The HPU Kokua Center is open now at Aloha Tower Marketplace and welcomes all students.
The start of the fall 2026 semester is less than a week away, and HPU's newest resource at Aloha Tower Marketplace is open and available to all students. The Kōkua Center, located in the center atrium adjacent to the HPU Barnes and Noble Bookstore and MPR 3, is designed with student success in mind, welcoming new and continuing students in to answer questions about HPU and about living in Hawaiʻi. It's open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Kokua Center is led by Melissa Matsubara (right) and Ali Ancheta (left).
Led by HPU Director of the Kōkua Center and Global Engagement Melissa Matsubara and HPU Assistant Director of the Kōkua Center and First Year Programs Ali Ancheta, the Center's mission is simple.
"As a new student, it can be challenging to figure out where to go and who to contact when you need help with something," Matsubara said. "The Kōkua Center will serve as a first point of contact for any questions that you may have or challenges you are facing, especially when you do not know where to go. We will be able to connect you with the appropriate resource and department on campus that can help you with your next steps."
The Center's name carries that same spirit.
"Kōkua means help, assistance, and support. For us, it also reflects a shared kuleana, or responsibility, to build a caring community and to build our ʻohana," Ancheta said.
Whatever your question, the Kōkua Center is where the answer starts:
- How do I...?
- What can I...?
- Where do I go for...?
- Who can help me with...?
No question is too small to bring in!
To schedule an appointment with a member of the Kōkua Center's team, click here. For more information, go to www.hpu.edu/kokua.
Meet the Team
Matsubara has worked at HPU since 2008 and now directs the Kōkua Center while also overseeing all study abroad and international exchange programs, helping students build career-ready skills through opportunities in more than 65 countries. Born and raised on Oʻahu, she has lived, worked or studied in Türkiye, Chile, Japan, Italy, Singapore and Australia, and is deeply committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging on campus. Outside of HPU, she volunteers as a community organizer for kanuhawaii.org and loves traveling, camping, karaoke and salsa dancing with her wife.
Ancheta has worked at HPU since 2023 as Assistant Director of the Kōkua Center, where she also oversees HPU's First Year Seminar, UNIV 1000, helping students navigate the transition to university life. As a nontraditional student who took several gap years before completing a B.A. in Global Health and an M.A. in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, she brings a distinct perspective on equity and student success to the role. Outside of HPU, she enjoys learning new crafts, hiking and spending time with family.
