Hawaii Homeschooling Laws and Resources

Homeschooling in Hawaii Overview 

Notice of Intent Required: Yes

1 Option for Homeschooling: Home Education

Subject or Curriculum Requirements: Must be cumulative and sequential

Attendance Age Requirements: 5-18

Record-Keeping Requirements: Yes

Assessments or Evaluations Required: Yes

Proof of Immunization Required: No

How to Start Homeschooling in Hawaii

Hawaii’s homeschool requirements are a little more involved than some other states. Families who homeschool in Hawaii need to do the following:

• Submit an initial notice of intent to homeschool.
• Provide a “structured, cumulative, and sequential” curriculum.
• Keep required records on file.
• Submit annual progress reports to the local district.
• Participate in standardized testing at the required grade levels.

TIP: Home educators in Hawaii are responsible for all costs related to their child’s education. 

Hawaii Notice of Intent to Homeschool

Parents and guardians must notify the principal of their local school of their intent to homeschool. They only need to do this once for each child as they begin homeschooling. File this notification before starting a homeschool program.

You may use Form 4140 as your notice of intent. Or, write a letter including your child’s name, birth date, grade level, address, and telephone number. A parent or guardian must sign and date the letter. 

The district will return your form or letter with the signature of the principal and superintendent to acknowledge receipt. The school will keep a copy of this intent on file, and home educators should retain the original for their records.

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Qualifications to Homeschool in Hawaii

By state law, parents and guardians don’t require any special qualifications to teach their children at home.

Mandatory School Age in Hawaii

Hawaii requires children to start school when they turn 5 by July 31st of that year. They must continue school until they are 18 as of January 1st of that school year.

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Hawaii Homeschool Subject and Curriculum Requirements

Hawaii law says: “The curriculum shall be structured and based on educational objectives as well as the needs of the child, be cumulative and sequential, provide a range of up-to-date knowledge and needed skills, and take into account the interests, needs and abilities of the child.”

The law also says the curriculum may include (but does not require) the following:

• Elementary School: Language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, art, music, health, and physical education at a level appropriate for the child’s developmental stage
• Secondary School: English, social studies, mathematics, science, health, physical education, and guidance

TIP: Home educators have complete freedom to choose the instructional methods, curriculum programs, and educational materials that are right for them. 

You can use the Hawaii Subject Matter Standards for guidance, but this isn’t required.

Hawaii Homeschool Annual Progress Reports

Home educators must submit an annual progress report for each of their students to the local school principal. This ensures children are making adequate progress for their age and ability. If they’re not, the principal will meet with the parents to create an improvement plan.

Hawaii homeschool annual assessments can be any one of the following:

• A score on a nationally-normed standardized achievement test showing appropriate grade level achievement for the child’s age; or
• Progress on a nationally-normed standardized achievement test equivalent to one grade level per calendar year, regardless of age; or
•  A written evaluation by a certified Hawaii teacher stating that the child demonstrates appropriate grade level achievement or significant annual advancement in line with their abilities; or

A written evaluation by the parent or guardian, including a description of the child’s progress in each subject area included in the child’s curriculum, representative samples of the child’s work, and representative tests and assignments, including grades for courses if grades are given.

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Hawaii Homeschool Record-Keeping Requirements 

Hawaii’s law requires parents to keep a record of the planned curriculum. This must include the following:

• Start and end date of the homeschool program each year
• Number of instruction hours per week
• Subject areas included in your planned curriculum
• Methods used to determine mastery of these subjects
• A list of textbooks and other instructional materials that will be used (For books, list the author, title, publisher, and date of publication. For magazines, list the author, article title, magazine, date, volume number, and pages.)

TIP: You aren’t required to submit this record to the local district but will need to keep it on file at home. 

Families can also assemble a portfolio of student work samples, report cards, assessments, and other supporting materials.

