MANOA — University of Hawai'i-Manoa students faced frustration and worry yesterday as they began a new semester with a shortage of classes.

For many, this could translate into more college time and added costs in tuition and books to students and parents.

Classes were cut this semester as the public university system struggles to slash $76 million from its budget, including $45 million at its flagship Manoa campus. At the same time, enrollment is up on all campuses.

This summer, the Manoa campus announced it would not renew more than 150 instructors and nontenured faculty members because of the budget reduction. More than 500 class sections were placed on hold.

With an enrollment increase, the Manoa campus was forced to bump up class sizes and restore some classes to prevent students from being shut out of prerequisite courses.

Yesterday, students said they were still not able to register for all of the classes they need.

For Tim Wyckoff, a junior, not getting into a required class this semester means waiting until the course comes around again next fall, and that could add to his college time and expense.

"I need to get out of here in two years," Wyckoff said. "So every hiccup just makes it less of a chance that's going to happen."

Junior Kim Nakamura said she worries about having to extend her education, which her parents are paying for, because they face furloughs as state Department of Education employees.

With a sister in college as well, Nakamura said she would like to get out within a year.

"I'm really concerned for my parents," she said. "I can't afford to pay for school."

The university is working to address the problem, but the worst may not be over with, said Gregg Takayama, UH spokesman.

"We're dealing with more students and fewer faculty and staff to service them," Takayama said. "The consequence is the students will most likely see larger classes. It'll be harder to get into the classes they want at the time they want them. In some cases, they may not get classes this semester, and they may delay it a semester if they can't get in."

For now, upper level faculty are volunteering to teach the core courses, he said. But that can't go on for long, because soon upper level students will need those faculty members back.

Sophomore Cayla Kupau was among those concerned about course availability. The family resources class Kupau wanted to take was full, and she's worried budget cuts will make it unavailable next semester, too.

"If I don't get the class I need, then I'll have to wait until next year," Kupau said.

Unclassified graduate students like Chad Rogers also faced class shortages. Rogers needed to complete a lab this semester to apply for the physical therapy program by December. The lab is a prerequisite, but it's full and he was on his way to ask the professor if he could join the class.

"If I don't have this class now, ... I'll have to wait another year because applications are taken only one time a year," said Rogers, 27.

Takayama said UH is already planning for next semester and must make some critical decisions by next month.

"In cases where faculty may be affected, they are required to be given four months notice, and if they fall into that category like many of our instructors do, then they would have to be given notice Sept. 1," he said.