Kamehameha Schools announces tuition-free education for all students

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Kamehameha Schools’ holiday message to its ʻohana included a special announcement for its haumāna (students).

Pending court approval, all Kamehameha preschools and K-12 campuses will no longer require tuition beginning with the 2026-27 school year.

Current tuition costs and timeline

The change means tuition, which is already subsidized mainly by Princess Bernice Pauahi’s endowment, will now be fully covered by the endowment.

“With a deeper understanding of Ke Aliʻi Pauahi’s intent, E Ola!, and aliʻi–lāhui relationships, it has become clear that tuition no longer reflects either the reality or the values of a Kamehameha Schools education,” school officials wrote.

“Tuition suggests a transactional exchange. Yet, responsibility at Kamehameha has never flowed from payment. It flows from aloha, ancestral connection, and preparation,” the statement continued.

Currently, families’ financial responsibilities range from nearly $3,000 for modified-day preschool to more than $12,000 for boarding.

The school says all tuition collected during the 2025–26 school year will be transferred to the Kaiāulu Fund, which brings educational opportunities to Native Hawaiians beyond Kamehameha’s campuses and preschools.

Legal challenges and discrimination lawsuit

Kamehameha is currently fighting a discrimination lawsuit filed by Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) for giving preference to Native Hawaiians.

Some legal experts think providing free schooling could affect the schools’ defense of its admissions policy.

“Per her trust, she is paying, she is subsidizing these children to obtain an education, and therefore, she can choose whoever she wants to pay for the education,” attorney Megan Kau said. “If she requires that keiki to have Hawaiian blood, then she can choose to do so, because it’s her money, she gets to choose how she wants to spend her money.”

The SFFA’s lawsuit claims the school’s policy is “illegal and continues to harm families.”

If no money is involved, KS supporters hope the case will be dropped.

“I do believe that this does address a lot of the concerns that I think SFFA had outlined in their legal argument,” KS graduate Jacob Aki said.

Community response

Parents like Kendal Luke were surprised and pleased by the announcement.

“All I can say is we’re grateful...it’s a blessing, and I guess it also, you know, from what I see it, this kind of goes with Princess Pauahi’s...vision and her legacy,” Luke said.

We reached out to the school to see if the removal of tuition had any connection to the lawsuit, and we are waiting to hear back.