Hawaii Homeschooling

Aloha and welcome to your best resource on the web for homeschooling in the beautiful state of Hawaii! Here you'll find information, tips, and resources about the laws regulating home educatioin in Hawaii, support groups, how to choose curriculum, things to do, and more. You probably have lots of questions as you begin this journey. We've got lots of answers!

What's Popular
§8-12-20 Credits.
No course credits (Carnegie units) are granted for time spent being home-schooled.
Hawaii State Board of Education
The Hawaii State Board of Education has a dual mission: (1) to set education policies for the public school system, adopt student performance standards and the means to assess them, and monitor school success in order to enable all public school students to acquire the knowledge, skills, respect for learning and attributes necessary for life-long learning and productive and responsible citizenship, and (2) to set policies and standards for the public library system and monitor progress toward th...
Pu`uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park
Pu`uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park preserves the site where, up until the early 19th century, Hawaiians who broke a kapu or one of the ancient laws against the gods could avoid certain death by fleeing to this place of refuge or "pu`uhonua". The offender would be absolved by a priest and freed to leave. Defeated warriors and non-combatants could also find refuge here during times of battle. The grounds just outside the Great Wall that encloses the pu`uhonua were home to several genera...
Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park
Established in 1978 for the preservation, protection and interpretation of traditional native Hawaiian activities and culture, Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park is an 1160 acre park full of incredible cultural and historical significance. It is the site of an ancient Hawaiian settlement which encompasses portions of four different ahupua'a, or traditional sea to mountain land divisions. Resources include fishponds, kahua (house site platforms), ki'i pohaku (petroglyphs), holua (stone slide...
Hawaii Nature Center
Located on Oahu and Maui, the Hawaii Nature Center offers nature education programs including an Interactive Nature Museum and Rainforest Walk, and learning games and experiences.
Chapter 12 Home Schooling Guidelines
This Department of Education publication is intended to provide a summary of the laws and regulations governing home education in the state of Hawaii.
§8-12-15 Record of curriculum.
The parent submitting a notice of intent to home school shall keep a record of the planned curriculum for the child. 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 record of the planned curriculum should include the following: (1) The commencement date and ending date of the ...
§8-12-21 High school diploma for home-schooled children.
A home-schooled child who wants to earn a high school diploma from the local public high school shall attend high school for a minimum of three full years to meet the twenty credit requirement for graduation. Satisfactory performance on the Hawaii State Test of Essential Competencies (HSTEC) is also required. (b) A home-schooled child who wants to earn a high school diploma from the community school for adults shall meet the following requirements: (1) Be at least seventeen years of age, e...
§8-12-18 Testing and progress reports of home-schooled children.
(a) Test scores shall be required for grades identified in the Statewide Testing Program, grades three, six, eight, and ten. A child is eligible to participate in the Statewide Testing Program at the local public school. The parent is responsible for securing necessary details from the principal of the local public school. The parent may elect to arrange for private testing at the parent's own expense. The tests used shall be comparable to the appropriate criterion or norm-referenced tests used ...
Licensing & State Laws in Hawaii
Hawaii uses a multi-stage licensing process for teens. This system allows teens to gradually gain exposure to complex driving situations, easing them into driving over an extended period of time.
§8-12-19 Instructional personnel of home-schooled children.
A parent teaching the parent's child at home shall be deemed a qualified instructor.
Hawaiihomeschool
This is a mailing list for people who home school or are thinking of homeschooling in Hawaii, kids and parents alike. Here you can exchange ideas, support each other, and share resources and information.
§8-12-4 Conditions for exceptions.
School age children may be excepted from compulsory school attendance in the following cases: (1) Where a child is physically or mentally unable to attend school, except for deafness and blindness, of which fact the certificate of a duly licensed physician shall be sufficient evidence; (2) Where any child who has reached the fifteenth anniversary of birth is suitably and lawfully employed; (3) Where a family court judge has approved withdrawal from school; (4) Where the superintendent of ...
Hawaii Home School Laws from HSLDA
The Home School Legal Defense Association provides a brief summary of the homeschooling laws in Hawaii. Includes a link to a legal analysis of laws relating to homeschooling in Hawaii.
K12HI
K12HI is a group for Hawaiian islands-based users of the K12 curriculum led by Dr. William J. Bennett. Members include home schoolers and charter schoolers.
Upcoming Events
Not Back to School Camp - Oregon
August 11-25, 2021
Camp Myrtlewood, Bridge, Oregon
Not Back to School Camp is a non-denominational, non-religious homeschool camp. The camp offers workshops, spontaneous events, and special evening gatherings, bringing together campers who are excited about life and willing to be themselves and to reach out and connect with the others. 
Looking for Another State?
Featured Resources

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We get commissions for purchases made through links on this site.

Montessori Life
Designed to provoke thought, professional growth and provide a forum for discussion of major issues & ideas in education.
Pass Your California DMV Test Guaranteed! 50 Real Test Questions! California DMV Handbook
This book contains the 50 most common questions and answers to the California DMV Written Test. Written by a former DMV classroom instructor and test creator, this straight forward book tells you the most likely questions and answers that will appear...
Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum: A Guide to Catholic Home Education
In this book, Laura Berquist offers a curriculum based on the philosophy of the classical Trivium: grammar, logic, and rhetoric. This valuable tools helps home educators craft a liberal arts curriculum that is good for both the soul and the intellect...
Montessori: A Modern Approach
Montessori: A Modern Approach has been called the single best book for anyone -- educator, childcare professional, and especially parent -- seeking answers to the questions: What is the Montessori method? Are its revolutionary ideas about early child...
Greenleaf Press
Greenleaf Press is a small family-owned and operated publisher and supplier of quality books for children. They are committed to "twaddle-free", living books, and approach teaching history to children using biography and chronology. You will find sec...