The University of Hawaii (UH) system launched a free, self-paced online course called Artificial Intelligence for Hawaii on September 6, 2026, aiming to build baseline AI literacy across the state. The course is open-access and free, with no UH affiliation or login required, according to the University of Hawaii System News.
The 12 chapters are grouped into four blocks, according to Hawaii News Now: the first three cover AI fundamentals, including bias, fairness and transparency; the next three address responsible use and environmental impact; a middle block looks at educational and organizational change; and the final chapters focus on workplace and industry skills, including advanced prompting and applications in tourism and agriculture. The course is hosted on the UH's OneAI Hub and was built with the university's own internal resources, without additional budget or a partnership with a major AI lab, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported.
A local approach to a global technology
The course weaves in Hawaiian concepts such as kuleana (responsibility) and draws on a UH task force on Hawaiian values and cultures that examined how AI systems handle personal information and Indigenous knowledge and whether the Hawaiian language is represented accurately, per the Tribune-Herald. UH President Wendy Hensel said the courses “ensure that everyone has equal access to basic training and knowledge about AI,” per Hawaii News Now, and separately said: “AI is transforming the way we work, learn and live, and Hawaii cannot afford to sit on the sidelines.”
Gloria Niles, UH's chief academic technology innovation officer, said the university “really needed a basic AI literacy course for faculty, staff and students,” adding that the course “empowers our UH campuses and local communities.” The release is part of a wider push across all ten UH campuses that also includes AI-powered student advising, 24/7 chatbots, a faculty development program called EL3vate, and an initiative called AI Innovation@RISE connecting students with local industries on real-world problems, Hawaii News Now reported.
The university cited hiring-market data in explaining its rationale, noting that, according to CNBC-reported survey figures, 80% of hiring managers say they prioritize AI skills when evaluating candidates, and that a National Association of Colleges and Employers survey found 60% of employers now assign interns AI-related tool projects.
Balancing training with entry-level jobs
Niles also flagged a tension in the labor market, telling the Tribune-Herald that the biggest risk lies in upskilling current employees who already hold career knowledge, while some entry-level roles are exposed to automation. Rather than being eliminated, she said, some roles could “change to incorporate AI and use the technology to augment employees' work.”
The course is available now at aiforhi.hawaii.edu. UH positions it as part of a broader system strategy to help residents, students, small businesses, government and industry use the technology, rather than as a one-off pilot. No enrollment figures or funding amount for the initiative have been disclosed.