Education

With 18 elementary schools on the only 4,028 mi² Big Island, it is easy to see that education and childcare are among top priorities in Hawai’i.

Concerned about transportation to and from school? The Hawaii State Department of Education has you covered! For a quarterly fee of $72, you can apply for your child to use the school bus system. Does $72 sound like too much? You can easily quality for a free buss pass if your:


 * Student qualifies for the free lunch program (Note: Students who qualify for reduced lunch prices are not eligible for a free bus pass)
 * Student is a foster child
 * Student is homeless (McKinney-Vento eligible​)
 * Student’s Special Education plan includes regular transportation as a related service
 * Student is directed by the District to attend a school outside of the designated attendance area
 * Student has three older siblings who are fare-paying bus rider

While the local elementary schools value the futures and education of their students, many of the Big Island high schools are nationally recognized as some of the best in the country. Four Big Island schools earned recognition in the 2013 Best High School Rankings by US News & World Report.

It’s no surprise that Hawai’i handles the education of its residents well. Afterall, Hawaii is the only state in the nation to have a single, unified, state-wide public school system, which was founded in 1840. So instead of each community having its own school board and financial responsibility for its school, there's one centralized school board, which is located on Oahu and which has jurisdiction for the entire state of Hawaii, over all the 284 public schools. The advantage is that funding, staffing and facilities are equally distributed.

LIST OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

 * Kahakai Elementary School
 * Kealakehe Elementary School
 * Waimea Elementary School
 * Hoʻokena Elementary School
 * Holualoa Elementary School
 * Konawaena Elementary School
 * Waikoloa Elementary & Middle School
 * Mountain View Elementary School
 * Honaunau Elementary School
 * Na’alehu Elementary School
 * Haʻaheo Elementary School
 * Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School
 * Waiakea Elementary School
 * Chiefess Kapiʻolani Elementary School
 * Pahoa Elementary School
 * Kaumana Elementary School
 * Waiākeawaena Elementary School

Higher Education
There are many colleges and universities on the Hawaiian islands. And while education can always be expensive, Hawai'i being no exception, there are many ways for people in lower income brackets to still get their education.

One example would be the Promise Program. Hawai'i Promise is a scholarship program to provide free in-state tuition for qualified University of Hawai'i Community College students with financial needs. Hawaii Promise covers direct education costs (tuition, fees, books, supplies and transportation) for eligible students. Having been a student in the California Promise Program, I can say with confidence that it's a legitimate and reliable program.

University of Hawaii at Manoa - Honolulu, Oahu

The University of Hawai’i at Manoa is a 4-year public university on the island of O’ahu and the flagship campus of the UH System. The largest and oldest of the Hawai’i campuses, UH Manoa confers bachelor’s degrees in 100 academic majors. Additionally, Hawai’i has been designated an Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander-serving institution. For students interested in the performing arts, UH Manoa is home to the Kennedy Theatre featuring three mainstage productions per year.

Hawaii Pacific University - Honolulu, Oahu

Hawaii Pacific University is a 4-year institution in O’ahu and the largest private university in the central Pacific. HPU hosts colleges of Business, Liberal Arts, Health, Natural Sciences, and Professional Studies. In addition, the HPU campus is home to The Oceanic Institute dedicated to researching sustainable aquaculture technologies. Throughout the year, HPU schedules a number of all campus activities such as Club Carnival and Da Freakshow.

Chaminade University of Honolulu - Honolulu, Oahu

Located 10 minutes from the buzz of Waikiki and 50 minutes away from the surf mecca of the North Shore on the island of Oahu, Chaminade University of Honolulu is known for its small class sizes, leadership development opportunities, and research and experiential learning programs. As the only Catholic University in Hawaii, and one of three Marianist higher-education institutions in the US, Chaminade University's community is a family where students mature into world citizens who respect the complexity and diversity of others, value community service and strive to create a more just society. Our faculty emphasizes critical thinking and creative problem solving while mentoring students in more than 25 undergraduate and graduate programs in the fine arts and humanities, sciences and mathematics, behavioral sciences, business and communication, education, and nursing. Here, students develop professionally through service learning projects, research and internship experiences, and leadership and community networking opportunities. At Chaminade, students receive a personalized education that prepares them for an ever-changing future.

University of Hawaii at Hilo - Hilo, Big Island

Originally founded as Hawai’i Vocational College, the University of Hawai’i at Hilo is a public liberal arts college on The Big Island. UH Hilo confers bachelor’s degrees in over 60 academic majors including Hawai’ian Studies. The university also houses several research centers, including USDA Pacific Basin- Agricultural Research Center, the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai’i, and the East Asian Observatory. For recreation, UH Hilo’s Outdoor EdVenture division sponsors numerous excursions for activities such as scuba diving, boating, and mountain climbing.

Kapiolani Community College - Honolulu, Oahu

Kapi’olani Community College is a public, 2-year institution established in Honolulu, Hawaii, and is a member of the University of Hawaii system. The college offers a number of programs relating to Health Sciences, as well as a handful of other options that include Liberal Arts, Hospitality & Tourism, and Marketing. Students at Kapi’olani CC can save money by enrolling in Textbook $0 course and taking advantage of the Koa Art Gallery, which is free and promotes visual arts of Hawai’i. Kapi’olani CC is a proud indigenous-serving institution and maintains the Native Hawaiian Career & Technical Education project (Kūlia ma Kapi‘olani), Lunalilo Scholars to assist students with financial barriers, and the Kapo‘oloku Program for Native Hawaiian Student Success.

Brigham Young University - Hawaii - Laie, Oahu

Founded and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Brigham Young University-Hawai’i is a 4-year private university on O’ahu that integrates secular and spiritual learning. BYU-Hawai’i is home to colleges of Arts & Humanities, Business, Math, and Human Development and all students are expected to combine a major with two minors or certificates. As a Mormon institution, all students adhere to an honor code that prohibits extramarital sex, alcohol, and drugs and promotes academic honesty. Additionally, BYU-Hawai’i holds a partnership with the Polynesian Cultural Center, the state’s number one tourist attraction that employs most of the university’s students.

Leeward Community College - Pearl City, Oahu

With a main campus on the island of O’ahu, Leeward Community College is a 2-year institution and part of the University of Hawai’i system. Leeward offers degrees and certificates in 20 academic programs. Its Hawaiian Studies Program features courses on the history and native languages of the islands. In order to serve the largest Native Hawaiian population of any community college in America, Leeward hosts a Native Hawaiian Center to provide academic and social support for the community.

Here are some other colleges and universities in the state of Hawai'i:


 * University of Hawaii - West Oahu - Kapolei, Oahu
 * Hawaii Community College - Hilo, Big Island
 * Honolulu Community College - Honolulu, Oahu
 * University of Hawaii Maui College - Kahului, Maui
 * Windward Community College - Kaneohe, Oahu
 * Kauai Community College - Lihue, Kauai
 * Pacific Rim Christian University - Honolulu, Oahu
 * World Medicine Institute - Honolulu, Oahu
 * Institute of Clinical Acupuncture & Oriental Med - Honolulu, Oahu