Key Points:
- Kamehameha Schools tuition free education will begin in the 2026–27 academic year, with the school’s endowment covering all student costs, pending court approval.
- The decision removes all tuition fees, easing financial burdens for families across K–12 campuses and preschools statewide.
- School leaders say the move strengthens their mission by treating education as a responsibility, not a transaction.
Kamehameha Schools has announced plans to stop charging tuition beginning with the 2026 to 27 academic year. The announcement was shared in a message from the Board of Trustees and Chief Executive Officer, Livingston Wong. If approved, the school’s endowment will fully cover the cost of education for every enrolled student across all campuses, making Kamehameha Schools tuition free for all students.
The private school system serves about 5,400 students statewide. It includes three K to 12 campuses and 30 preschools that emphasize Hawaiian culture based education. The changeto Kamehameha Schools tuition free education is pending Probate Court approval and would take effect starting next school year.
For students and teachers, the announcement signals a major shift in how education at Kamehameha Schools will be funded. Leaders said the move reflects a deeper understanding of the school’s mission and its long standing approach to student support and learning.
Tuition Structure and Endowment Support
For the 2025 to 26 school year, families currently pay tuition based on grade level and program. Preschool tuition ranges from more than $2,800 for modified day programs to over $4,000 for full day options. Students in kindergarten through grade five pay nearly $5,700 at the Hawaiʻi, Kapālama, and Maui campuses. Tuition for grades six through twelve is close to $7,000. Boarding school tuition exceeds $12,000.
Kamehameha Schools already covers a significant share of education costs. About 92 percent of the total cost of educating students is subsidized by the school. Nearly 80 percent of students also receive financial aid based on need. Under the new plan, the full cost of education for every student would be covered by the school’s endowment, making Kamehameha Schools tuition free for all enrolled students.
The endowment is valued at about $15 billion. School leaders said this financial support has always been central to the Kamehameha Schools model. They described the tuition free plan as a clarification of the relationship between the trust and the students it serves, rather than a change in direction.
Educational Mission and Campus History
Kamehameha Schools was established in 1884 through the will of Bernice Pauahi Bishop. She was the great granddaughter of Kamehameha I and the last royal descendant in the Kamehameha line. The school was created to educate Native Hawaiian students and expand access to learning opportunities.
The Hawaiʻi Island campus first opened in 1996 as a temporary site in the Keaukaha community of Hilo. It later moved to its permanent location near Keaʻau, officially opening on Sept. 7, 2001. The campus sits on 312 acres of forested land about eight miles south of Hilo.
Facilities on the Hawaiʻi Island campus include 25 buildings, two learning centers, a stadium, an Olympic sized pool, and multiple athletic structures. Similar learning environments are found across the school’s other campuses and preschools statewide.
In their message, trustees and school leadership said tuition can suggest a transactional exchange. They emphasized that education at Kamehameha Schools is rooted in responsibility, connection, and preparation. According to school leaders, removing tuition aligns more closely with how the school views teaching and learning.
If approved, the shift to Kamehameha Schools tuition free education would represent a significant milestone in the school’s history. For students and teachers, it would remove a financial barrier while reinforcing the school’s long standing educational mission and commitment to access.