Key Takeaways
- Honolulu RNs earn median wages among the highest in the nation, with Hawaii nursing wages consistently in the top tier per BLS data, often $85,000-$100,000+ annually.
- University of Hawaii at Manoa, Chaminade University, and Hawaii Pacific University are the primary nursing education providers in Honolulu.
- Hawaii Regional Medical Center, The Queen's Medical Center, and Kapiolani Medical Center are the major Honolulu acute care employers.
- Hawaii has a critical and persistent nursing shortage, particularly for specialty nurses and advanced practice providers.
- Hawaii's geographic isolation means that nursing graduates who stay in the state benefit from exceptional job security and strong bargaining leverage.
- BLS projects 6% growth in RN employment through 2032, but Hawaii's structural shortage makes the local outlook significantly more aggressive.
Nursing Schools in Honolulu, HI: Programs, Salaries, and Career Guide
Honolulu is Hawaii's capital city and its dominant healthcare hub, home to the state's major hospitals, specialty clinics, and medical research institutions. Nursing in Honolulu combines exceptional wages -- among the highest in the country -- with the unique personal rewards of living and working in one of the world's most beautiful and culturally rich cities. But Honolulu's nursing school landscape is smaller than you might expect for a city of its size, making admission competitive and planning essential. This guide covers the nursing programs available in Honolulu, what they cost, admission requirements, the employment landscape for graduates, and the financial considerations of building a nursing career in Hawaii's capital city.
Nursing Programs in Honolulu
Honolulu's nursing education landscape is anchored by a handful of accredited programs that serve the state's RN pipeline. The scarcity of nursing school seats relative to demand is one structural contributor to Hawaii's persistent nursing shortage.
University of Hawaii at Manoa -- Nancy Atmospera-Walch School of Nursing
The University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH Manoa) is the flagship public research university of the University of Hawaii system and home to the Nancy Atmospera-Walch School of Nursing. UH Manoa offers Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and graduate nursing programs, including Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) tracks for family nurse practitioner (FNP), psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP), and nursing education. The school's CCNE-accredited programs and clinical partnerships with Honolulu's major healthcare systems make it the state's primary nursing education institution. For in-state students, UH Manoa's public university tuition offers relative affordability compared to the private institutions in Honolulu, though Hawaii's overall cost of living means that even UH Manoa attendance is a significant financial investment.
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Chaminade University, a Catholic Marianist institution in Honolulu, offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program with CCNE accreditation. Chaminade's nursing program emphasizes a values-driven approach to patient care consistent with its mission and serves students looking for a smaller, faith-based university environment. The university also offers an RN-to-BSN completion program for registered nurses who hold an associate degree and want to advance to the bachelor's level. Chaminade's clinical partnerships with Honolulu healthcare facilities give students access to diverse clinical settings across the city.
Hawaii Pacific University
Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) is a private university in downtown Honolulu with nursing programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. HPU's BSN program is designed for pre-licensure students, and the university also offers an RN-to-BSN bridge program for working nurses. HPU's downtown Honolulu location gives students proximity to the city's business and healthcare center and excellent internship and clinical placement opportunities. HPU nursing programs are accredited through CCNE.
Kapiolani Community College
Kapiolani Community College (KCC), part of the University of Hawaii system, offers an Associate in Science in Nursing (ASN) program that prepares graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN. KCC's nursing program is one of the most affordable options for Hawaii students seeking to become registered nurses, as community college tuition rates are substantially lower than four-year institutions. Graduates of KCC's ADN program who want to advance to a BSN can pursue RN-to-BSN bridge programs at UH Manoa, Chaminade, or HPU while working as registered nurses.
University of Hawaii West Oahu
University of Hawaii West Oahu (UHWO) has developed healthcare and nursing pathways that serve the Leeward Oahu community, which has historically had limited access to higher education and healthcare careers. UHWO's programs feed into the broader UH nursing pathway and serve students in Kapolei and the West Oahu region who want to access nursing education without traveling to Manoa or downtown Honolulu.
Nursing Salaries in Honolulu
Honolulu nursing wages are among the highest in the United States. BLS data consistently shows Hawaii ranking in the top five states for registered nurse wages, with statewide mean annual wages above $95,000. Honolulu-based nurses at major acute care facilities typically earn base salaries in the $80,000 to $100,000+ range, with additional shift differentials for evening, night, and weekend work that can add $8,000 to $20,000 annually to base pay. New BSN graduates entering Honolulu hospitals typically start at $70,000 to $80,000, which is well above the national entry-level average.
The Queen's Medical Center
The Queen's Medical Center is Hawaii's largest private hospital and a Level I trauma center, employing a large nursing workforce across all major specialty areas. As the state's primary quaternary care facility, The Queen's offers nurses access to the most complex patient populations in Hawaii, making it a premier destination for nurses seeking advanced clinical experience. Queen's compensation packages are competitive, and the hospital has robust shared governance and professional development infrastructure.
