Kohala Elementary School

Kohala Elementary School is an elementary-level community of mid-tier scale in Kapaau, Hawaii, operated by Hawaii Department of Education, caters to 381 students in grades pre-K through 5.

Kohala Elementary School is one of 296 schools operated by Hawaii Department of Education, a district that enrolls 167,071 students overall.

In terms of who attends, Kohala Elementary School shows that the largest single group is Hispanic at 31%, but no single group is in the majority. Other groups include 26% Pacific Islander, 24% multiracial, 11% White, 9% Asian. The wider county runs roughly 12% Hispanic, putting the school's mix considerably more Hispanic than the area baseline.

On the resource side, The school currently runs with 26 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 14.7:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.8:1, putting Kohala Elementary School higher than the state norm the norm. Roughly 56% of students at Kohala Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal.

Around the school, ACS estimates for Hawaii County put the typical household earns roughly $78,639 per year, 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 10%. Kohala Elementary School is one of 55 public schools in Hawaii County (combined enrollment of about 27,129 students).

Nearest neighbor: Kohala High School, around 0.1 miles off. Within five miles, there are 2 other public schools.

The school occupies a rural site.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Kohala Elementary School has edged up 15%, going from 330 students in 2018 to 381 in 2025. Over the same period, the Hispanic share edged up from 25% to 31%.

In the discussion threads here, members of the Kohala Elementary School community share and discuss classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. The community welcomes input from current and former families.