HONOLULU \u2014 The Hawai\u02bbi State Department of Education announced today that a new, statewide priority placement process for Kaiapuni Education (Hawaiian language immersion programs) will open on Feb. 2, 2026, marking an important step toward greater consistency, clarity and equity for families seeking Kaiapuni options for their children. The application window will close March 13, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new placement process is part of interim guidance recently issued by the Department\u2019s Office of Hawaiian Education to bring greater consistency to Kaiapuni enrollment statewide. The guidance is intended to provide clear, near-term direction for schools and families while the Department develops a longer-term strategy to expand access and strengthen support for Kaiapuni Education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new process applies to elementary-level Kaiapuni programs statewide and provides families with a centralized way to request placement, while helping schools better plan for enrollment amid continued growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kaiapuni Education has expanded significantly over the years. Today, 26 Kaiapuni programs operate statewide within public schools, along with two K-12 standalone Kaiapuni campuses, serving a total of approximately 2,700 students. Interest from families continues to be strong, reflecting the value placed on Hawaiian language and culture as a foundation for learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Until now, individual schools have largely managed Kaiapuni enrollment and growth on their own. While this local approach allowed programs to expand, it also resulted in inconsistent enrollment practices across campuses and, at times, uncertainty for families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis new priority placement process is about being clearer and more consistent with families, while honoring the integrity of Kaiapuni education,\u201d Superintendent Keith Hayashi said. \u201cAs demand continues to grow, we have a responsibility to put better systems in place so families understand how placement works and schools have the support they need to plan responsibly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What families should know<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe interim guidance will help the Department make data-informed short-term and long-term decisions on how to address supply and demand issues that we’ve been facing. It also offers us an opportunity to provide clarity and transparency of process for our families and for our schools and our program staff at schools,\u201d Kau\u2018i Sang, director of the Office of Hawaiian Education, said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Kaiapuni school leaders say clearer, shared processes will also support schools as they balance growth with program quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs Hawaiian (language) becomes more and more a part of households, we have graduates who’ve now become parents who are sending their kids to our school. The interest grows every year,\u201d said Bab\u0101 Yim, po\u2018o kumu of Ke Kula Kaiapuni \u02bbO \u0100nuenue, a standalone Hawaiian immersion school serving students in grades K-12 from across O\u2018ahu. \u201cCentralizing the placement process provides more of a support where now schools are not working in silos in terms of enrollment. That will give us much better data that we can collect about the program in general and that data will help us provide smarter growth for the program.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n For families and educators alike, the changes also underscore the importance of building the workforce needed to sustain and grow Kaiapuni programs over the long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs demand for Kaiapuni continues to grow, the most important investment we can make is in people,\u201d said Kananinohea M\u0101ka’imoku, an alumnus of Ke Kula \u02bbO N\u0101wah\u012bokalani\u02bb\u014dpu\u02bbu and now parent of a student attending the Hilo Kaiapuni campus. \u201cPreparing and supporting the next generation of Kaiapuni teachers is essential if we want these programs to grow with quality and integrity. The Department\u2019s focus on long-term planning and speaker-to-teacher pathways is a critical part of that work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The new placement process reflects the Department\u2019s commitment to sustainable growth in Kaiapuni Education. While interim guidance helps bring consistency to enrollment statewide, longer-term planning is focused on building capacity \u2014 including recruiting and preparing more Kaiapuni teachers \u2014 and addressing facilities and transportation needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n