HRS §302A-411
Kindergarten is required for five-year-olds
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗The state must run kindergartens in public schools, and charter schools must be included. Starting in 2014-2015, parents or guardians must enroll their five-year-old child in kindergarten, unless the child goes to private school or has another legal exemption. The state can accept gifts to support kindergartens.
childrenguardiansparentsstate agencies
The statute, as written — Kindergarten program; establishment; attendance
A copy, taken August 20, 2026. The version published by the Legislature is the one that governs, and it may have changed since. Check it before relying on anything here.
(a) The department shall establish and maintain kindergartens with a program of instruction as a part of the public school system; provided that: (1) Attendance in kindergarten shall be mandatory, unless exempted by subsection (b) or section 302A-1132; and (2) Charter schools shall not be excluded from mandatory participation in the program. (b) Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, any parent, guardian, or other person having the responsibility for, or care of, a child who will be at least five years of age on or before July 31 of the school year shall enroll the child in a public school kindergarten unless the child is enrolled at a private school or the child's attendance is otherwise exempt under section 302A-1132. (c) The department may accept gifts to establish and maintain kindergartens.
Sections this one refers to
§302A-1132 School attendance required; exceptions
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.