Const. Art. X, §1
State must run public schools and can fund some private education
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗The state must create and run a public school system, a university, libraries, and other public schools, all free from religious control. Public schools cannot discriminate based on race, religion, sex, or ancestry. Public money cannot go to private schools, except for certain early childhood centers and private schools through special purpose revenue bonds.
state agencies
The constitution, as written — Public Education
A copy, taken August 21, 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.
The State shall provide for the establishment, support and control of a statewide system of public schools free from sectarian control, a state university, public libraries and such other educational institutions as may be deemed desirable, including physical facilities therefor. There shall be no discrimination in public educational institutions because of race, religion, sex or ancestry; nor shall public funds be appropriated for the support or benefit of any sectarian or nonsectarian private educational institution, except that proceeds of special purpose revenue bonds authorized or issued under section 12 of Article VII may be appropriated to finance or assist: 1. Not-for-profit corporations that provide early childhood education and care facilities serving the general public; and 2. Not-for-profit private nonsectarian and sectarian elementary schools, secondary schools, colleges and universities. [Ren and am Const Con 1978 and election Nov 7, 1978; am L 1994, c 280, §4 (HB 2692-94) and election Nov 8, 1994; am HB 2848 (2002) and election Nov 5, 2002] Note Regarding proposed constitutional amendment to this section by SB 2922, L 2018, the Hawaii supreme court declared the ballot question invalid on October 19, 2018, SCPW-18-0000733. Cross References Admission Act provisions, see §5(f). Department of education, see §26-12. Attorney General Opinions Policy regarding use of buses during release-time religious instruction not prohibited. Att. Gen. Op. 66-24. Appropriation of public funds for transporting both private and public school children is not invalid. Att. Gen. Op. 67-13. See also Att. Gen. Op. 58-59. The Church College of Hawaii is a private educational institution and cannot receive an appropriation of public funds. Att. Gen Op. 67-13. Appropriation of public funds to provide insurance for JPOs at nonpublic schools is precluded. Att. Gen. Op. 73-15. Department of education may use appropriated funds to contract with private language schools to provide language skills as alternative to enrolling in DOE language courses. Att. Gen. Op. 77-2. A publicly-funded school voucher program would violate this section. Att. Gen. Op. 03-1. Case Notes Mentioned, concerning provision prohibiting use of public funds to aid sectarian schools. 403 U.S. 602, 647. "Support or benefit" construed; provision prohibits appropriations to provide bus transportation subsidies to nonpublic school students. 51 H. 1, 449 P.2d 130. First sentence encompasses the selection and location of public schools and university sites. 56 H. 582, 545 P.2d 684.
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.