[8] In 1955, the branch moved to its present location on a thirty-acre parcel of land with an enlarged faculty to support its growing student population.

In the 1990s, the former branch campus of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa would emphasize liberal arts, education, agriculture, and vocational programs.

[12] The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo offers BA, BBA, BS, and BSN degrees in addition to certificates.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo offers a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, which meets educational requirements for licensure as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor.

[13] Until 1994 University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo belonged to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics or NAIA.

It fields teams in baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball.

There are also concerns that this movement will hurt relationships between the Hilo campus and the rest of the University of Hawaiʻi System.