How to Homeschool in Hawaii? a Beginner’s Guide

Before making the switch, there are a few things to think about if you want to homeschool in Hawaii.

Many people from all over the world enjoy taking vacations in the lovely state of Hawaii, but few are aware that Hawaii is also a great place to start homeschooling your family.

For families who want to take this route, there are various options available. Parents now have the freedom to select the approach that most closely fits their preferences and way of life thanks to these options!

If you want to homeschool in Hawaii, it’s important to adhere to any rules or regulations established by your state.

How to Homeschool in Hawaii?

Option 1

You can give your child’s superintendent a notice of intent to homeschool your family in Hawaii’s first option. The notice will need to be sent before you begin homeschooling your child, and will include the following information about your child:

• Name
• Address
• Birth date
• Grade Level
• Phone number
• Signature of child and parent

Additionally, you must keep track of your child’s academic progress. This outlines the days and hours of instruction as well as a summary of the material covered each year, the teaching strategies used to help the student learn the material, and a list of the supplies and textbooks that were used to instruct your child.

Option 2

You can enroll your child in a suitable alternative educational program that has received superintendent approval as your second option. With this choice, your child must be taught by a certified teacher who has a bachelor’s degree.

Your child would not be required to attend a school, but the program you choose for their education would need to adhere to the standards that the majority of schools must follow.

Whichever course of action you take, you must submit an annual report on your child’s development. There are several ways to accomplish this, and if you so choose, you can submit a different type of assessment each year.

• Standardized Test:

Every year, you can decide to assess your child’s development by having them take a nationally regarded standardized test. You can decide whether to take an achievement test based on your child’s age or an achievement test based on grade level.

If your child entered school at a different time than most, you might want to select a test that evaluates them according to grade level.

• Written Evaluation:

Depending on the type of homeschooling you select, this option requires that you submit a written assessment of your child’s development from either a qualified teacher or a parent.

If you selected option one and are the parent who is writing the evaluation, you must also include your child’s grades as well as a description of their progress in each subject area, examples of their work, and sample tests and assignments.

Hawaii Statewide Testing Program:

If you decide to enroll your child in Hawaii’s statewide testing program, that is your final option. The program requires your child to take tests at the 3, 5, 8, and 10th-grade levels.

Hawaii Homeschool Laws and Requirements

Make sure you can abide by Hawaii’s homeschool regulations before switching to homeschooling. Hawaii, fortunately, has fairly simple and easy-to-follow requirements.

These demands include keeping records, sending progress reports, taking standardized tests, and submitting a letter of intent to homeschool to the principal of your neighborhood public school.

Homeschoolers must also follow a curriculum that satisfies a set of requirements, such as educating students in their interests and pursuing academic goals.

Record Keeping

Whether or not the state mandates it, keeping thorough records is a requirement for successful homeschool education.

Although home educators in Hawaii are not mandated by law to submit their curriculum to the state, they are still required to keep a record of the curriculum they use, as well as the dates of instruction, the number of hours per week, the subjects they teach, and the strategies and materials they employ.

Homeschool Standardized Assessments in Hawaii

In addition to requiring annual reports, Hawaii also mandates that homeschoolers take part in the Statewide Testing Program in grades three, five, eight, and ten. Additionally, a parent can pay for and set up private testing for an equivalent standardized test.

Homeschoolers are only required to complete standardized tests in a select few grades, but a parent can use an annual, nationally standardized test to show their child’s progress toward a grade-level standard.

Homeschool Graduation Requirements in Hawaii

The public school systems do not grant high school diplomas to homeschoolers. The Hawaii Adult Community School Diploma or a high school equivalency certificate are the only options available to them. Homeschoolers must succeed on the General Educational Development (GED) or HiSET exams to achieve this.

Hawaii Homeschool Field Trips

Homeschoolers can take more field trips than those who attend traditional schools because of the flexibility homeschooling offers. Hawaii is home to a variety of locations, making it a great place for field trips to supplement lessons.

The following is just a small sampling of possible field trip destinations for homeschoolers in Hawaii.

The Big Island of Hawaii

• The Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park in Honaunau was once a haven for people who had disobeyed sacred laws and is still revered as a holy place. Homeschoolers can learn a lot about Hawaii’s rich history and culture by taking a field trip to this historical park.
• Learn about planets, stars, and how Polynesian explorers used astronomy to navigate on land and in the sea at the Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo. Homeschool groups have access to field trips at a reduced cost.
• Students can learn about more than 80 different animal species at the Panaewa Rainforest Zoo in Hilo, including those that are indigenous to Hawaii. Homeschoolers can learn a lot about wildlife and conservation by visiting this zoo.

Oahu

• Students can learn about the Pearl Harbor attack and how it affected American history at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Honolulu. history when the nation entered The visitor center and museums, which focus on World War II, are open to everyone.
• Iolani Palace is the only palace in the nation and is located in Honolulu. Visitors can take a tour of the building to learn more about King Kalakaua’s reign over the Hawaiian Kingdom alongside his sister Queen Liliuokalani and the eventual overthrow of the monarchy. Homeschoolers will be able to experience the culture and history of the Hawaiian people up close at this field trip location.
• In the Hawaii Capitol District is the Hawaii State Art Museum, which houses works by regional artists from all over the state. Additionally accessible to visitors is a sculpture garden.

Maui

• The Maui Ocean Center in Wailuku is the ideal field trip destination for students interested in learning more about the environment that the Hawaiian Islands are surrounded by. It was established to preserve and promote Hawaii’s marine life. One of the largest collections of Pacific corals, an exhibit on the open ocean, and other attractions are available to visitors.
• Hana’s Waianapanapa State Park is a great place to learn about Hawaii’s geological formations. Free exploration of caves, the volcanic coastline, and wildlife is available.

Conclusion: Homeschool in Hawaii

In Hawaii, you have two options: notify the local school district of your intention to homeschool your children or enroll them in an alternative program that has the district’s approval.

Homeschoolers can connect with a number of support groups and other home educators. These groups offer resources for each student’s homeschooling journey as well as assistance in getting it off the ground.

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