Hawaii State Department of Education

What Hawaii State Department of Education does

The Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) is the sole statewide public K-12 education system in the United States, operating as a state government agency headquartered at 1390 Miller Street in Honolulu. The Department delivers tuition-free public education to students across all Hawaiian islands — O'ahu, Hawai'i Island, Maui, Kaua'i, Molokai, Lānaʻi, and Niihau — through 296 schools (258 traditional public and 38 charter) organized into 15 regional complex areas. School inventory comprises 168 elementary, 39 middle, 34 high, 7 K-12, 7 7-12, and 3 K-8 schools. The system uses a standards-based framework including Common Core, Hawaii Content and Performance Standards III, and Next Generation Science Standards, with no tuition charged to attending families.

The Department's core product is comprehensive K-12 public education, augmented by specialized programs including the Ka Papahana Kaiapuni Hawaiian language immersion K-12 pathway, Career and Technical Education with 13 industry-aligned pathways, Advanced Placement courses at 40 high schools, and dual credit programs (Early College and Running Start) jointly offered with the University of Hawaii. Supporting infrastructure includes the GIS-based SchoolSite Locator App, the electronic Comprehensive Student Support System (eCSSS) for student intervention tracking, school bus service serving approximately 25,000 student riders, and free summer meals that reached nearly 145,000 children. The Department is governed by the State Public Charter School Commission for charter oversight and partners with the Executive Office on Early Learning, Head Start, military installation school liaison officers, and the Joint Venture Education Forum (JVEF, est. 1999) for the military-dependent population.

HIDOE is funded through state budget appropriations and federal grants (including Federal Impact Aid for military-connected populations) rather than through tuition or commercial pricing. The Department reported approximately $5 million in federal grant funding (2024–2026) for a K-12 teacher apprenticeship program that remained largely unspent due to a collective bargaining dispute, with the grant expiring June 2027. The Department employs 10,000+ staff and operates with no parent company, no private ownership, and no equity capital structure.

Name

Hawaii State Department of Education

Legal name

Hawaiʻi State Department of Education

Website

https://hawaiipublicschools.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1840

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The Hawaii State Department of Education operates the sole statewide public K-12 education system in the United States, delivering tuition-free education through 296 schools (258 public, 38 charter) across all Hawaiian islands to approximately 180,000 students, with specialized programs in Hawaiian language immersion, CTE, AP, and dual credit with the University of Hawaii.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB), Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD), Public Special Education Schools & Programs (EDAJAAAH), Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs (EDAJACAF)

Keywords

• K-12 public education
• Charter school programs
• Hawaiian language immersion
• Career technical education
• Advanced placement courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Hawaii State Department of Education operates the sole statewide public K-12 education system in the United States, providing tuition-free education from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 across 296 schools (258 public schools and 38 charter schools) organized into 15 regional complex areas on all major Hawaiian islands. It delivers core academic programs plus specialized offerings including Ka Papahana Kaiapuni Hawaiian language immersion, Career & Technical Education across 13 industry pathways, Advanced Placement courses at 40 high schools, dual credit programs with the University of Hawaii, Comprehensive Student Support Services, transportation, meal programs, and military-family transition support.

