Hawaii has two public colleges with baking or pastry credentials, both University of Hawaiʻi campuses: Kapiʻolani Community College in Honolulu on Oʻahu and University of Hawaiʻi Maui College in Kahului on Maui. Each offers a short pastry certificate of 16 to 20 credits and an associate degree with a pastry or baking specialization.
Both colleges charge the same 2026–2027 resident tuition of $131 per lower-division credit, so the main differences are island, program length, and structure. Kapiʻolani’s degree requires 60–62 credits and UH Maui’s requires 77.
Baking and Pastry Programs at a Glance
| School | Location | Programs, Credits and Estimated Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Kapiʻolani Community College | Honolulu | AS in Culinary Arts, Pastry Arts specialization: 60–62 credits – about $7,860–$8,122 Certificate of Competence in Pastry Arts: 16 credits – about $2,096 |
| University of Hawaiʻi Maui College | Kahului | AAS in Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry Specialization: 77 credits – about $10,087 Certificate of Competence, Pastry Cook: 20 credits – about $2,620 |
Estimates are tuition only, at each college’s published 2026–2027 resident rate of $131 per lower-division credit multiplied by the program’s credits, before financial aid. They exclude student fees, culinary fees, books, uniforms, tools, ingredients, and living costs. Nonresident estimates appear in each profile.
Which Hawaii Baking Program May Fit You?
Earn a One-Semester Pastry Certificate
Kapiʻolani Community College in Honolulu offers a 16-credit Certificate of Competence in Pastry Arts designed for completion in one semester. That is a full-time load, so ask about weekly kitchen hours before enrolling.
Take a Baking-Only Certificate Sequence
UH Maui College‘s 20-credit Pastry Cook certificate consists of four five-credit baking courses that progress from fundamentals through two advanced levels. Confirm how often each course is offered.
Earn a Pastry Associate Degree on Oʻahu
Kapiʻolani‘s 60–62 credit Associate in Science in Culinary Arts includes a Pastry Arts specialization, and the college identifies the degree as an option for students who may plan to transfer to a four-year college.
Earn a Baking Associate Degree on Maui
University of Hawaiʻi Maui College offers a 77-credit Associate in Applied Science with a Baking and Pastry specialization through the Maui Culinary Academy. It combines four levels of baking instruction with culinary operations, field experience, purchasing, and cost control.
Certificate or Associate Degree?
Certificates
Hawaii’s two pastry certificates run 16 and 20 credits and build focused production skills without the general education and broader culinary requirements of a degree. Certificate students should confirm with the financial aid office that the credential and their planned enrollment qualify for aid.
Associate Degrees
An associate degree adds broader culinary, business, communication, and general education courses, and more time to build practical experience. UH Maui’s AAS is primarily career focused, so students considering a bachelor’s degree should ask how its courses transfer.
Tuition and Additional Costs
Both colleges list 2026–2027 lower-division tuition at $131 per credit for Hawaii residents and $345 per credit for nonresidents. Qualifying Western Undergraduate Exchange and Pacific Island students pay $196.50 per credit. Tuition is only one part of the total cost, and students who would need to move between islands should compare the full cost of attendance.
Baking students should also budget for:
- College and student fees
- Culinary laboratory or professional fees
- Chef uniforms and nonslip shoes
- Knives, pastry tools, and small equipment
- Books, ingredients, and consumable supplies
- Interisland relocation, housing, transportation, and food
Programs No Longer Listed
Other Hawaii community colleges offer culinary arts programs that may include one or more baking courses but no credential focused on pastry or baking. A general culinary credential usually devotes more time to savory cooking, kitchen operations, and food service, so review the required curriculum and count how many baking courses are guaranteed.
Questions to Ask Before Applying
- Is the pastry credential accepting new students for my intended term?
- Are all required baking courses offered every semester?
- How many weekly hours will I spend in culinary laboratories?
- What are the current uniform, knife, tool, ingredient, and laboratory costs?
- Can certificate credits apply to the associate degree?
- How will credits transfer if I later pursue a bachelor’s degree?
Kapiʻolani Community College
Kapiʻolani Community College teaches pastry on its Diamond Head campus in Honolulu. Its 60–62 credit Associate in Science in Culinary Arts includes a dedicated Pastry Arts specialization that combines pastry production with food safety, hospitality operations, communication, and general education. The college also offers a 16-credit Certificate of Competence in Pastry Arts that can be completed in one semester.
See the Kapiʻolani Community College baking profile for curriculum, costs, and admissions details.
University of Hawaiʻi Maui College
University of Hawaiʻi Maui College operates the Maui Culinary Academy at the Paʻina Culinary Arts Center in Kahului. Its 77-credit Baking and Pastry specialization leads to an Associate in Applied Science and combines four levels of baking instruction with culinary operations, field experience, purchasing, cost control, nutrition, and general education. The 20-credit Pastry Cook Certificate of Competence consists of Fundamentals of Baking, Intermediate Baking, Advanced Baking I, and Advanced Baking II.
See the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College baking profile for curriculum, costs, and admissions details.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Hawaii schools offer baking or pastry programs?
Two public colleges currently publish baking or pastry credentials: Kapiʻolani Community College on Oʻahu and University of Hawaiʻi Maui College on Maui.
What is the shortest pastry program in Hawaii?
Kapiʻolani Community College’s 16-credit Certificate of Competence in Pastry Arts is designed for completion in one semester. UH Maui’s Pastry Cook certificate requires 20 credits.
Does Hawaii offer a pastry associate degree?
Yes. Kapiʻolani offers a 60–62 credit Culinary Arts AS with a Pastry Arts specialization. UH Maui offers a 77-credit Culinary Arts AAS with a Baking and Pastry specialization.
How much does a baking program cost in Hawaii?
At the resident rate of $131 per credit, estimated tuition is about $2,096 for Kapiʻolani’s certificate, about $2,620 for UH Maui’s certificate, about $7,860–$8,122 for Kapiʻolani’s AS, and about $10,087 for UH Maui’s AAS, before fees and supplies.
Can I complete these Hawaii baking programs online?
The programs on this page are campus-based because they require hands-on kitchen and laboratory training. Some academic courses may have flexible formats, but students should expect to complete pastry production courses in person.
Program requirements and costs can change. Confirm all details with the school before applying.