50 Colleges That Rival Ivy League Campuses in Beauty

41. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa – Where the Tropics Meet Academia

Set in the lush Mānoa Valley on the island of Oʻahu, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa offers a campus like no other—where tropical gardens, bamboo groves, and views of the Koʻolau Mountains define the daily backdrop. The scent of plumeria lingers on shaded paths, and campus buildings blend Polynesian motifs with modern design. Students often walk to class under palm trees with rainbows overhead, thanks to the region’s frequent mist and sunshine mix. But it’s not all about the scenery—UH Mānoa is a leader in Pacific Island studies, climate research, and marine science, drawing scholars from around the globe.