Resources

Education

 

Before you cash in your 401K, gut your savings or take out a second mortgage on your home, you might want to do a little more research before you succumb to the notion that if you're going to live in Hawaii, you'll have to put your kids in private school.

It's true that the state's public school system, one of the largest in the country, has often been maligned in past years, yet the majority of parents on Oahu continue to send their children to public schools. Maybe it's because they're convenient and supported by tax dollars, and the island's public school teachers are dedicated and well-trained, many with advanced degrees.

Unlike most of the United States, Hawaii's 285 public schools, including 27 charter schools, are administered by the state rather than by school districts. With more than 180,000 students, it's the 10th largest school district in the United States. This means funding is often slow in reaching the individual schools, each of which has distinctive needs based on enrollment, skill levels of teachers and administrators, and socio-economic factors peculiar to the communities where they're located.

Even so, most of Hawaii's public high school graduates go on to do quite well in college, with many going on to excel at the graduate level.

As in most states, Hawaii's private schools are excellent, some ranking among the best in the country. If you decide private school is the best option for your family, prepare yourself for sticker shock. Tuition at the better known private schools have crept well past $10,000 a year. There are 132 regular and special education private schools that receive no state funds. Nearly 15 percent of Hawaii's youths attend private school, compared to 10 percent nationally, an indicator that Hawaii might not be that different from the Mainland when it comes to public versus private school enrollment.

Keiki Care

If you're a working parent, your keiki (children) are in good hands in Hawaii. Our state was the first in the nation to introduce the A+ after-school care program for kindergarten through sixth grade, and the program has grown more sophisticated through the years.

Keiki are cared for in a safe, secure and nurturing environment offering a rich variety of activities.

There are more than 175 sites statewide that provide after-school care through the A+ program.

More than 100 are run by the State Department of Education; the rest are contracted out to private providers such as the YMCA, Kama'aina Kids, Youth and Community Services and Moiliili Community Center. For more details on the program, go to www.doe.k12 .hi.us/aplus.htm.

Finding care for babies and toddlers may be more of a challenge. Ask friends and co-workers for referrals or contact PATCH (People Attentive To Children), a statewide childcare resource and referral agency. You also can call 839-1988 for referrals to licensed family child care homes and centers.

Other group childcare options for school-age children include the following:

• Boys and Girls Club
  Location: Charles C. Spalding Clubhouse
  1704 Waiola St., Honolulu
  Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
  Age: 7 to 17
  Phone: 942-5111
• Kama'aina Kids
  Locations: 36 off-campus sites on Oahu.
  Hours: 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
  Age: K-Grade 6
  Phone: 262-4538
  

Private after-school child care programs are also available.

• Moiliili Community Center
  Location: 2535 S. King St., Honolulu
  Hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  Age: K-Grade 6
  Phone: 955-1555
• YMCA
  Young Men's Christian Association branches are available island wide
  Hours: Vary by branch, but generally 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  Age: K-Grade 6
  North Shore: 637-4615
  Central: 941-3344
  Kaimuki-Waialae: 737-5544
  Kalihi: 848-2494
  Leeward: 671-6495
  Mililani: 625-1040
  Nu'uanu: 536-3556
  Wahiawa: 621-6100
  Windward: 261-0808

Private Schools

There are 137 regular and special education private schools that receive no state funds. Nearly 15 percent of Hawai'i's children attend private school, compared to 10 percent nationally. The largest and wealthiest private school of them all is Kamehameha Schools, founded in 1887 by the will of Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last direct royal descendent of King Kamehemeha the Great.

Kamehameha's policy on admissions is to give preference to children of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law. The schools now have three campuses on O'ahu, Maui and Hawaii island with more than 3,550 K-12 students. In addition, Kamehemeha operates 31 preschools statewide serving more than 1,200 students.

10 Largest Private Schools

• Hawaii Baptist Academy
• Hawaii Preparatory Academy (Big Island)
• Iolani School
• Kamehameha Schools
• Maryknoll School
• Mid-Pacific Institute
• Punahou School
• Sacred Hearts Academy
• Saint Louis School
• Saint Theresa School

Homeschooling

Each fall when school begins, a growing number of school-aged children do not head off to a classroom. Instead, they learn at home with their families or with other children in their communities.

Homeschooling takes many forms, from a daily routine following a scheduled curriculum to child-led learning in which parents supervise and help. Choosing to homeschool or to traditionally educate a child is often a difficult and confusing decision for parents and guardians.

