Windward community college was the site of the first of 11 public hearings leading up to a likely late-fall decision on raising tuition.
"We have lost 86 million dollars since 2009, that's about 23 percent of our base budget, and that's got to be made up somehow," says Linda Johnsrud, University of Hawaii.
Increases could raise the cost for residents more than 32 percent over five years, with substantial increases in financial aid. students are thinking ahead.
"For me, I'm not too worried about it, I have two good jobs, so I plan on being able to pay for college.
I'm just worried about students who go to school and take so many classes that they can't work and maybe won't have as many resources at their use," says Akela Newman, UH student.
The current Manoa campus resident tuition of $9,100 dollars a year could rise to more than $12,000 by the 2016-17 school year.
Graduate and community college rates would see similar increases.
The change would be about 3 percent the first year, growing more steep to around 7 percent in the later years.
"The multiyear proposals almost seem as if it's designed to get through without too much controversy because initially the increases aren't very large, and then in subsequent years they are large but it's already been passed," says Dave Martin, parent of Manoa student.
UH enrollment has topped a record, more than 60,000 students and growing, despite past tuition hikes.
The University and its board of regents say they welcome testimony and say it does make a difference.
The last tuition hike plan was changed after public hearings.
"We also had a technology fee built in and we dropped it and it was entirely because of the testimony, so I encourage students and their families to provide testimony," says Johnsrud.
