Ke Ali‘i Pauahi established Ke Kula ‘o Kamehameha because she believed education could strengthen her people, Kānaka ‘Ōiwi, and through them contribute to the well-being of Hawai‘i and future generations. That purpose continues to guide everything we do.
A Kamehameha education is both an extraordinary opportunity and a meaningful kuleana. Inspired by Ke Ali‘i Pauahi’s vision, we invite haumāna and ‘ohana to carry this gift forward through lives of learning, service, leadership, aloha, and responsibility to ‘ohana, kaiāulu, Hawai‘i, and lāhui.
Through E Ola!, our student learner outcomes, we help haumāna grow as lifelong learners, servant leaders, thoughtful stewards, and caring community contributors.
At all campuses we educate through Hawaiian culture-based education so our haumāna can succeed in E Ola!, empowering them to lead and uplift their ohana and lahui, guided by ke ea Hawai‘i.
At Kamehameha, education is about more than academic achievement. Grounded in Hawaiian and Christian values, it is a journey of discovering who we are, how we are connected to the places and communities that shape us, and how we can use our gifts to strengthen the people, practices, places, and kaiāulu we hold dear.
Admissions Application ‘Ohana Portal
Our admissions process looks beyond accomplishments alone. We seek to understand each applicant as a whole person: their character, curiosity, resilience, aspirations, and readiness to embrace the educational journey Kamehameha offers. We seek to understand the unique person each keiki is becoming and how Kamehameha might partner with their ‘ohana to support continued growth.
No haumāna enters Kamehameha already embodying all that E Ola! envisions. Our hope is to welcome haumāna and ‘ohana who are ready to begin or continue a lifelong journey of lāhui grounding, learning, and kuleana.
The competitive nature of admission to Kamehameha Schools is due to the increasing numbers of keiki seeking enrollment. Each year the number of applications received exceeds the number of available spaces anywhere from a ratio of 2:1 to 15:1, depending on the campus and grade level.
Four-member faculty rating committees, composed of teachers and counselors, review all applications for a single grade level in each region. For example, all Windward applicants to grade seven are evaluated by the same committee. All committee members are current Kamehameha Schools’ faculty who work with keiki in the grade level to which your keiki is applying.
All admissions decisions are made by a consensus of the faculty rating committee that evaluated the applications of all students in a particular region and gender grouping. The Admissions Office facilitates the admissions process but does not select applicants for admission to Kamehameha Schools. Furthermore, the Admissions Office does not have the authority to reverse a committee decision, nor does that authority rest with the CEO or Trustees of Kamehameha Schools. Faculty Rating Committees are empowered to make all admission decisions. Any diversion from this process is considered tampering.
All faculty rating committee members must disclose any personal potential conflicts of interest prior to the review process. Faculty members with conflicts are excluded from participating. The rating process is conducted using strict protocols. Score calculations for applicants are run on our computer system to avoid human arithmetic errors. All selection meetings are facilitated by the Admissions Office and monitored by the Internal Auditor. Finally, every summer Kamehameha Schools’ Internal Auditor audits the records of the Admissions Office. The final audit report is shared with the CEO, Trustees and the external Court Master, who also reviews Kamehameha Schools annually.
Yes, students who are placed on the wait list receive a letter informing them of their status. If no spaces become available, students on the wait list may either be moved into a long-term wait pool (if applicable) or may reapply for admission if they wish to be considered for subsequent grade levels.
No, not all applicants who are orphans or indigents are enrolled. As directed by Bernice Pauahi Bishop’s will, Hawaiian orphans and Hawaiian keiki living in indigent circumstances do receive special consideration for admission. In order to be considered as an orphan or indigent applicant, additional paperwork and verification is required. Special consideration spaces are limited, and like all other applicants, keiki are tested and evaluated, and are expected to demonstrate their ability to be successful at Kamehameha Schools.
Kamehameha Schools is committed to enrolling a diverse student population that represents a variety of socio-economic backgrounds, islands and communities, ability levels, talents and life experiences. We seek haumāna who value learning, service, relationships, and community, and who are committed to growing through E Ola!, our learner outcomes, to graduate from Kamehameha Schools and become ʻōiwi leaders who serve our lāhui.
Absolutely! There is so much more to Kamehameha Schools than our three campuses. Kamehameha Schools offers a wide range of innovative educational programs, including a variety of summer programs. Kamehameha Schools also operates 30 preschools statewide — and more.
Check our application guide for a complete inventory of KS educational programs and specific application information.
Phone:
Statewide Resource Center line:
(808) 534-8080
Email:
ksrc@ksbe.edu
Schedule help:
bookings.ksbe.edu/ksrc
Kamehameha Schools’ policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.
