Keonepoko Elementary School

Keonepoko Elementary School is an average-sized primary school in Pahoa, Hawaii, one of the schools within Hawaii Department of Education. The school caters to 565 students in grades pre-K through 6. That puts it 29% larger than the typical public school in Hawaii, which averages around 438 students.

Hawaii Department of Education comprises 296 schools with combined enrollment of 167,071 students; Keonepoko Elementary School is among them.

Looking at the student body, Keonepoko Elementary School records that 35% of students identify as Hispanic, with the remaining enrollment distributed across several groups; the rest reads as 35% Pacific Islander, 17% multiracial, 9% White, 2% Asian. By comparison, Hawaii County as a whole is about 12% Hispanic, so the school skews noticeably more Hispanic than its surroundings.

Looking at the economic backdrop, On paper, Keonepoko Elementary School has 45 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 12.6:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.8:1, putting Keonepoko Elementary School tighter than the state norm the norm. About 70% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. By comparison, Hawaii County runs at roughly 59%, so the school's eligibility rate is above the surrounding baseline.

In the surrounding community, census data for Hawaii County shows the typical household earns roughly $78,639 per year, 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 10%. Keonepoko Elementary School is one of 55 public schools in Hawaii County (combined enrollment of about 27,129 students).

Nearest neighbor: Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science PCS, around 2.1 miles off. Within five miles, there are 3 other public schools.

Geographically, the school is in a rural area.

Over the past 7-year window. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Keonepoko Elementary School has declined 7%, going from 607 students in 2018 to 565 in 2025. Class-load math has tightened: from 14.1:1 in 2018 to 12.6:1 in 2025.

Inside the community feed, posts here usually surface around enrollment questions, classroom assignments, and PTA news. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.