Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School

Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School, a low-enrollment primary school in Papaikou, Hawaii, overseen by Hawaii Department of Education, instructs 183 students, covering grades pre-K through 6. Compared to the state average of about 438 students per school, that is 58% smaller than typical.

Across the 296 schools in Hawaii Department of Education (167,071 students total), Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Looking at the student body, Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School logs that the most-represented group is Hispanic (31%), with the rest of the student body spread across multiple groups. The remainder reads as 29% Pacific Islander, 19% multiracial, 13% Asian, 9% White. By comparison, Hawaii County as a whole is about 12% Hispanic, so the school skews considerably more Hispanic than its surroundings.

Looking at school resources, On paper, Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School has 15 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 12.2:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.8:1, putting Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School tighter than the state norm the norm. Around 70% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, often used as a Title I proxy. By comparison, Hawaii County runs at roughly 59%, so the school's eligibility rate is above the surrounding baseline.

In the area at large, Hawaii County reports that median household income runs about $78,639, roughly 31% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 10%. Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School is one of 55 public schools in Hawaii County (combined enrollment of about 27,129 students).

Haaheo Elementary School is the nearest neighboring public school, about 3.2 miles from this campus. 5 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius.

The school occupies a town-based site.

Trend over the last 7 years. Over the past 7-year window, the student count fell 44%: 328 students in 2018 compared to 183 in 2025. Hispanic enrollment moved from 12% to 31% across the same window.

On this page, recent activity here tends to focus on classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. The community welcomes input from current and former families.