If you decide to homeschool, please familiarize yourself with the Hawai'i Board of Education's procedures for Homeschooling. You will need to submit a notice of intent to home school your child to the local public school principal. This may be done via a Form 4140 "Exceptions to Compulsory Education" or by letter.

To request a homeschool information packet with homeschooling guidelines, contact:

Instructional Services Branch Hawai'i Department of Education
P.O. Box 2360
Honolulu, Hawaii 96804
Telephone: 808-733-9131

Higher Learning

There are a number of higher education choices in the state, as well. The University of Hawaii system consists of six two-year community colleges and the four-year University of Hawaii at Manoa, University of Hawaii at Hilo and West Oahu College in Pearl City.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa - one of 88 Carnegie One Research universities - is a world leader in astronomy, ocean marine sciences, Asian-Pacific studies and languages, and tropical agriculture. The University's College of Business is a national leader in international business, and the Colleges of Engineering and Computer Science are considered the best in the Pacific region.

In addition, Oahu has three private four-year universities, two of which are under the auspices of religion - Brigham Young University-Hawaii is Mormon, and Chaminade University is Hawaii's only Catholic university. The former Protestant-affiliated Hawaii Loa College merged with non-affiliated Hawaii Pacific University in downtown Honolulu in 1991.

University of Hawaii System University of Hawaii - Hilo
200 W. Kawili St.
Hilo, HI 96720
Toll-free: (800) 897-4456
Phone: 974-7414
www.uhh.hawaii.edu

University of Hawaii - Manoa
2600 Campus Road
Honolulu, HI 96822
Phone: 956-8111
www.hawaii.edu

University of Hawaii - West Oahu
96-129 Ala Ike
Pearl City, HI 96782
Phone: 454-4700
www.uhwo.hawaii.edu

Community Colleges

Hawaii Community College
200 West Kawili St.
Honolulu, HI 96720
Phone: 974-7311
www.hawcc.hawaii.edu

Honolulu Community College
874 Dillingham Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96817
Phone: 845-9211
www.honolulu.hawaii.edu

Kapiolani Community College
4303 Diamond Head Road
Honolulu, HI 96816
Phone: 734-9111
www.kcc.hawaii.edu

Kauai Community College
3-1901 Kaumualii Highway
Lihue, HI 96766
Phone: 245-8311
www.kauaicc.hawaii.edu

Leeward Community College
96-045 Ala Ike
Pearl City, HI 96782
Phone: 455-0011
www.lcc.hawaii.edu

Maui Community College
310 Kaahumanu
Kahului, HI 96732
Phone: 984-3500
www.mauicc.hawaii.edu

Windward Community College
45-720 Keaahala Rd.
Kaneohe, HI 96744
Phone: 235-7400
www.wcc.hawaii.edu

Private Universities

Brigham Young University - Hawaii
55-220 Kulanui
Laie, HI 96762
Phone: 293-3211
www.byuh.edu

Chaminade University
3140 Waialae Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96816
Phone: 735-4711
www.chaminade.edu

Hawaii Pacific University
1166 Fort Street Mall
Honolulu, HI 96813
Downtown Campus
Phone: 544-0200
Windward Campus
Phone: 236-3500
www.hpu.edu

University of Phoenix
827 Fort Street Mall, Suite 600
Honolulu, HI 96813
Toll-free: (800) 228-7240
Downtown Campus: 536-2686
Mililani Campus: 625-7004
Kapolei Campus: 693-8686
Windward: 247-9080
www.phoenix.edu/hawaii/

Hawaii Public Libraries

The beautiful, historic main branch of the State of Hawai'i Public Library System is located at 478 S. King St. There are 51 public libraries in the system throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

If you're a resident of Hawaii, there is no initial charge for a Hawai'i State Public Library card. But there is a small charge for a lost or stolen card. To get a library card in your name, you'll need your driver's license, state ID or something that will identify you and show your Hawaii address.

For more information on Hawaii's public libraries, go to www.librarieshawaii.org. List of public libraries (Hours of operation vary by location):

Trade School

College is not for everyone in real life; people follow different paths to success. An attractive alternative for many would be to learn a trade.

Technical and vocational schools on Oahu offer a wealth of opportunities that exist beyond the traditional classroom, including:

• Bartending
• Broadcasting
• Bus/Truck Driving
• Business
• Cosmetology
• Electronics
• Hair Design
• Massage Therapy
• Real Estate
• Travel Industry
  Skilled Trade Apprenticeships are available in:
• Carpentry
• Masonry
• Plumbing
• Painting
• Welding
• Air Conditioning Repair