Hawaii Pacific Health System
Hawaii Pacific Health operates Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, Pali Momi Medical Center, and Straub Medical Center in Honolulu, collectively employing a substantial nursing workforce. Kapiolani's maternal-child health programs and Straub's adult specialty services create diverse nursing employment opportunities within one health system. Hawaii Pacific Health's nursing compensation is competitive with The Queen's for most positions.
Tripler Army Medical Center
Tripler Army Medical Center, the US Army's regional medical center for the Pacific, employs both military and civilian nurses at its Honolulu facility. Civilian nurse positions at Tripler offer federal pay scales and benefits, including access to Public Service Loan Forgiveness for nurses carrying federal student loans. Federal nursing compensation at military treatment facilities competes with Honolulu private hospital wages and carries exceptional benefits including federal retirement contributions.
Getting Into a Honolulu Nursing Program
Nursing programs in Honolulu are competitive due to the limited number of program seats relative to applicant interest. Strategic preparation is essential.
Academic Prerequisites and GPA
All Honolulu nursing programs require completion of science prerequisites including anatomy and physiology (typically 2 semesters), microbiology, chemistry, and statistics. Competitive applicants to UH Manoa's BSN program typically have cumulative GPAs above 3.2 with strong science course grades. KCC's ADN program has somewhat more open admission but still prioritizes applicants with strong science preparation. Completing prerequisites at Honolulu Community College or Kapiolani Community College before applying to competitive BSN programs is a common and effective strategy.
TEAS Examination
Most Honolulu nursing programs require the ATI TEAS or a similar standardized entrance exam. TEAS preparation resources are widely available, and investing time in practice testing -- particularly in the science and math sections -- can meaningfully improve your composite score and application ranking. TEAS scores are typically valid for 2 to 3 years, so taking the exam before you complete your prerequisites is possible but not recommended since the science sections overlap with prerequisite coursework.
CNA Experience as a Competitive Advantage
Hawaii hospitals consistently look for nursing school applicants and new graduate nurses who have direct patient care experience as CNAs or patient care technicians. CNA certification programs in Honolulu typically take 4 to 8 weeks and can open the door to part-time patient care work at a Honolulu hospital while you complete your nursing education. CNA experience not only strengthens your application but also makes you a more effective student and a more competitive new graduate nurse when you are competing for specialty positions.
Financial Aid and Cost of Nursing School in Honolulu
Honolulu nursing education involves navigating both program costs and Hawaii's high cost of living. Strategic financial planning is important for students who do not have family support in Hawaii.
Federal Aid and Nursing Scholarships
Federal student aid (Pell Grants, subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans) is available at all accredited Honolulu nursing programs. The HRSA Nurse Corps Scholarship Program provides full tuition coverage plus a monthly stipend for nursing students who commit to work in Health Professional Shortage Areas after graduation -- rural Hawaii has many qualifying HPSAs. Nurses carrying federal loans who work in qualifying nonprofit hospitals in Honolulu may also be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness after 10 years of qualifying payments.
Hospital Tuition Assistance
Working part-time as a CNA or patient care tech at The Queen's, Hawaii Pacific Health, or Tripler while in nursing school may qualify you for tuition assistance benefits from your employer. Both of Hawaii's major private health systems offer tuition assistance programs for employees pursuing nursing education, which can significantly reduce your net out-of-pocket education cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job market like for nursing graduates in Honolulu? The Honolulu job market for nursing graduates is very strong. Hawaii has a structural and persistent nursing shortage that ensures well-prepared BSN graduates can find positions at major hospitals. New graduates with CNA experience and strong clinical rotation performance are particularly competitive for specialty unit positions. Both The Queen's Medical Center and Hawaii Pacific Health regularly hire new graduates.
How much do nurses earn in Honolulu? Honolulu RNs at major acute care facilities typically earn base salaries of $80,000 to $100,000+ annually, with shift differentials for nights and weekends adding significant additional compensation. New BSN graduates typically start at $70,000 to $80,000. Advanced practice RNs, particularly CRNAs and NPs, earn considerably more -- Hawaii CRNAs can earn $180,000 to $230,000+ annually.
Is KCC's ADN program a good option for becoming an RN in Honolulu? Yes, KCC's ADN program is a cost-effective pathway to RN licensure and is highly regarded by Honolulu healthcare employers. Many Honolulu nurses completed their initial RN credentials at KCC before pursuing BSN completion at UH Manoa, Chaminade, or HPU while working. Major hospitals increasingly prefer or require BSN for hiring, so planning your BSN completion pathway from the start is advisable even if you begin with the ADN.
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