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Getting educated
Hawai'i has two major public education institutions: the State Department of Education and the University of Hawai'i. Hawai'i's 284 public schools (including 26 charter schools) are administered by the state rather than by school districts like most of the rest of the United States. With a total enrollment of approximately 183,000 students, it is about the 10th largest school district in the United States. Keiki (child) care for working parents Your keiki are in good hands in Hawai'i. Our state was the first in the nation to introduce the A+ after-school care program for kindergarten through sixth grade children. That was in 1990, and the program has grown more sophisticated through the years. Keiki are cared for in a safe, secure and nurturing environment offering a rich variety of activities. There are more than 175 sites statewide that provide after-school care through the A+ program. More than 100 are run by the State Department of Education; the rest are contracted out to private providers such as the YMCA, Kama'aina Kids, Youth and Community Services and Mo'ili'ili Community Center. For more details on the program, go to www.doe.k12 .hi.us/aplus.htm. Finding care for babies and toddlers may be more of a challenge. Ask friends and co-workers for referrals or contact PATCH (People Attentive To Children), a statewide child care resource and referral agency. Call 839-1988 for referrals to licensed family child care homes and centers. Other group child care options for school-age children, include the following: Boys and Girls Club
Kama'aina Kids
Moili'ili Community Center
YMCA
* Some branches may be able to provide activities for older children, but space is limited. The State of Private Schools There are 132 regular and special education private schools that receive no state funds. Nearly 15% of Hawai'i's children attend private school, compared to 10% nationally. The largest and wealthiest private school of them all is Kamehameha Schools, founded in 1887 by the will of Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last direct royal descendent of King Kamehameha the Great. Kamehameha's policy on admissions is to give preference to children of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law. The schools now have three campuses on O'ahu, Maui and Hawai'i with more than 3,550 K-12 students. In addition, Kamehameha operates 28 preschools statewide serving more than 1,200 students. O'ahu's three private four-year universities had an enrollment of 15,201 students in 2000. Two are under religious auspices: Brigham Young University-Hawai'i is Mormon and Chaminade University is Hawai'i's only Catholic university. The former Protestant-affiliated school, Hawai'i Loa College, merged with non-affiliated Hawai'i Pacific University in downtown Honolulu in 1991. HIGHER LEARNING IN HAWAI'I Those looking for education beyond high school have a variety of options to choose from. UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I SYSTEM The University of Hawai'i system consists of six two-year community colleges and the four-year University of Hawai'i at Manoa, University of Hawai'i at Hilo and West O'ahu College in Pearl City. The University of Hawai'i at Manoa is one of 88 Carnegie One Research universities — and is a world leader in astronomy, ocean marine sciences, Asian-Pacific studies and languages, and tropical agriculture. The University's College of Business is a national leader in international business, and the Colleges of Engineering and Computer Science are considered the best in the Pacific region.
University of Hawai'i — Manoa
University of Hawai'i — West O'ahu
Hawai'i Community College
Honolulu Community College
Kapi'olani Community College
Kaua'i Community College
Leeward Community College
Maui Community College
Windward Community College
Brigham Young University — Hawai'i
Chaminade University
Hawai'i Pacific University
University of Phoenix
Hawai'i Public Libraries
The beautiful, historic main branch of the State of Hawai'i Public Library System is located at 478 S. King St. There are 51 public libraries in the system throughout the Hawaiian Islands O'ahu public libraries, addresses and phone numbers are listed in the government pages toward the front of the telephone directory under the State Department of Education. If you're a resident of Hawai'i, there is no initial charge for a Hawai'i State Public Library card. But there is a small charge for a lost or stolen card. To get a library card in your name, you'll need your driver's license, state ID or something that will identify you and show your Hawai'i address. For more information on Hawai'i's public libraries, go to: www.librarieshawaii.org. Trade Schools Technical colleges, institutes, and specific vocational schools offer programs and courses for just about any area of educational interest. Whether it's for a specialized type of vocational education, training, certification/degree, or to increase overall marketability and knowledge, vocational and technical schools offer students an excellent opportunity to obtain an education in a specific area of interest. There are a variety of technical and vocational schools in the state, specializing in the following areas:
Skilled Trade Apprenticeships are available in:
In addition to programs offered through schools and colleges, hundreds of adult evening classes are available in a diverse range of subjects, including English as a Second Language, Literacy, Writing, Business, Math, Crafts, Drama, Swimming and Foreign Languages.
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