Hawaii Homeschool Assessments and Evaluations 

Hawaii requires homeschoolers to take standardized tests in the same grades as their public school counterparts, which are grades 3, 5, 8, and 10. 

TIP: Satisfactory test scores can serve as a homeschool student’s annual progress report.

Homeschool students can participate in the Statewide Testing Program at their local school in these grades at no cost. Or, the student and principal of their local school can agree on another form of criterion-referenced or norm-referenced test. In this case, the testing costs will be at the home educator’s expense. 

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Required Immunizations for Homeschoolers in Hawaii

Hawaii homeschoolers are not required to provide health records, TB tests, or proof of immunizations.

Homeschool Groups and Co-ops in Hawaii

Organizations and co-ops offer homeschool families support, social and educational opportunities, and often benefit every member of a homeschooling family. Here are two popular options in Hawaii: 

• Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii: Find like-minded families, attend an annual conference, participate in Homeschool 101 video sessions, and more.
• Hickam Homeschoolers (JBPHH) Hickam Homeschoolers is a Facebook-based community for current homeschoolers with access to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH), focused on connecting families through events and gatherings.

Find local community groups and co-ops on this helpful Hawaii Homeschool Resources page.

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Sports Opportunities for Homeschoolers in Hawaii

The decision to let homeschool students participate in sports activities is left up to Hawaii’s local school districts. If you’re interested, contact them to learn their policies.

Otherwise, homeschoolers have plenty of great sports options. They can participate in competitive athletics through local homeschool sports leagues or community youth sports programs that welcome homeschool students. Here are some options in Hawaii:

Hawaii Homeschool Field Trips 

Hawaii is a wonderful state for planning field trips. Each island has unique experiences and culture just waiting for homeschool families to explore. 

TIP: Consider teaming up with other homeschoolers to qualify for group discounts and special educational programs.

Hawaii is teeming with National Parks and historical sites, like Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Pearl Harbor. Fourth grade students and their families can get free admission (restrictions apply) through the Every Kid Outdoors program. State parks are scattered across the islands like jewels, including Waimea Canyon and the Nā Pali Coast.

Want to learn more about Hawaiian culture? Check out the Bishop Museum, Iolani Palace in Honolulu, or the Kona Historical Society. The Maui Ocean Center lets you learn about sea creatures while you stay on dry land. Discover Hawaii’s important contributions to science at the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo. These are just a few of the options in the incredible Aloha State!

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Special Education Homeschoolers

Hawaii recognizes homeschooling as a parent-initiated alternative to public and private education. To that end, there are a few requirements for homeschooling families.

Since it is a parent-initiated decision, providing services to homeschooled children with special needs is at the discretion of the local school district. The level and frequency of services may differ from that of a student enrolled in a public or private school, but parents may find a district willing to work with them to assist their student.

Doing research ahead of time about the school district’s outlook on providing special education services to students with special needs can help home educators create the best plan for their student.

Currently, no additional requirements or reporting are needed for homeschooling families of students with special needs.

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Hawaii Homeschool FAQ

Is Hawaii a homeschool-friendly state?

Hawaii welcomes homeschoolers as long as they follow the required laws. These are more stringent than some other states and include annual progress reports and required standardized tests at certain ages. Parents and guardians are also responsible for all costs involved in homeschooling.

However, home educators in Hawaii have the freedom to choose their curriculum programs and set their own schedules. Families can control what their children learn and how they learn it. This makes Hawaii a fairly friendly homeschool state.

How do Hawaii homeschoolers receive diplomas or transcripts?

Homeschool students can earn a high school equivalency credential by passing the GED or HiSET exam. Learn more about these tests here.

TIP: Homeschool parents and guardians are responsible for creating transcripts for their children. 

The more detailed your educational records over the years, the easier it will be to create these documents when needed.

Is unschooling legal in Hawaii?

Homeschool families in Hawaii must meet the state curriculum requirements set by law but are free to choose their instructional methods. This may include unschooling as long as the child makes satisfactory annual progress.