HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi 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.

The new placement process is part of interim guidance recently issued by the Department’s 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.

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.

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.

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.

“This new priority placement process is about being clearer and more consistent with families, while honoring the integrity of Kaiapuni education,” Superintendent Keith Hayashi said. “As 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.”

What families should know

• The Kaiapuni priority placement process opens Feb. 2, 2026.
• It applies to new enrollment and transfers to elementary Kaiapuni programs statewide, as well the two K-12 Kaiapuni schools (Ke Kula Kaiapuni ‘O Ānuenue and Ke Kula ‘O ‘Ehunuikaimalino).
• It is centralized and coordinated by the Department’s Office of Hawaiian Education.
• It uses clearly defined priority categories to promote transparency and equity.
• It does not guarantee placement at a specific campus, but ensures families are considered through a consistent, statewide process.

“The 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,” Kau‘i Sang, director of the Office of Hawaiian Education, said. 

Kaiapuni school leaders say clearer, shared processes will also support schools as they balance growth with program quality.

“As 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,” said Babā Yim, po‘o kumu of Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻO Ānuenue, a standalone Hawaiian immersion school serving students in grades K-12 from across O‘ahu. “Centralizing 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.” 

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.

“As demand for Kaiapuni continues to grow, the most important investment we can make is in people,” said Kananinohea Māka’imoku, an alumnus of Ke Kula ʻO Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu and now parent of a student attending the Hilo Kaiapuni campus. “Preparing and supporting the next generation of Kaiapuni teachers is essential if we want these programs to grow with quality and integrity. The Department’s focus on long-term planning and speaker-to-teacher pathways is a critical part of that work.”

The new placement process reflects the Department’s commitment to sustainable growth in Kaiapuni Education. While interim guidance helps bring consistency to enrollment statewide, longer-term planning is focused on building capacity — including recruiting and preparing more Kaiapuni teachers — and addressing facilities and transportation needs.

More information about the Kaiapuni priority placement process, including timelines and family resources, is available at https://go.hidoe.us/kaiapuni-enrollment.