Product overview

The Hawaii State Department of Education operates the sole statewide public K-12 education system in the United States, comprising 296 schools (258 traditional public schools and 38 charter schools) organized into 15 regional complex areas. The core offering is the public school system, supplemented by specialized programs including Ka Papahana Kaiapuni (Hawaiian language immersion education K-12), Career & Technical Education (13 industry-aligned pathways), Advanced Placement courses (40 high schools), and Dual Credit Programs (Early College and Running Start with University of Hawaii). Additional services include the SchoolSite Locator geographic tool, Comprehensive Student Support System for student interventions, and EOEL Public Prekindergarten for early childhood education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hawai'i Public Schools K-12 System The core public K-12 education system serving students across the Hawaiian islands, comprising 296 schools (258 public schools and 38 charter schools) organized into 15 regional complex areas. Delivers tuition-free education from pre-kindergarten through grade 12.
• Charter Schools Tuition-free public schools of choice offering diverse learning environments including blended learning, Hawaiian language immersion, arts integration, and project-based learning models. 38 charter schools operate under their own governing boards under performance contracts.
• Ka Papahana Kaiapuni (Hawaiian Language Immersion) K-12 education program conducted entirely in the Hawaiian language, with English introduced as a subject starting in Grade 5. Includes distance learning options and operates across multiple islands.
• Career & Technical Education (CTE) Pathways Programs offering 13 career pathways with industry-validated standards, work-based learning, industry certifications, and dual credit opportunities spanning sectors including Health Services, Information Technology, Construction, and Hospitality.
• Dual Credit Programs (Early College & Running Start) Programs enabling high school students to enroll in University of Hawai'i courses and earn both high school and college credit, including sheltered Early College courses and integrated Running Start courses at UH campuses.
• Advanced Placement (AP) Program College-level courses offered at 40 Hawai'i high schools in subjects including Calculus, English, Biology, and History, allowing students to earn college credit with qualifying AP exam scores of 3 or higher.
• Comprehensive Student Support System (CSSS) Proactive, personalized intervention system providing customized services and support to help students succeed, with an electronic database (eCSSS) for tracking student concerns over time.
• EOEL Public Prekindergarten Program State-coordinated preschool program for 3- and 4-year-old children in the two years before kindergarten entry, offered in collaboration with Head Start and community partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Advanced Placement exams offered at 40 Hawaii high schools in 20+ subjects; students may receive college credit with a score of 3 or higher
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Joint Venture Education Forum (JVEF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in 1999 with support from the late Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, JVEF is a partnership between the Department, military, and community stakeholders to address mutual concerns through meaningful discussion and relationships to promote educational opportunities for Hawaii's children. Partnerships resulting from JVEF improve public schools, supports for military families and children, and community relations.
• Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (MIC3)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children addresses concerns about educational transitions for military families. Commissioner: John Erickson. The compact ensures military-connected children are afforded the same opportunities for educational success as other children.
• State Public Charter School CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe mission of the State Public Charter School Commission is to authorize high-quality public charter schools throughout Hawaii. Located at 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1100, Honolulu, HI 96813, the commission monitors performance and legal compliance of existing charter schools.
• Executive Office on Early Learning (EOEL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Department works with the state's Executive Office on Early Learning to coordinate the EOEL Public Prekindergarten Program for 3- and 4-year-old children who are in the two years before kindergarten entry.
• Head Start and Early Head Start ProgramsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHead Start and Early Head Start programs support mental, social, and emotional development of children from low-income families from birth to age 5. Federal grants are managed by nonprofit agencies including Honolulu Community Action Program (HCAP), Parents and Children Together (PACT), Maui Economic Opportunity Inc., and others across the islands.
• University of HawaiicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual credit programs provide opportunities for Hawaii high school students to enroll in University of Hawaii classes at the 100-level and above and earn both high school and college credit. Programs include Early College and Running Start. The Department and UH jointly released the Early College Strategic Directions in February 2024.
• Perkins V (Career and Technical Education)coreOthersFederal legislation that provided clearer language on CTE course rigor and alignment of secondary and post-secondary education with the workforce. This legislation directly informed the expansion from six CTE Career Pathways to 13.
• Military School Liaison OfficerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool Liaison Officers from Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Army, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Hawaii National Guard assist military families with school enrollment, transitions, and geographic exceptions. Located at military installations across O'ahu, Kaua'i, and Hawai'i Island.
• Purple Star NORBERT Hawaiʻi Award ProgramminorOthersSchools recognized as Purple Star awardees have created a welcoming and safe environment for incoming military-dependent and transitioning students. Multiple military-impacted schools across Hawaii have received this recognition.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Florida Department of Education: State education agency administering public K-12 education across Florida. Comparable to Hawaii DOE in overseeing statewide standards, accountability systems, and CTE pathways, though Florida is district-based.
• New York State Education Department: State education agency for New York, governing public K-12 schools and districts statewide. Provides a comparable state-level regulatory and funding counterpart to Hawaii DOE, with similar oversight of charter schools and graduation requirements.
• Texas Education Agency: State education agency governing K-12 public schools in Texas. Comparable scope and scale of state-level K-12 oversight, with CTE, military-family programs, and statewide assessment similar in structure to Hawaii DOE.
• Los Angeles Unified School District: One of the largest U.S. public K-12 districts, serving diverse student populations including English Learners and military-affiliated students. Comparable scale and breadth of programs but operates as a district rather than a single statewide system.
• California Department of Education: State education agency overseeing K-12 public education across California. Comparable as a state-level public K-12 authority, though California is larger and county-district structured rather than fully statewide.
• Chicago Public Schools: Large urban U.S. public K-12 district. Comparable in operating K-12 schools at scale with magnet/specialty, ELL, and CTE pathways, though city-district rather than statewide in scope.
• New York City Department of Education: The single largest U.S. public school district. Comparable as a large multi-complex K-12 public system with ELL, special education, and dual-language programs analogous to Hawaii's Kaiapuni immersion.

Direct peers

• Idaho State Department of Education: Another smaller state-level education agency. Most directly comparable in being a single statewide department (rather than county-district) overseeing public K-12 funding, charter authorization, and CTE pathways.
• Alaska Department of Education and Early Development: Operates a statewide K-12 system serving geographically dispersed, low-population regions. Closest structural peer to Hawaii DOE in delivering centralized education across many remote, hard-to-reach communities.

Others

• University of Hawaiʻi System: Public university partner of HIDOE for Early College and Running Start dual-credit programs. Adjacent in the educational continuum rather than a competitor, but critical ecosystem partner influencing HIDOE's college readiness outcomes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/hidoe
• Facebookfacebook.com/HIDOE808
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1946139/admin
• Instagraminstagram.com/hawaiipublicschools
• Xx.com/HIDOE808

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hawaii State Department of Education