Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work

Myron “Pinky” Thompson earned his MSW from UH in 1953. A noted leader in the struggle for the preservation of the Hawaiian culture, he was at the vanguard of the Hawaiian Renaissance movement in the 1970s. While at the Queen Lili‘uokalani Children’s Center, he helped revitalize traditional healing practices such as ho‘oponopono and dream work. Along with Kumu Mary Kawena Puku‘i and others, he helped create Nana I Ke Kumu, a two-volume reference manual on indigenous healing practices. He helped start Alu Like and Papa Ola Lokahi, he was a Bishop Estate Trustee, and in 1979, he was the navigator of the voyaging canoe Hôkule‘a as it retraced ancestral migration patterns in the Pacific using ancient Polynesian methods of way finding. He passed away in 2001. The UH Board of Regents approved the naming of the School after him in 2008.

General Information

Social work, one of the fastest growing occupations in the State of Hawai‘i, is a profession concerned with the prevention and resolution of problems for individuals, families, groups, and communities. Those who are committed to social justice, social change, and improving the quality of life for society’s most vulnerable citizens would find this curriculum stimulating. Students graduate with the knowledge, skills, and values that facilitate the prevention or resolution of such problems as mental illness, substance abuse, homelessness, crime and delinquency, and poverty.

The school has been providing quality social work education in Hawai‘i for over 72 years. It has a bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral program. The BSW and MSW programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). It is recognized nationally and internationally for its award-winning faculty, research and publications, and specialty areas that focus on the expressed needs of the community (health, mental health, child and family, and gerontology). Our graduates often assume leadership roles (e.g., Chief of Police, the Chair of OHA, legislators, heads of agencies, etc.). The school has a training academy, the ability to provide program evaluation, a distance education MSW option, a focus on Asian and Pacific Islanders, a focus on indigenous issues, and opportunities for international practicum placements.

Mission

The mission of the Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work is to contribute to the advancement of social work practice in its many forms for the purpose of preventing or resolving the most critical social problems. Within this general purpose, the school reaffirms social work’s historic commitment to increase social justice and availability of opportunity for underrepresented and oppressed groups.

The principal responsibility of the school is the generation, transmission, and application of knowledge that will benefit the state of Hawai‘i. In addition, it is the school’s responsibility to contribute to knowledge for use by the profession as a whole. In particular, it is the goal of this school to increase comprehension of the ways in which social policy, social work practice, and research can be improved through the understanding of Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander and Asian cultures of our communities, state, and the Pacific region.

Advising

FFreshmen and sophomores who are interested in applying to the BSW program should consult with a BSW advisor who can assist them with academic planning and provide information on career opportunities. Contact sswadmit@hawaii.edu.

The school’s bulletin contains information on admissions and degree requirements for the MSW and PhD programs. For a copy of the bulletin or additional information, write to the School of Social Work at Henke Hall #230, 1800 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, telephone (808) 956-7182, or visit the website at www.hawaii.edu/sswork.

Financial Aid

There are a number of opportunities for financial aid, including scholarships, stipends, and limited tuition waivers. Log onto www.hawaii.edu/fas/.

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