Hawaii Homeschool Laws and Funding (2026-27)

What Hawaii’s law requires

The law that allows it: Hawaii Revised Statutes 302A-1132(a)(5) excepts a child from compulsory attendance when a notice of intent to homeschool has been submitted to the principal of the public school the child would otherwise attend.

“notification of intent to home school has been submitted to the principal of the public school that the child would otherwise be required to attend in accordance with department rules adopted to achieve this result” Hawaii Revised Statutes 302A-1132, attendance compulsory; exceptions (Hawaii State Legislature)
Telling the state or district: The parent submits Form 4140 (Exceptions to Compulsory Education) or a letter of intent to the school the child would have attended.

“An Exceptions to Compulsory Education Form (Form 4140) (PDF) or letter of intent should be submitted to the school that your child would have been attending.” Hawaii State Department of Education, Homeschool

The department says a new notice of intent is not needed every year.

“No, you do not need to submit a new notice of intent every year.” Hawaii State Department of Education, Homeschool

A new notice goes to the new school's principal if the family moves to another school's area or the child moves to a different school level.

“You must submit a new notice of intent to the principal of the new school if: Your family moves to another school's geographic area; or Your child transitions to a different school level” Hawaii State Department of Education, Homeschool
What and how long to teach: The parent does not submit the curriculum to the school but must keep a record of the planned curriculum.

“No, you are not required to submit your curriculum to the school, but you must keep a record of the planned curriculum that you will be using.” Hawaii State Department of Education, Homeschool
Testing or evaluation: The parent must submit a report on the child's progress every year.

“Yes, you must submit a report on your child's progress yearly.” Hawaii State Department of Education, Homeschool

One allowed method for the yearly report is a written evaluation by a teacher certified to teach in Hawaii.

“A written evaluation by a teacher certified to teach in the State of Hawaiʻi” Hawaii State Department of Education, Homeschool

The department says homeschooled children must have nationally normed standardized test scores in grades 3, 5, 8 and 10.

“Yes, you are required to provide test scores from a nationally-normed standardized assessment for your child in grades 3, 5, 8, and 10.” Hawaii State Department of Education, Homeschool
Records to keep: The record of the planned curriculum should include the program's beginning and ending dates and the number of hours of instruction per week, among other items.

“The record of the planned curriculum should include the following: Beginning date and ending date of the program A record of the number of hours per week spent on instruction” Hawaii State Department of Education, Homeschool
Ages the law covers: Hawaii's attendance law covers children who are at least 5 on or before July 31 of the school year and who will not be 18 by January 1 of the school year.

“all children who will have arrived at the age of at least five years on or before July 31 of the school year, and who will not have arrived at the age of eighteen years, by January 1 of any school year” Hawaii Revised Statutes 302A-1132, attendance compulsory; exceptions (Hawaii State Legislature)

The state’s own page for families: Hawaii State Department of Education, Homeschool.

State money for homeschoolers in Hawaii

We have not found an official source saying a Hawaii program pays homeschooled students.

School choice in Hawaii Private schools in Hawaii

Which states pay homeschoolers, and how: Hawaii next to every other state.

Questions parents ask

Do I have to tell anyone I am homeschooling in Hawaii?

The parent submits Form 4140 (Exceptions to Compulsory Education) or a letter of intent to the school the child would have attended. The department says a new notice of intent is not needed every year. A new notice goes to the new school's principal if the family moves to another school's area or the child moves to a different school level.

Do homeschoolers in Hawaii have to take tests?

The parent must submit a report on the child's progress every year. One allowed method for the yearly report is a written evaluation by a teacher certified to teach in Hawaii. The department says homeschooled children must have nationally normed standardized test scores in grades 3, 5, 8 and 10.

Can a homeschooler in Hawaii get state money?

We have not found an official source saying a Hawaii program pays homeschooled students.

Every line above is our plain-English summary of the quoted text, which is copied from the official page named beside it. Laws change: the quoted page is the authority, and a lawyer or the state can answer questions about your family.

Homeschooling in Hawaii: what the law requires and who pays

What Hawaii’s law requires

State money for homeschoolers in Hawaii

Questions parents ask

Homeschool law in other states