United States
Hawaiʻi
Independent schools with a Pacific outlook, including one of the strongest boarding options in the islands.
Schools families consider
Listed for orientation. AJPE is not affiliated with, and does not represent, any school. The right list for a child is usually shorter and sometimes different.
- Punahou School
- ʻIolani School
- Mid-Pacific Institute
- Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy (boarding, Hawaiʻi Island)
- Le Jardin Academy
- Hawaiʻi Baptist Academy
- Maryknoll School
- La Pietra Hawaiʻi School for Girls
- St Andrew's Schools
Calendar
Applications are typically due in December or January for the following August, with decisions in March. Kindergarten and Grade 6, 7 and 9 are the main entry points.
What to know
- Admission testing (SSAT or ISEE) applies from the middle grades; younger children attend play-based assessments.
- International students attending private K-12 schools need F-1 status with the school's I-20; public schools are limited to one year.
- Boarding at Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy suits families who want a U.S. boarding education closer to Asia.
- Financial aid is need-based and application-driven; merit scholarships are limited.
Sport and the portfolio
Sailing, surfing, swimming and water polo; ʻIolani and Punahou field nationally ranked programmes.
Other destinations
Planning for Hawaiʻi?
A pathway review sets out realistic schools, entry points and timing in writing.