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The University of Hawaii has launched a free online course intended to give members of the public a basic understanding of artificial intelligence and practical experience using the technology.
"Artificial Intelligence for Hawaii" is an open-access, self-paced course covering AI fundamentals, applications and responsible use. No affiliation with UH or account login is required. The course is available through the UH OneAI Hub at aiforhi.hawaii.edu.
University officials said the course is intended for people with varying levels of experience, including students, educators, government employees, small-business owners, nonprofit organizations and other community members.
"AI is transforming the way we work, learn and live, and Hawaiʻi cannot afford to sit on the sidelines," UH President Wendy Hensel said. "UH has both an opportunity and a responsibility to help our state lead through this change. That means making AI education accessible to everyone and giving people the practical skills to use these tools effectively, responsibly and in ways that reflect Hawaii's values."
The course uses instructional videos, Hawaii-based examples and hands-on activities to explain how artificial intelligence works and how it can be applied in workplaces, schools and other settings.
Its 12 chapters begin with basic AI literacy and progress to practical workplace and industry applications.
Other chapters cover AI and machine-learning fundamentals, responsible use and stewardship, education and organizational strategy and workplace and industry applications.
The course was informed by UH specialists in Hawaiian values, culture, language and ʻike Hawaii. A UH Task Force on Hawaiian Values and Culture examined issues specific to the development and use of artificial intelligence in Hawaii.
The task force considered appropriate protocols for using ʻike and ʻŌlelo Hawaii resources, along with what types of cultural information should and should not be contributed to AI systems.
"This course empowers our UH campuses and local communities to actively shape how we use AI to make our island home better," UH Chief Academic Technology Innovation Officer Gloria Niles said. "By focusing our exploration on transparency and responsible deployment within a Hawaii context, we can thoughtfully integrate these technologies while honoring our core values."
University officials said growing workplace use of cloud applications, automation and AI-assisted tools has increased demand for workers who understand the technology.
The new course is part of a wider UH effort to expand education and training related to artificial intelligence across its 10-campus system and the broader community.
Through its OneAI Hub, the university is bringing together AI education, training and resources, including AI Communities of Practice and the AI 2 Xcelerate program. UH's broader strategy covers governance, curriculum development, workforce preparation, research and university operations.
The university also is expanding its use of AI-powered student advising and around-the-clock chatbots. Other efforts include faculty development through EL3vate and AI Innovation@RISE, a program that connects UH students with local industries to address practical needs.
Hensel said UH intends to assist individuals, businesses, government agencies and other organizations as they consider how to use the developing technology.
"We're here to help solve problems for small businesses, for government, for industry, to help find solutions with AI, and again to ensure that we are on the cutting edge as these changes hit the state of Hawaiʻi," Hensel said.