The senator secured funding for the school in 2001, and by the end of 2004, the state legislature allotted approximately $20 million for the development of the college of pharmacy.

The volcano pays homage to the college's home and emphasizes its unique environment in which to learn and practice pharmacy.

The Hawaiʻi Island Family Health Center is a partner with the campus and clinical pharmacy professors work on site.

In 2010, Governor Linda Lingle approved funding requests[6] and the schematics for a permanent campus were introduced in 2011.

The DKICP offers the Doctor of Pharmacy degree to students who complete the four-year program which consists of six semesters plus a fourth year dedicated to rotations.

The Bachelor of Arts in Pharmacy Studies (BAPS) is an option for students who are accepted to the school without completing the undergraduate degree.

[7] This program takes full advantage of the fact that the DKICP is located on an island with a unique diverse flora.

The Master of Science in Clinical Psychopharmacology (MSCP) degree is a two-year program involving both didactic and experiential courses.