Age eligibility

Applications are available online beginning on Aug. 15. The application deadline for the 2021-2022 school year is Sept. 30, 2020.

Applications are submitted online through TADS. If you require assistance to submit an online application, please contact one of our three campus Admissions Offices, the Applicant Services Center at Kawaiaha‘o Plaza in downtown Honolulu, or at one of Kamehameha Schools’ Regional Resource Centers. See a list of support sites locations and contact information.

*Kindergarten applicants will need to submit their original birth certificate to the Ho‘oulu Verification Services to validate their age. Until the applicant’s birth certificate is submitted, their application for admission to Kamehameha Schools is considered incomplete.

**Only on space availability.

Residency and regional eligibility

Boarding

Kamehameha Schools’ Kapālama Campus on O‘ahu has a boarding community of 450 students in grades 7-12. The Boarding Program is a residential learning community and provides a home away from home for Neighbor Island students.

The Boarding Program provides students with a safe, nurturing environment that complements KS’ regular academic program. The program is designed to encourage student efforts to be respectful, responsible and resourceful members of our lāhui. The program is full and varied, and provides haumāna the opportunity to learn and practice independent life skills in a safe environment with the guidance and support of caring adults and peers.

Boarding spaces are reserved for Neighbor Island students from islands/communities not presently served by Kamehameha’s Neighbor Island campuses. Currently, there is no boarding program at either the Hawai‘i or Maui campuses.

E hele mai to our Kapālama Campus boarding website.

Information for out-of-state applicants

Kamehameha’s K-12 program gives priority to students who reside in the state of Hawai‘i. However, out-of-state students may apply and be considered for admission to the following grades: 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11.

Kamehameha will not accept applications to preschool or elementary school at any campus from out-of-state students. No exceptions will be made.

Boarding: Boarding at the Kapālama Campus may be requested, but is not guaranteed. Boarding is not available at the Hawai‘i or Maui campuses.

Interviews for all middle and high school applicants: All applicants will be scheduled for an interview based upon information submitted in the application.

Testing: Kamehameha Schools may schedule all applicants for testing based upon information submitted in the application. Due to the changing conditions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the test and interview dates/times are subject to change. The health and safety of our applicant families and staff is our highest priority. If changes are made to testing/interview availability, we will notify applicants by email.

Verification

Admissions priority is given to applicants residing in Hawai‘i with their parents or legal guardians, all of whom are current and permanent residents of the State of Hawai‘i in accordance with KS policy.

Kamehameha observes Geographic Regional Allocations to ensure equitable geographic distribution of spaces. Therefore, upon acceptance, parents must verify the physical home address listed on their child’s application.

In addition, if the applicant’s biological parents are not currently married, you will be required to submit all necessary court documents (divorce decrees, custody agreements, legal guardianship, etc.) to determine parental authority.

Parental authority establishes who has the legal authority to make decisions and to sign school documents on behalf of this child prior to your child’s enrollment at Kamehameha Schools.

NOTE: By policy, all applicants to Kamehameha Schools must be U.S. citizens. Even if an applicant is of native Hawaiian ancestry, if they are not also a U.S. citizen Kamehameha Schools cannot accept or process their application.

Request for ADA accommodations

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), children with a diagnosed, life-long disability that requires the utilization of accommodations during the testing and/or observation or interview phases of the application process may receive the required accommodation in these phases of Kamehameha Schools’ application process.

Validation of the required accommodation is needed. Parents requesting a testing and/or observation or interview accommodation for their child should include in-depth documentation of their child’s diagnosed disability that includes, but is not limited to:

1. A diagnostic statement from the diagnosing professional that;
2. Indicates the level of severity and;
3. Provides a listing of functional limitations and;
4. Provides a prognosis for the future (Will the disability stay at the same level of severity? Will it improve? Will it worsen?)

Notice regarding outstanding debts

Before applying your child for admission to Kamehameha Schools (KS), please be sure that any outstanding debts you have with KS are cleared. An outstanding debt may have been incurred if you have another child who is currently, or was previously, enrolled at KS.

An outstanding debt may delay application processing for your child. Applicants whose families have outstanding debts may not be offered admission to KS until the debt has been cleared.

If you have an outstanding debt, please call our Student Billing Office at 842-8309 or toll-free at 1-800-842-4682 x28309.

Testing and evaluation

There will be no testing for any grades (K-12) from October through December 2020. We will re-evaluate the ability to test applicants in the coming months and will notify families if testing can be accomplished between January and March 2021. We reserve the right to test any and all grade levels if the conditions allow for it next spring.

FAQ