Admissions FAQs
Hanahau‘oli appreciates your interest in our school. This section contains information and answers to questions frequently asked by parents and guardians. We hope this list will be helpful to you during the application process.
How are students interviewed?
Small group interview sessions are held on Saturday mornings beginning in January. Teachers observe and interact with children in simulated classroom experiences and prepare anecdotal write-ups. Four teachers work with 10-12 children in Junior Kindergarten interviews.
Small group interviews are scheduled for Grades 1-3 applicants on a Saturday.
Half-day interview sessions during a school day are scheduled for Grades 4-6 applicants.
In addition, students are asked to complete some teacher-generated assessments to indicate their developmental levels in language arts and mathematics.
How are students selected?
An admissions committee consisting of the Head of School, Director of Admissions & Enrollment Management, and teachers review all the applicant files. The application and parent information sheet, parent comments, teacher reference forms, school reports, and interview comments are all read and considered carefully. The committee is interested in bringing together a group diverse in ability and cultural background. It looks for children who will thrive in our integrated learning environment, and who demonstrate curiosity, the ability to focus, and enthusiasm for learning.
We expect to have some leaders as well as some followers, some highly verbal children as well as some quiet thinkers. Parent involvement in a child’s education is a partnership between home and school. Because Hanahau‘oli does not test children, the Admissions reading process is a particularly challenging one for the committee. Hanahau‘oli regrets that it does not have enough space for all of the qualified and deserving children who apply each year.
Are any applicants given special consideration?
Hanahau‘oli seeks families who believe in and support its philosophy and educational program and who are committed to partnering with the School for the Hanahau‘oli experience. Certain applicants may be given priority consideration for admission provided they meet the criteria in other respects. These groups are (in no specific order): 1) children of alumni, 2) siblings of currently enrolled students or former graduates, and 3) children of current faculty and staff members. Admissions, however, are not automatic for applicants in these groups. Every year Hanahauʻoli is committed to bringing in new families who can benefit from and give to our small school community.
Does a request for financial aid jeopardize an applicant’s chances for admission?
Our admissions process is “aid-blind.” A family’s financial status is not part of admission criteria. A financial aid committee reviews requests and grants aid on the basis of demonstrated financial need after a child has been accepted. The financial aid deadline for 2025-2026 applying students is March 1, 2025.
Is it advisable to apply to grades 1 through 6?
Junior Kindergarten is the primary accept year for Hanahau‘oli. There is no application process for Kindergarten; openings are filled from a wait pool of previous year’s Junior Kindergarten applicants. If your child is in Grades 1 through 6 and you are interested in Hanahau‘oli, we encourage you to consider applying. Openings do occur in the upper grades and children must have applied to be considered. The Director of Admissions & Enrollment Management can answer questions regarding available or expected spaces in a given class.
Is summer school a requirement prior to being admitted?
Hanahau‘oli’s summer school is open to all students in the community. Many families have utilized the summer program as an introduction to Hanahau‘oli. Attendance at summer school is not a condition for favorable consideration on the wait list nor is it a requirement for application. However, it is always helpful for us to have additional contact with your child should you consider application.
Non-Discrimination Statement: Hanahauʻoli does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical disability, or any other category protected by applicable law and extends them all the rights privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School in the administration of its admissions policies.