-profit charitable foundation, the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation founded in 1962. The real estate portfolio consists of land holdings on the windward side of Oahu,...
land on the windward side of Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
, looking up at the Koolau Range
Koolau Range
Koolau Range is a name given to the fragmented remnant of the eastern or windward shield volcano of the Hawaiian island of Oahu. It is not a mountain range in the normal sense, because it was formed as a single mountain called Koolau Volcano...
directly beneath the Pali Lookout. The committee chair was Bruce McCandless and the architect was William L. Pereira & Associates.
In May 1965, the trustees hired the college's first president, Chandler W. Rowe, former dean of academic affairs at Lawrence University
Lawrence University
Lawrence University is a selective, private liberal arts college with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, in Appleton, Wisconsin. Lawrence University is known for its rigorous academic environment. Founded in 1847, the first classes were held on November 12, 1849...
, who began assembling a faculty and administrative staff in order to be able to accept the first students in the fall 1967. Until the windward campus opened in the fall of 1971, the school borrowed facilities on the campus of Chaminade University of Honolulu
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Chaminade University of Honolulu is a private co-educational university in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. Founded in 1955 by the Society of Mary, a Roman Catholic religious order also known as the Marianists, Chaminade is located in the historic Kaimuki district of Honolulu. Chaminade offers...
(1967–68), then at 2345 Nuuanu Avenue (1969–70) nearer downtown Honolulu. By 1970, the senior class numbered 27 students.
Later presidents include HLC philosophy professor Philip J. Bossert (1978–86) and University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
chancellor emeritus Dwight M. Smith (1990–92).
The beautiful rural campus site was both a blessing and a curse. Lack of infrastructure made it very difficult to expand campus facilities to serve more students and raise more revenue, making operations a constant financial struggle. By 1992, Money magazine
Money Magazine
Money Magazine is a business news and financial programme that is broadcast on Sundays at 7:00pm in Hong Kong by television channel TVB Pearl.-Producers and reporters:...
ranked HLC number 13 in the west among America's best college buys. However, in that same year, faced with loss of accreditation and saddled with $3 million in debt, Hawaii Loa College merged with Hawaii Pacific University
Hawaii Pacific University
Hawaii Pacific University, also known as HPU, is a private, Nonsectarian, coeducational university located in Honolulu, Hawaii and Kaneohe, Hawaii. HPU founded in 1965 as Hawaii Pacific College by Paul C.T. Loo, Eureka Forbes, Elizabeth W...
.