There are approximately 24,000 dependents of military members assigned to installations in Hawaii. All children between six and eighteen years of age must attend school; however, kindergarten and junior kindergarten are not mandatory in Hawaii. Hawaii State Law requires all students to meet health examination and immunization requirements before they may attend any public or private school in the state.
• Physical Examination: Medical records showing that a licensed physician has examined the child within one year of school entry date.
• Tuberculosis Clearance: This examination must include a negative Tuberculin Skin Test with the result indicating the millimeter reading (which must be performed in the United States).
• Immunizations: All immunizations must meet the minimum ages and intervals between vaccine doses. Visit http://hawaii.gov/health/family-child-health/immunization/index.html for more information on inoculations required by the State Department of Health. Required immunizations (kindergarten through grade 12):
• DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus-acellular, pertussis) or DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis)
• Polio - IPV (inactivated poliovirus vaccine) or OPV (oral poliovirus vaccine)
• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) - Two doses of measles vaccine are required, with at least one of the two being MMR vaccine.
• Hib (Haemophilus influenza type B) - Children under 5 must have received at least one dose of Hib on or after 12 months of age.
• Hepatitis B - Required for school attendance for all students born after Dec. 31, 1992 and for 7th grade attendance.
• Varicella (chickenpox) - Two doses of varicella vaccine are required if the first dose is administered on or after the 13th birthday. A documented history of varicella (chickenpox), signed by a U.S. licensed MD, DO, APRN, or PA, may be substituted for the varicella vaccine requirement. Students entering 7th grade need the varicella immunization.
Private and Religious Schools
Hawaii has at least 150 private schools with over 100 on O'ahu. Tuition at these institutes ranges from about $3,000 to $15,000 for day students. Many of the schools have waiting lists and require entrance tests and interviews prior to admission. To find information on private and religious schools in Hawaii that may be useful in your search for the right educational fit for your child(ren), visit http://www.k12academics.com/national-directories/national-schools-directories and http://www.privateschoolreview.com.
Other resources:
Religious schools
http://www.privateschoolreview.com/religiousselection/typereli/1/stateid/HI
Hawaii Association of Independent Schools (HAIS)
http://www.hais.org
Hawaii Catholic Schools
http://www.hawaiicatholicschools.net
Hawaii Lutheran Schools
http://www.hawaiilutheranschools.org
