Does the University of Hawaii allow a parent to write a recommendation letter for college applications?

No, a parent is generally not an appropriate recommender for the University of Hawaiʻi.

A parent’s letter would usually carry much less weight because it is not considered independent. If you are applying to a specific UH campus, honors program, or scholarship that asks for recommendations, the safest choice is to use someone from school or a supervisor from work, research, volunteering, or another structured activity.

For example, a junior-year teacher who knows your classroom performance is a much stronger recommender than a parent, even if your parent knows you better personally. A school counselor can also be a good option if they know your course load, goals, and school involvement.

If the application instructions do not mention recommendations, you usually should not send extra letters just to add one. For the University of Hawaiʻi, it is best to follow the exact campus or program instructions and assume family recommendations are not preferred unless a form specifically says personal references from relatives are allowed.