School year planning

Hawaii School Calendar

Hawaii schools typically start in early August and wrap up late May.

Districts set their own calendars, so use the dates below as a guide and confirm with your local school system.

When does school start?

early August

When does school end?

late May

Winter break

roughly the last two weeks of December through early January

Spring break

two weeks in mid-to-late March

About the Hawaii school year

Hawaii is the only US state with a single unified statewide school district — the Hawaii Department of Education — covering all public schools across every island. This means the calendar is largely uniform statewide, though the approximately 37 public charter schools may follow slightly different schedules. The DOE mandates 180 instructional days and typically releases a multi-year calendar in advance. Holomua Elementary, a multi-track year-round campus, follows a different schedule.

Largest school districts in Hawaii

  • Hawaii Department of Education (single statewide district)
  • Hawaii Public Charter Schools (statewide commission)

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Frequently Asked Questions

When does school start in Hawaii?

Hawaii public schools typically begin in early August, usually in the first or second week of the month. Because Hawaii has a single statewide school district, the start date is uniform across the state, though charter schools may vary slightly.

When is spring break in Hawaii?

Spring break in Hawaii public schools is typically two weeks long and falls in mid-to-late March. This is longer than the one-week spring break common in most other states.

When does the school year end in Hawaii?

The Hawaii public school year generally concludes in late May, with the exact date set by the Department of Education's multi-year calendar. Students typically complete 180 instructional days.

How long is winter break in Hawaii schools?

Winter break in Hawaii public schools runs for roughly two weeks, typically from just before Christmas through the first few days of January, with students returning in early January.

Want to count down the days? Browse school countdowns or see school calendars for every state.

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