Enrolling in a Kula Kaiapununi

Enrollment into a Kula Kaiapuni (Hawaiian Language Immersion program) is an open and welcoming process that can happen at any time throughout the school year. Families are encouraged to seek placement for their children whenever they feel ready to begin their journey in a Hawaiian medium learning environment. Because these programs are vital to language revitalization, the Department works to accommodate new students as they arrive in our communities. Whether you are moving to a new district or simply deciding to transition your child into immersion, there is no single deadline for standard entry. Our schools are committed to supporting your child’s education and cultural growth whenever you choose to join the Kaiapuni ‘ohana.

Families specifically planning to enroll their child in a Kula Kaiapuni for the following school year, such as for SY 2026-27, should participate in the Kaiapuni Priority Placement Request (KPPR) process. OHE facilitates this structured window each year to help families identify available spots in their preferred elementary programs well in advance. By participating in this process, families provide the Department with the necessary data to manage classroom capacity and allocate resources effectively. This forward-planning ensures that schools can prepare for incoming cohorts and maintain the high standard of immersion education expected by our community. Following this timeline is the most effective way to help the school prepare for your child’s arrival and support a smooth transition for the start of the new academic year.

• Goal: To provide a transparent, equitable process for students to access Kaiapuni education based on family preference and the Department’s capacity to provide a quality education. The Department will make a good faith effort to provide a Kaiapuni option for all students who are part of the Priority Placement Request process.
• Scope: This placement request process shall apply to all elementary Kula Kaiapuni statewide. including the State Kaiapuni Distance Learning Program.
• Island-wide Access: Families may submit a request for placement in any Kula Kaiapuni regardless of their home school district.
• Timing: This process is split into three (3) phases:
  • Phase #1–Kaiapuni Priority Placement Request Submission Window
    • 8 a.m. on the first business day of February through the last day of Q3.
  • Phase #2–Review of Requests & Notification of Placement
    • The first business day after the close of Q3 through the first business day of May. Families are notified of placement no later than the first business day of May.
  • Phase #3–Official Enrollment into a Kula Kaiapuni
    • The first business day of May through the last business day of May.

• Kaiapuni Priority Placement Request: Procedures for Families (PDF) – Information on eligibility, priority and enrollment.

Nā Nīnau Maʻamau

Commonly Asked Questions

Ka Papahana Kaiapuni Basics & Eligibility

What is the Kaiapuni Program?

The Kaiapuni Educational Program (Ka Papahana Kaiapuni) provides students with Hawaiian bicultural and bilingual education. The program delivers instruction exclusively through the medium of the Hawaiian language until Grade 5, when English is formally introduced. It aims to connect future generations with Hawaiian ways of knowing and being.

Do we have to be of Native Hawaiian ancestry to enroll?

No. Ka Papahana Kaiapuni is a program within the Hawaiʻi public school system. It is open to all students, regardless of ancestry, who wish to learn in a Hawaiian language immersion environment.

What if no one in our home speaks Hawaiian? Can my child still succeed?

Yes, many students come from homes where English is the primary language. However, success in a Kula Kaiapuni requires a high level of family commitment. You are expected to support your child’s language journey by seeking resources to learn the language yourself, using the language at home as you learn, and participating in program activities.

Is a Kula Kaiapuni different from an English-medium DOE school in terms of what they learn?

Students in Kula Kaiapuni learn the same subjects or content-areas (math, science, social studies, etc.) as students in English-medium schools. The difference is the medium of instruction 그리고 perspective in which the subject is approached and covered. The curriculum is delivered entirely in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and is rooted in Hawaiian traditional knowledge and values.

The Kaiapuni Priority Placement Request Process

Do I need to apply for a “Geographic Exception” (GE) to attend a Kula Kaiapuni outside my district?

No. Per Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes (HRS) §302A-1143, Kula Kaiapuni students are not restricted by their home school district. You do not need an approved GE to apply to or attend a Kula Kaiapuni. You simply submit the Kaiapuni Priority Placement Request Form for your Kula Kaiapuni of choice. However, priority placement is given to those who reside within the set boundaries of the Kula Kaiapuni.

I missed the Kaiapuni Priority Placement Request deadline. What now?

Unfortunately, the Kaiapuni Priority Placement Request period is closed, however, you can contact the Kula Kaiapuni directly to inquire about their enrollment procedures. 

Why is the Kaiapuni Priority Placement Request Form online, but I still have to bring paper documents later?

그만큼 Kaiapuni Priority Placement Request Form is the first step in enrolling your child in a Kula Kaiapuni. In this initial phase, your request does not guarantee a spot for your child in a Kula Kaiapuni, but instead allows the Office of Hawaiian Education (OHE) the time to place your child into a Kula Kaiapuni based on several Priority Placement Request categories (please see item #4 above). After your child is placed into a Kula Kaiapuni, you will need to contact that Kula Kaiapuni to begin the official enrollment process. When you reach this phase of enrollment, the Kula Kaiapuni will require you to bring in your paper documents for enrollment and processing.

How do you decide who gets a placement if a Kula Kaiapuni is full?

If a Kula Kaiapuni has more requests than placements, we use a 4-level Priority Placement Request set of categories: (1) District families, (2) Siblings, (3) Prior immersion experience, and (4) Language continuity/fluency. OHE manages this queue to ensure it is handled objectively across all islands.

Placement & Queues

What if my child is queued for their first-choice Kula Kaiapuni?

You will be placed in a queue based on the priority categories. If there are placements available at your second choice Kula Kaiapuni, you may be placed there in the interim. If a placement opens at your first-choice Kula Kaiapuni, OHE will contact you. You will then have 5 business days to accept that placement.

My child was not placed into their 1st or 2nd choice Kula Kaiapuni. What happens now?

To ensure access to a Kula Kaiapuni is available to all families, if in the event that your child is not placed in their 1st or 2nd choice, your child will be offered placement in another Kula Kaiapuni (provided space is available) or the Kaiapuni Distance Learning (DL) program. If a placement becomes available at either your originally selected Kula Kaiapuni, OHE will notify you.

Official Enrollment

What do I do after I receive my child’s placement?

The official notification of placement email from OHE will provide further instructions on how to begin the official enrollment process at the Kula Kaiapuni your child has been placed at.

How long do I have to complete the official enrollment process?

Families have 10 business days from the date of notification of placement  to submit all required documents to the Kula Kaiapuni. If this deadline is missed, the placement will be released, and your Priority Placement Request status will no longer apply.

A placement opened at one of the Kula Kaiapuni we initially requested. What now?

If a placement becomes available at one of your preferred Kula Kaiapuni, OHE will notify you via email. You have 5 business days to accept the option to transfer. If no notification is received, no action will be taken.

Conflicts & Support

I disagree with my child’s placement decision. Can I appeal to the Office of Hawaiian Education (OHE)?

No. Appeals are not allowed to OHE. OHE is the administrative office that manages the process and tracking, but they do not have the authority to override Kula Kaiapuni placement decisions or create new placements.

Then who do I talk to if I have an issue with placement? All appeals must be made to:

• Authority: Only the Deputy Superintendent of Strategy and Administration has the authority to review a placement dispute.
• The Process: Families must submit a request for review within 10 business days of the notice using the Kaiapuni Priority Request Review Form (available at Kula Kaiapuni/district offices). The decision of the Deputy Superintendent of Strategy and Administration is final.

Who can help me with the actual enrollment forms (SIS-10W, Health records)?

For questions about physical paperwork, medical requirements, or birth certificates, please contact the Kula Kaiapuni’s office.