Financial Aid at Hawaiʻi Private Schools: How Need-Based Aid Works and When to Apply

Written by: Academia Tutor School Editorial Team / Supervised by: Yamahi

Tuition at Punahou, ʻIolani and Mid-Pacific is above $32,000 a year for 2026–27. This page explains how need-based aid works, which service each school uses, when to apply for 2027–28, and who may not be eligible. Everything here comes from the schools’ own tuition and financial aid pages, checked on October 24, 2026. Rules differ by school, so we stick to what each school states.

How much aid do schools give?

Mid-Pacific also reports that about 85% of its aid applicants received an award. Le Jardin says awards generally range from 10% to 60% of tuition.

How is “need” worked out?

• The basic idea: ʻIolani defines financial need as “the difference between family resources and the educational expenses of a student.” Aid fills part of that gap.
• The platform calculates, the school decides. Mid-Pacific says it awards a percentage of the family need calculated by Clarity. Punahou describes a holistic review of the family’s entire financial profile.
• Both parents usually count. ʻIolani requires both biological parents to complete the Clarity application, including divorced or separated parents. Mid-Pacific asks dual households to submit the non-custodial parent’s Clarity application.
• Aid is renewed each year. ʻIolani recalculates aid every year and renews it if families apply on time and still qualify. Mid-Pacific says it continues to try to assist as long as financial need continues. Returning families have their own, earlier deadlines (Punahou Sept. 18, 2026; ʻIolani Sept. 20, 2026).

Which platform and which deadline?

Two schools post more than one date. Le Jardin’s financial aid page says Jan. 15 while its admissions timeline says Feb. 15, and St. Andrew’s lists Feb. 15 on its aid page and Feb. 16 on its K–12 timeline. In both cases, plan for the earlier date and confirm with the school.

What documents will you need?

• ʻIolani (new families): all 2026 W-2s, December 2026 paystubs, the filed 2025 IRS Form 1040 with schedules and 2025 W-2s; business owners also send a January–December 2026 profit-and-loss statement.
• Mid-Pacific: it depends on your situation — for example, 2025 business tax returns and K-1s for business owners, and mortgage or HELOC statements and property assessments for property owners. Applications are not complete until every document is uploaded.
• Hongwanji Mission School: the current and previous year’s Form 1040.
• ʻIolani notes that additional documents may be requested depending on property ownership, business ownership or other circumstances.

Does applying for aid hurt your chances?

Punahou says applying for financial aid “will not have any impact” on the admission decision and calls its admission need-blind. ʻIolani says admission and aid decisions are made independently. The other schools’ pages we checked do not address this, so ask if it matters to you. At Mid-Pacific, most new families hear about aid in March 2027, together with the admission decision.

Who may not be eligible: preschool and international families

• Mid-Pacific: “Financial aid is not available for Preschool or International students.”
• ʻIolani: applicants must be able to complete the Clarity application and submit U.S. tax documents for both parents. Aid is not available for international students in the boarding program.
• St. Andrew’s: no school-based aid for preschool. Le Jardin: aid is for Grades K–12.
• Punahou and Hanahauʻoli: their pages do not address international families — contact the financial aid office before you apply.

Merit scholarships are different

A few schools also offer scholarships that are not based on need, though none of those below is for kindergarten. Le Jardin has merit scholarships for students entering Grades 7 and 9; St. Andrew’s has the Queen Emma Merit Scholarship (half tuition) for Grades 6, 7 and 9; and Sacred Hearts has the Henriette Memorial Scholarship for Grade 9. ʻIolani says it does not award merit scholarships, and Mid-Pacific’s named scholarships are all need-based.

For families abroad

• If your income is earned outside the United States and you do not file U.S. taxes, check eligibility first: ʻIolani asks for U.S. tax documents, and Mid-Pacific gives no aid to international students.
• Schools that issue a Form I-20 for an F-1 visa ask for proof of funds. Mid-Pacific, for example, asks for a bank statement covering one year of tuition, fees and living expenses.
• All deadlines are Hawaii time.

How Academia Tutor School can help

Our Private School Entrance Exam Prep program helps children prepare for interviews, group activities and assessments, so families can focus on paperwork like financial aid without leaving the child’s preparation to the last minute. Lessons run Monday to Friday after school, private or in groups of up to five. In 2026, our students were admitted to 23 schools. We do not give financial or tax advice — please direct questions about aid to each school’s financial aid office.

No tutoring program can promise admission, and we do not. Our goal is for your child to walk into the assessment calm and ready to show who they are.

Related

• Applying to a Hawaiʻi private school for kindergarten
• Hawaii private school application deadlines for 2027–28
• Hawaiʻi School Guide — including Punahou, ʻIolani, Mid-Pacific, Hanahauʻoli, Sacred Hearts, Le Jardin, St. Andrew’s and Hongwanji Mission School

Sources

• Punahou School, “Tuition and Financial Aid” (punahou.edu/admissions/tuition-and-financial-aid)
• ʻIolani School, “Financial Aid” (iolani.org/admission/day/financial-aid), “Day Student Tuition,” “Boarding Tuition and Financial Aid”
• Mid-Pacific Institute, “Tuition and Financial Aid” (midpac.edu/admissions/tuition-and-financial-aid) and “International Program”
• Hanahauʻoli School, “Tuition and Fees” and “Financial Aid” (hanahauoli.org)
• Le Jardin Academy, “Tuition,” “Financial Aid and Scholarships” and “Apply Now” (lejardinacademy.org)
• St. Andrew’s Schools, “Tuition,” “Financial Aid and Scholarships” and “Applying to K–12” (standrewsschools.org)
• Sacred Hearts Academy, “Affordability” and 2026–2027 Tuition and Fees (sacredhearts.org)
• Hongwanji Mission School, “Tuition Info” (hongwanjimissionschool.com)

Information as of October 24, 2026. Amounts and deadlines change every year — always confirm with each school’s financial aid office. Academia Tutor School is not affiliated with the schools mentioned.