As you PCS to Hawaii with your school-aged children, you may be a bit daunted by the task of finding out about the local schools and education opportunities. Thus, to lighten the load, here are school and education resources around Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in the areas of Honolulu, Aiea, Ewa Beach, and Kapolei.

First, for families moving to Hawaii as part of a PCS (Permanent Change of Station), there are resources to assist in the transition to Hawaii Public Schools for their children:

  • Hawaii’s Department of Education hosts a website specifically for Military Families with a great list of contacts for more information.
  • Additionally, the Military Child Education Coalition is focused on ensuring quality educational opportunities for all military children. 

Now, let’s talk schools. From public to private and homeschool opportunities, we’ve compiled all the information below.

Public Schools Near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam

Note: In order to attend a public school outside of your home’s zoning or district, one must complete the Geographic Exception process beginning in January of the school year before you wish for your student to attend.

Aiea

  • Elementary

Aiea has three elementary schools: Scott, Webling, and Aiea. Webling Elementary offers a Junior Police Officer leadership program for its 5th and 6th grades, a Robotics club, Student Council, and Peer Mediation. In addition, strong support of military families at Webling Elementary are a hallmark of this school’s environment.

  • Middle School

Aiea Intermediate School is proud of the many clubs and sports they offer as well as special military life counseling for its students and families. It previously has been ranked #1 among Hawaii public middle schools.

  • High School

The Central Region of Oahu near Aiea has three high schools: Pearl City High School, Aiea High School, Radford High School, and Moanalua High School. In past years, Moanalua High has ranked in the top 3 of Hawaii high schools.

Ewa Beach

  • Elementary

Iroquois Point Elementary, Kamiloa Elementary, Ewa Beach Elementary, Pohakea Elementary, Keoneula Elementary, Ewa Makai Elementary, Ewa Elementary, and Holomua Elementary are several of the public elementary schools in the Ewa community.

  • Middle School

In Ewa Beach there are two middle school options; Ilima Intermediate and Ewa Makai Middle School. Ilima Intermediate strives to include the ohana in their child’s education by offering many family inclusive programs and parent involved events. Ewa Makai Middle School offers an after-school program with UPLINK where students can sign up to benefit from our tutoring to keep up on their academics, and enjoy a variety of enrichment programs. In addition, Ewa Makai received funds from a million dollar grant by the DoDEA to “enhance career skills training through new coalitions with business and industry partners toward new career mentoring opportunities and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) pathways. Military-connected students will engage in project-based learning as they develop digital literacy skills through daily interaction with technology as part of computer science or engineering courses and a new Academy of Law and Public Safety.”

  • High School

The largest high school on Oahu is Campbell High School where six academies are devoted to their students: Freshman Success Academy, Academy of Health Sciences, Academy of Business, Agricultural Science & IB, Academy of Public & Human Services, Academy of Creative Media, and the Academy of Science, Tech, Engineering & Math.

Honolulu

  • Elementary

The Hawaii Department of Education (DOE) operates approximately 19 elementary schools in the Honolulu area. Some schools of note for their solid rankings in the state in prior years are Waikiki Elementary, Noelani Elementary, Manoa Elementary, Liholiho Elementary, Koko Head Elementary, and Maemae Elementary.

  • Middle School

Again, the Hawaii DOE operates approximately 19 intermediate schools in the Honolulu area which have been ranked in previous years for their test scores, growth, environment, etc. The top middle schools in Honolulu have been Kaimuki Middle School, Niu Valley Middle School, Kawananakoa Middle School, Jarrett Middle School, and Kalakaua Middle School.

  • High School

Public high schools within the Honolulu area include: Farrington High School, Kaiser, Kaimuki, Kalani, McKinley, and Roosevelt. In years past, both Kaiser and Kalani have performed well in rankings among Hawaii public high schools. They are located in a suburb of Honolulu called Hawaii Kai. Remember, the Geographic Exception process to attend a school outside of your “home” school is outlined by the DOE here. 

  • Private Schools

The ever-popular K-12 private schools are Saint Louis School (all boys), Sacred Hearts Academy (all girls), Punahou School, and Iolani School. In fact, our company president, Gabe Amey attended St. Louis School and played for their football team while our Kailua office branch manager, Jim Owens, attended Punahou School and played on their state championship baseball team. They may have been rivals in school, but today, they are teammates at work!

Moreover, Honolulu boasts more popular private schools that include Damien Memorial School, Hawaii Baptist Academy, Kamehameha Schools, Maryknoll School, Mid-Pac, La Pietra, St. Andrew’s Priory School, Saint Francis School, the University Laboratory School, and Saint Patrick School.

Kapolei

  • Elementary School

Families with elementary aged children in Kapolei enjoy Barbers Point Elementary for its on-site NASA Challenger Center Hawaii that is visited by students from all over Oahu. Generously spaced within their school grounds are the NASA Center, a Hawaiian garden, an art gallery, and two playgrounds complete with a baseball field, a basketball court and an assortment of playground apparatus. Nearby Kapolei Elementary and Mauka Lani Elementary are also Kapolei public elementary school options.

  • Middle School

For middle school, Kapolei students have the opportunity to attend Kapolei Middle School, where parent-school communication is highly valued.

  • High School

Once military dependent children hit high school age, Kapolei High School provides the environment for success. In 2022, the school received funds from a $1 million grant to enhance career skills training through “new coalitions with business and industry partners toward new career mentoring opportunities and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) pathways. Military-connected students will engage in project-based learning as they develop digital literacy skills through daily interaction with technology as part of computer science or engineering courses and a new Academy of Law and Public Safety.”

  • Private Schools

Many on the Leeward Coast also choose private education options for their children. Island Pacific Academy is an IB World School that serves students K-12 in Kapolei with extracurriculars including Orchestra, Soccer, Hula and extensive sport programs. American Renaissance Academy, also a K-12 in Kapolei where students enjoy small class sizes, school-wide technology integration in addition to academics, performing arts and sports programs.

Homeschooling and Virtual Schooling

For families that choose to Homeschool while stationed in Hawaii, the Department of Education outlines the state requirements here. According to homeschooling parents, the DOE makes it easy to transition to homeschooling. Here are some additional options:

  • The Hawaii Homeschool Association has monthly meetings in Central Oahu, bringing together families with homeschoolers of many ages. 
  • Some families in Hawaii choose a hybrid program as part of a public charter school called Myron B. Thompson Academy, formerly E-School.
  • In addition, tuition-free public charter school, Hawaii Technology Academy offers K-12 students both face-to-face and virtual classes.

Higher Education: College & Universities

Hawaii offers multiple community college, public and private universities, and specialty school options for college-aged children, spouses, veterans, and active duty military seeking to advance their degrees. Check out the higher education options in the state of Hawaii.

Now that you’ve learned more about the schools and education options for your PCS to Hawaii via Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, find out more information about the local area at www.hawaiivaloans.com/pcs-hawaii.

Contact Hawaii VA Loans at 808-792-4251 or go to our secure online loan application to get pre-approved for your no down payment VA home loan and become a Hawaii homeowner, too!