Hānai i ke keiki, ola ka lāhui
We champion every Hawaiian learner to explore their potential to lead our lāhui and inspire the world. Hānai i ke keiki, ola ka lāhui. Nurture the child and the lāhui thrives.
Keiki at the center
The enduring legacy of a princess who had a deep desire to see her people flourish continues to transform the lives of countless keiki. Ke Ali‘i Bernice Pauahi Bishop recognized the power of education to uplift Native Hawaiians and offer hope for their future.
Just as learning is a lifelong adventure, the commitment of Kamehameha Schools to provide exceptional educational opportunities is a never-ending journey. Even with all the progress made, it’s clear we must address the broader context and systems that impact learner outcomes. We understand the importance of meeting the needs of the whole child by also caring for the communities they live in and being responsible stewards of our land.
By working to remove barriers to learning, we help students deepen their connection to culture and ‘āina. Building upon the knowledge passed down by their ancestors, they’re prepared to navigate challenges and opportunities in our modern society. In order to achieve meaningful change, we must coordinate and align with others to create a better Hawai‘i.
Our impact
By operating world-class Hawaiian schools and engaging with communities to transform educational systems, we will raise ‘ōiwi leaders who are empowered and unified, and who will solve the issues of our people and communities.
WORLD-CLASS SCHOOLS
Educate and empower ‘ōiwi leaders who are grounded in E Ola!, by operating world-class campuses that share a commitment to Hawaiian culture-based education.
RESILIENT COMMUNITIES
Engage with communities to educate and empower ‘ōiwi leaders to build resilient economies.
GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE PERFORMANCE
Deliver as an integrated enterprise that is globally competitive in each of its lines of business.
Our vision
Within a generation of twenty-five years, we see a thriving lāhui where our learners achieve postsecondary educational success, enabling good life and career choices. We also envision that our learners will be grounded in Christian and Hawaiian values and will be leaders who contribute to their communities, both locally and globally.
Our mission
Kamehameha Schools’ mission is to fulfill Pauahi’s desire to create educational opportunities in perpetuity to improve the capability and well-being of people of Hawaiian ancestry.
Ke Ali‘i Bernice Pauahi’s will
Upon her passing on October 16, 1884, our founder Ke Ali‘i Bernice Pauahi Bishop, through Article 13 of her will, established the Kamehameha Schools. This will, as our enduring legacy, provides, in relevant parts, that we
- operate two schools, one for boys, one for girls, with boarding and day students,
- devote a portion of our budget to orphans and others in indigent circumstances,
- give preference to Native Hawaiians, and
- provide a good education in the common English branches, with instruction in morals and in such other useful knowledge as may tend to make good and industrious men and women.
