HONOLULU -- Enrollment at University of Hawaii campuses statewide is at an all-time high this spring and some of its campuses are struggling to keep up with large increases in students.

Students are flocking to UH's 10 campuses across the state. Many folks are going to school or staying in school because it's hard to find a job during a recession.

Nearly 51,000 students enrolled at University of Hawaii campuses this spring -- a 5.5 percent increase from last spring and the most ever.

West Oahu has seen some of the largest growth with 10 percent more students at Leeward Community College this spring compared to a year ago.

At UH West Oahu there was an 18 percent enrollment increase for the second year, meaning more people are returning to school like Bueno Chen, of Pearl City.

"I think it's due to that a lot of people probably need more education to get jobs or better jobs or find a job," said Chen.

UH West Oahu's entire campus is made up of portable classrooms that are fuller than ever. So full that Professor Fenny Cox's marine biology class meets in a staff lounge.

"We're waiting for the construction of our new science building, which will have beautiful labs in it with all the space we need (and until then) we're making do," Cox said.

The school has doubled its faculty since it began offering four-year degrees in 2006 and students are asking for more options.

"I would like to see a bigger campus, more classes offered here, would just probably make it even better," said student Mitch Matias.

To help ease the classroom squeeze, UH West Oahu is renting five classrooms from Island Pacific Academy in Kapolei for evening classes.

UH West Oahu also plans to acquire another two portable classrooms this spring or summer.

Interestingly enough, UH Manoa is the only one of 10 campuses that has seen a slight decrease with 50 fewer students this spring.

The enrollment increases have happened while UH is costing all of its students more money each year. There are annual tuition hikes through 2012.

UH officials said they are bracing for even more students at their campuses next fall since the economy is expected to remain weak over the next year.