Background
Kamehameha Schools’ preschool program was started early in the 1980s with just 9 locations. Today, KS has 29 preschools statewide, with 82 classrooms serving both 3 and 4-year-olds. Kamehameha Schools has preschools on the islands of O‘ahu, Hawai‘i, Maui, Moloka‘i and Kaua‘i and serves about 1,500 keiki annually.
The Pauahi Keiki Scholarship Option
Children who apply for admission to a KS Preschool are also automatically applied to the Pauahi Keiki Scholarship program (unless they specifically opt out).
The Pauahi Keiki Scholarship program provides need-based financial assistance to children attending participating preschools in Hawai‘i (other than Kamehameha Schools’ preschools). For a list of participating non-Kamehameha preschools click here.
The single application point for both Kamehameha’s regular preschool program and the Pauahi Keiki Scholarship program was created so that parents and their keiki have multiple options for preschool, to ensure that as many Native Hawaiian children as possible are able to benefit from preschool.
Residency Requirements
Residency requirements apply to the applicant and his/her parents/legal guardians, all of whom must be legal residents of the island and physically residing on the island served by the preschool to which they are applying as of January 31, 2019.
If the applicant’s parents/legal guardians are not married and/or are living in separate homes, the physical residence of the applicant’s primary custodial parent/guardian and the island on which the applicant actually lives will determine his/her residence.
Children may apply to any preschool located on the island on which they reside.
NOTE TO O‘AHU PARENTS: Because it is anticipated that KS preschools located in Honolulu will be in high demand by parents who commute to work, KS will reserve 90% of spaces at Honolulu region preschools for keiki who live from Pearl City to Hawai‘i Kai.
Age Eligibility for the 2019-2020 School Year
3-Year-old Classes
Children who were born between August 1, 2015 and July 31, 2016.
4-Year-old Classes
Children who were born between August 1, 2014 and July 31, 2015.
*Preschool applicants will need to submit their original birth certificate with the Ho‘oulu Hawaiian Data Center (HHDC) to validate their age. Until the applicant’s birth certificate is submitted to HHDC, their application for admission is considered incomplete.
The ideal candidate for Kamehameha Schools’ Preschool Program
The ideal candidate for Kamehameha Schools Preschool Program, with or without accommodation is:
- Fully toilet trained
- Able to dress/undress self
- Able to feed self with fork/spoon and drink from a cup
- Independently mobile
- Able to understand and follow simple one-step directions
- Able to separate from parents/primary caregiver with minimal disruption
- Able to demonstrate safe behaviors which do not pose a direct threat to self and others
- Able to demonstrate appropriate behavior towards other children and adults
- Beginning to demonstrate kindness and empathy towards others
- Able to communicate clearly with classmates, teachers, administrators and others as needed
School Year and Hours of Operation: Kamehameha preschools operate for 10 months a year (August-May). Preschools are either full day or modified day programs:
Full Day
Approximate start time: between 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Approximate end time: between 5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Modified Day
Approximate start time: between 7:00 – 8:00 a.m.
End time: 3:30 p.m.
Click here for: KS Preschool Listing for SY 2018-19
KS preschools are closed for holidays, breaks – Fall, Winter, and Spring, parent-teacher conferences, and on teacher work days.
Tuition: To see preschool tuition for the current 2018-2019 school year, click here. Tuition for the 2019-2020 school year will be published on our website once it becomes available.
Selection Process
Admission to all preschools is by random computer selection (lottery).
Only applicants who meet the January 31st priority deadline are included in the initial lottery.
Late Applications
Late applications may be submitted, however, late applicants will not be considered for admission unless all “on-time” applicants in the initial lottery are offered admission and spaces are still available.
If all applicants included in the initial lottery are selected, late applicants will be considered to fill any additional vacancies according to the date their application was received by Admissions.