Mary, Star of the Sea School
Hawaiʻi School Guide ｜ Written by: Academia Tutor School Editorial Team / Supervised by: Yamahi
- Catholic co-ed elementary and middle school, kindergarten through Grade 8, on a 14-acre campus in Waialae-Kahala, Honolulu. Founded in 1946 by the Diocese of Honolulu; it serves students of all denominations.
- Every grade, K–8, accepts new students. No SSAT; the school gives its own entrance exam in February.
- Next deadline: enrollment is open year-round, but the school encourages applying by Dec. 15 (no year is given on the page). Open House: Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026.
- Tuition 2026–27: $14,700 (K–8, tuition and fees); $21,505 for the English as a Second Language (ESL) program.
Basic information
Which grades can you enter?
- The school admits students at every grade level, kindergarten through Grade 8, and enrollment is open year-round. The website does not publish seat numbers or enrollment.
- Kindergarten: the website does not publish a birth-date cutoff (it is not in the 2025–26 Parent-Student Handbook either) — ask the school.
- The school does not offer short-term enrollment (six months or less).
- Preschool is not part of this school. Mary, Star of the Sea Early Learning Center, on the same campus, has its own website and admissions.
Admissions timeline
The school has not posted a dated 2027–28 admissions calendar. The online application already offers the “Aug 2027 – June 2028” school year, while the home page banner still says applications are being accepted for 2026–2027. The timeline below shows only the dates the school has posted, with their year.
ApplicationScholarshipOpen house & examSchool year
The website does not give a decision date or an enrollment deadline — ask the school when you apply.
Applications are accepted year-round, but the entrance exam is scheduled in February and the school encourages applying by Dec. 15 — families aiming for the 2027–28 school year should not wait. And the school has two tuition levels: students in the ESL program pay $21,505 instead of $14,700, so families of children still learning English should ask which one applies.
Tuition and financial aid
- Tuition and fees for 2026–27: $14,700 (Grades K–8); $21,505 for the ESL program (Grades K–8). According to the Parent-Student Handbook, comprehensive fees (books, technology, testing and others) are included.
- Application fee: $100, non-refundable. New families pay a non-refundable $200 deposit to reserve a place; it is applied to tuition.
- Payment through FACTS: in full, in two payments (July and November) or in 11 monthly payments; the Tuition Refund Plan is required for the payment plans. Card payments carry a 3% surcharge. There is a sibling discount (the amount is not listed).
- Scholarships: the Mary, Star of the Sea Scholarship window is Jan. 1 – Mar. 1, 2027 and uses the Augustine Educational Foundation application (that foundation’s own window is Jan. 7 – Mar. 1, 2027). The page also lists other outside scholarships, but some of their dates are out of date — check each one with its provider. The school does not publish how many families receive aid.
Applying from outside Hawaiʻi
- The school issues the I-20 to F-1 student visa applicants. International steps: the application (with a visa or green card if you have one), a parent questionnaire, the I-20, then enrollment.
- ESL is available at all grade levels, K–8. Students who do not speak English may spend most of the school day with the ESL instructor.
- The school does not offer enrollment of six months or less.
- The website does not mention an English test requirement, boarding or homestay — ask the school through its admissions page.
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: a school’s own entrance exam, evaluations and parent interviews, and the reading, vocabulary and math skills behind them. 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
Mary, Star of the Sea School, home page, “About,” “Curriculum Overview,” “Contact,” “Admissions,” “Application Process,” “Admissions Application,” “Tuition Info,” “Scholarships & Financial Aid,” “English as a Second Language (ESL),” “Open House” and the 2025–26 Parent-Student Handbook. Information as of October 24, 2026. Details change every year — always confirm with the school. Academia Tutor School is not affiliated with Mary, Star of the Sea School.
