Romeschool

Hawaii homeschool requirements

To homeschool in Hawaii, notify the principal of your geographic public school before starting (Form 4140 or a letter). Keep a curriculum record, file an annual progress report, and submit standardized test results at grades 3, 5, 8, and 10.

Last reviewed June 5, 2026 · corrected September 19, 2026 · Sources below

Moderate regulation Notice required Testing or evaluation
Another state:

Hawaii homeschool requirements at a glance

Notice
RequiredWhere it goes: Principal of the public school the child would otherwise attend. When: Before homeschooling begins; also notify the principal when homeschooling ends.
Required subjects
No set list
Instruction time
NoneNo minimum hours or days specified.
Testing or evaluation
Yes — annual + grades 3, 5, 8, 10At grades 3/5/8/10 the parent submits standardized test results to the principal; at other grades one of four progress-documentation options satisfies the annual report. Grade 10 remains the statutory peg even though public-school testing moved to grade 11.
Records
Yes — plan
Parent qualifications
Not required
Compulsory attendance ages
5–18
Ways to homeschool
Independent (Form 4140 or letter to the principal)
Law
HRS § 302A-1132; HAR Title 8, Ch. 12

Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Hawaii?

Yes. Hawaii requires homeschooling families to file a notice. Where it goes: Principal of the public school the child would otherwise attend. How: Form 4140 (Exceptions to Compulsory Education) or a parent letter with the child's details and signature. When: Before homeschooling begins; also notify the principal when homeschooling ends. The principal and complex area superintendent acknowledge receipt; HAR Title 8, Ch. 12 governs. File before the school year in which your child is five by July 31 — since 2014-15 a child that age must be enrolled in kindergarten unless a notice of intent to homeschool is on file (HRS § 302A-1132(a), (c)). The age of six in HAR § 8-12-2's 'school age child' definition predates that change and is not the age the statute sets.

What subjects does Hawaii require homeschoolers to teach?

Hawaii does not spell out a list of required subjects for homeschoolers. No mandatory subject list — the curriculum must be structured, cumulative, and sequential. ('Hawaiian language & culture' is not a statutory required subject.)

How many days or hours of instruction does Hawaii require?

None. Hawaii does not set a minimum number of instructional days or hours for homeschoolers. No minimum hours or days specified.

Is standardized testing required to homeschool in Hawaii?

Yes. Hawaii requires a test or another accepted form of evaluation. How often: Annual progress report; standardized test required at grades 3, 5, 8, 10. Accepted options: standardized achievement test (required at grades 3, 5, 8, 10) and other grades: a nationally-normed test, a test showing one grade-level of annual progress, a Hawaii-certified-teacher evaluation, or a parent evaluation with work samples. At grades 3/5/8/10 the parent submits standardized test results to the principal; at other grades one of four progress-documentation options satisfies the annual report. Grade 10 remains the statutory peg even though public-school testing moved to grade 11.

What records do I need to keep to homeschool in Hawaii?

Hawaii requires these records: planned-curriculum record (start/end dates, weekly hours, subjects covered, materials). An annual progress report is submitted to the principal (see assessment).

Do parents need a teaching certificate or other qualification to homeschool in Hawaii?

No. Hawaii does not set a general qualification for homeschooling parents.

What ages does Hawaii's compulsory attendance law cover?

Hawaii's compulsory attendance law covers children from age 5 to age 18.

What are the ways to homeschool in Hawaii?

In Hawaii, families homeschool under this pathway: independent (Form 4140 or letter to the principal).

Yes. Homeschooling is legal in Hawaii, as it is in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. To homeschool in Hawaii, notify the principal of your geographic public school before starting (Form 4140 or a letter). Keep a curriculum record, file an annual progress report, and submit standardized test results at grades 3, 5, 8, and 10.

How to get started in Hawaii

1
Notify your local school principal before you start
Before homeschooling begins, send Form 4140 (Exceptions to Compulsory Education) or a signed letter with your child's details to the principal of the public school your child would otherwise attend. The principal and your complex area superintendent acknowledge receipt. Because school age starts at five, a child who is five by July 31 has to be enrolled in kindergarten for that school year unless your notice is already on file — so send it before the year begins. If you stop homeschooling, notify the principal.
Official resource (hawaiipublicschools.org) →
2
Keep a record of your planned curriculum
Write down the start and end dates of your program, the hours per week spent on instruction, the subjects you cover, and the materials you use. The curriculum must be structured, cumulative, and sequential, but Hawaii sets no required subject list.
3
Send the principal an annual progress report
Every year, report your child's progress to the principal. In grades other than 3, 5, 8, and 10, you may use any one of four options: a nationally-normed standardized test score, a test showing one grade level of progress for the year, an evaluation by a Hawaii-certified teacher, or your own evaluation with samples of your child's work.
4
Standardized tests at grades 3, 5, 8, and 10
In those grades, submit your child's standardized achievement test results to the principal. The rule still names grade 10, even though Hawaii public schools now test in grade 11.
What Romeschool tracks for you: Attendance and subject logs.

Sources for Hawaii

Official source (hawaiipublicschools.org) ↗HSLDA's Hawaii summary ↗
Statute: HRS § 302A-1132; HAR Title 8, Ch. 12
Last reviewed: June 5, 2026
Corrected: September 19, 2026, after re-reading the official source for what changed

Every requirement above comes from our review of Hawaii’s rules, checked against these sources on June 5, 2026 and corrected on September 19, 2026 after re-reading the official source for what changed. Homeschool law changes, and a state can amend its rules between our reviews — read the official source before you file anything or rely on a date here. How we review state requirements.

States with similar rules

Hawaii has no bordering state, so these are states our review places at the same level of regulation:

All 50 states & D.C. →