UH dorm rate hikes likely to be approved

By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer

Room rates at dormitories at the University of Hawai'i's Manoa and Hilo campuses would rise between 15 and 20 percent in the next three years under a proposal approved yesterday by a UH Board of Regents committee.

The full board is expected to give final approval to the proposal today.

The dorm rate increase, which would be effective this fall, would be the first for Manoa students since 1998, and 1996 for Hilo students.

Under the proposal, students living in dorms at UH-Manoa would face a 5 percent increase in housing fees each year through fall 2004.

Students living at the UH-Hilo dorms will face a 10 percent rate hike this fall, with 5 percent increases in 2003 and 2004. The student association at UH-Hilo voted in support of the dorm rate hike.

Annual dormitory rates at UH-Manoa range from $2,089 for double-occupancy at Johnson Hall to $4,524 single-occupancy at the Hale Aloha towers. That would rise to $2,193 and $4,750 this fall and $2,418 and $5,237 in 2004.

Students living at UH-Hilo pay between $1,382 to $4,502 each year. That would rise to $1,520 and $4,952 this fall and $1,676 and $5,460 in 2004.

Paul Costello, UH vice president for external affairs, said the rate increase will pay for facility improvements and increased utility and personnel costs.

"We're trying to bring these dorms into the 21st century," Costello said. "We're looking at adding cable and Internet connections, as well as other improvements. Even with the increase, we feel we're still very affordable when compared with other university dormitories on the Mainland."

Students living at UH-Manoa also face a 4 to 6 percent hike in the cost of dorm meal plans this fall, an increase of $37 to $67 per semester.