HONOLULU — Residences for Innovative Student Entrepreneurs, or RISE, is a mixed-use student housing/innovation center on the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus slated to open for the fall 2023 semester. UH Manoa officials invite students and graduate students from across the UH System interested in entrepreneurship to apply to live in the new 374-bed facility.

What You Need To Know

  • Leasing for fall 2023 begins in fall 2022

  • Students and graduate students interested in entrepreneurship are invited to apply to live in the facility; information and sign up on the RISE website

  • RISE is the first-of-its-kind, live-learn-work facility fully funded by private, non-taxpayer money

  • The six-story facility sits on the former site of Atherton YMCA at the corner of University Avenue and Metcalf Street

Inspiring entrepreneurs, leaders and creators will live in a community of like-minded students, besides being in close proximity to UH entrepreneurship programs offered by the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship in the Shidler College of Business. The programs will make use of the classroom, makerspaces, meeting rooms and coworking spaces on the new facility’s bottom floors.

It’s here that the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs of all disciplines can explore passions, solve problems, build prototypes, test ideas and access resources.

“RISE will provide UH students with unique opportunities to develop as innovators and entrepreneurs who will help lead the diversification and strengthening of our economy,” said UH President David Lassner in a news release. “It will also provide a meaningful increase in our student housing inventory that will help relieve pressure on the waiting lists created by enrollment growth at UH Manoa, which looks to prepare for another record-breaking freshman class.

“This extraordinary project is coming together without burdening taxpayers thanks to the leadership and collaboration among our P3 partners and the support of private donors who have already given nearly $3.7 million to equip the state-of-the-art facility, provide scholarships and launch RISE programs.”

Information on the first-of-its-kind, $70 million live-learn-work facility is available on the RISE website. Leasing for fall 2023 begins in fall 2022.

RISE is funded with private, non-taxpayer money. UH Foundation purchased the one-acre property for $8 million in 2017, and the foundation and Hunt Companies entered a public-private partnership (P3) to design, build and finance the facility. B.HOM Student Living will manage RISE. 

UH Manoa broke ground for the innovative six-story facility on Jan. 13, 2022, which sits on the former site of Atherton YMCA at the corner of University Avenue and Metcalf Street Demolition of the Mary Atherton Richards House was completed in Nov. 2021 followed by the interior demolition of the historic Charles Atherton House.

Sarah Yamanaka is a digital journalist for Spectrum News Hawaii.