Hongwanji Mission School
Hawaiʻi School Guide ｜ Written by: Academia Tutor School Editorial Team / Supervised by: Yamahi
- Private, co-ed Buddhist school, preschool through Grade 8, in Nuʻuanu Valley next to downtown Honolulu. Founded in 1949; the school calls itself the first Buddhist school outside of Japan. About 400 students.
- Every level takes applications — Preschool (age 3), Pre-K, Kindergarten and Grades 1–8 — with year-round enrollment when space allows.
- Next deadline: the school has not posted a 2027–28 calendar. Its admissions page says applications are taken in the fall for the following school year and encourages applying by early December (no year is given, and there is no hard deadline).
- Tuition: $14,300 a year for all grades, as listed on the website (no school year is given).
Basic information
Which grades can you enter?
- Applications are accepted for Preschool/Pre-K, Kindergarten and Grades 1–8. The school offers year-round enrollment on a space-available basis. Families can also enroll for just Preschool and Pre-K.
- Preschool: your child must be 3 years old by October 31 of the school year and toilet-trained. A separate Pre-K age cutoff is not stated.
- Kindergarten: your child must be 5 years old by December 31 of the school year.
- Grades 1–8: age requirements are flexible.
- Preference is given to siblings of current students and children of staff, ministers or temple members.
Admissions timeline (no year posted)
ApplicationFinancial aidAid decision
Every applicant also needs a birth certificate or passport, current and last year’s progress reports, any standardized test scores, and reference reports from teachers or caregivers (sent by email). Parents have an interview with the head of school. The website does not give a decision date or an enrollment deposit — ask the school.
“Early December” is a suggestion, not a deadline, and the school accepts applications year-round when space allows — but the website gives no decision date, so applying in the fall is the safer plan. Also note the age rules: 3 by October 31 for preschool and 5 by December 31 for kindergarten. Cutoff dates differ from school to school, so check each school you apply to.
Tuition and financial aid
- Annual tuition: $14,300, one figure for all grades, as listed on the school’s tuition page (no school year is given). A 5% discount applies for the second and third child.
- Preschool and Pre-K include lunch and morning and afternoon snacks. School lunch: $950 a year, or $6.00 per lunch.
- The admissions page lists an application fee but not the amount — ask the school.
- Financial aid is applied for through FACTS, with the current and previous year’s Form 1040. The deadline is May 31 (no year given); the committee meets in mid-June to decide.
Applying from outside Hawaiʻi
- The school’s website does not mention international students, F-1 visas, boarding or English test requirements — call the school at 808-532-0522.
- Grades 1–8 applicants spend a full school day on campus for the classroom visitation, so plan a visit to Honolulu.
How Academia Tutor School can help
Our Private School Entrance Exam Prep program prepares children for the parts of admission that are hard to practice at home: group observations like Hongwanji’s, readiness and grade-level assessments in reading, math and writing, and a full day in a new classroom. Lessons run Monday to Friday after school, private or in groups of up to five. In 2026, our students were admitted to 23 schools.
No tutoring program can promise admission, and we do not. Our goal is for your child to walk in calm and ready to show who they are.
Related: Hawaii private school application deadlines for 2027–28 · Hawaiʻi School Guide
Sources
Hongwanji Mission School, “Home,” “About,” “Admissions,” “Tuition Info,” “Academics,” “Tour” and “Summer School” (hongwanjimissionschool.com). Information as of October 24, 2026. Details change every year — always confirm with the school. Academia Tutor School is not affiliated with Hongwanji Mission School.
