Tuition and Financial Aid

A Punahou education is a gift and an investment towards your child’s future. Students are admitted to Punahou based on their potential to thrive, not on their family’s ability to pay. Our deep commitment to financial aid allows us to attract and enroll the best and brightest students. Supported by the generosity of our donors, we are able to offer over $10 million in need-based financial aid each year.

$32,930

Tuition for 2025 – 2026 School Year

$10.8 Million

Annual Financial Aid Budget

23%

Percentage of Students Receiving Financial Aid

$12,600

Average Financial Aid Award

Overview

At Punahou, we believe that the opportunity to dream, discover, and fulfill one’s kuleana should be accessible to all families, regardless of financial circumstance. Rooted in our values as the children of Ka Punahou, the new spring, our financial aid program serves as a vital thread in the mat we weave together, a mat that seats many, welcoming students from diverse backgrounds and life experiences.

Financial aid at Punahou is a partnership between families and the school, built on trust, shared responsibility, and a commitment to educational excellence. We are dedicated to fostering a learning community where all students can thrive, contribute, and deepen their service to Hawai‘i and the world.

Exploring Financial Aid at Punahou

Four interconnected steps that honor our shared kuleana and the partnership between school and ‘ohana. Your thorough, timely application weaves the last fibers into the mat, opening space for your keiki to dream, discover, and thrive at Punahou.

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  • Step 1: Family Conversations – Planting the Seed

    Begin your journey by talking story as an ʻohana:
     
    • Reflect on how education shapes your keiki’s dreams and sense of kuleana to Hawai‘i and the world.
    • Discuss how Punahou’s values of exploration, service, and belonging resonate with your own.
    • These early conversations weave the first strands of the mat we will share together.

  • Step 2: Learn & Discover – Exploring Financial Aid Resources

    As partners, we invite you to deepen that conversation:
     
    • Join an online Financial Aid Information Session or Coffee Chat (see Upcoming Events).
    • Review the Punahou Financial Aid Packet (available on August 1) to understand how our need‑based program removes financial barriers and keeps the mat open to many kinds of families.
    • Through these resources you will see how our policies reflect transparency, equity, and aloha.

  • Step 3: Establish Your Priorities – Preparing to Sit at the Mat

    After learning more about how financial aid at Punahou works in partnership with families:

    • Examine your household budget and identify lifestyle adjustments that support an investment in your child’s Punahou journey.
    • Consider how your family will share in the responsibility of sustaining this partnership. This step ensures that, together, we uphold the financial stewardship that keeps our community vibrant and accessible.

  • Step 4: Gather & Apply – Completing the Parent Financial Statement

    Finally, help us understand your family’s full story:
     
    • Collect required documents using the Checklist (available on August 1).
    • Complete the Parent Financial Statement through SSS
    • Upload all materials to your secure portal.
    • Optional: schedule time with the Director of Financial Aid for any questions.

Applying for Financial Aid

Financial aid awards take into account a variety of considerations including, but not limited to, income (both taxable and non-taxable), assets, net worth, basic living expenses, family size and tuition expenses for children attending tuition-charging schools (except graduate school.) Financial aid awards are need-based and not based on a student’s academic, artistic or athletic abilities.

Should I apply? Every family's situation is different. After evaluating your budget and maximizing your resources, if you are concerned if a Punahou education is within reach, then we encourage you to apply.

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Important Financial Aid Dates

Punahou Financial Aid Information Webinars
(Optional)
October 22, 2025 at 6:30 pm (via WebEx)
January 13, 2026 at 6:30 pm (via WebEx)
Punahou Financial Aid Coffees
(Optional) 
September 8, 2025 at 9:00am (via WebEx)
October 19, 2025 at 9:00am (via WebEx)
December 10, 2025 at 9:00am (via WebEx)
Financial Aid Application Available
September 2, 2025
Financial Aid Deadline for currently enrolled families

Financial Aid Application Deadline for applicant families
October 15, 2025
 

February 17, 2026

Timeline for Admissions Applicants

Tuition

We recognize that Punahou represents a significant investment for any family. We are deeply grateful for the support of our many donors. Their generous gifts, together with income generated by the School’s permanent endowment, partially underwrite the cost of a Punahou education, ensuring that families do not bear the full cost of educating their children. Tuition costs are reviewed annually.

2025 – 2026 Tuition

Kindergarten – Grade 12: $32,930
Included in tuition is a fully integrated technology program (iPads and laptops), extensive outdoor education curriculum (including field trips and overnight trips), various supplies, student government activities, publications, and a yearbook.

The cost of lunch and snacks are not included in tuition. Additional fees may apply for students in Grades 6 – 12.

Payment Options

Punahou offers the following payment options:

Annual
Tuition is paid in one installment on or before July 24. Participation in the Tuition Refund Plan (TRP) is optional.

Semester
Tuition is paid in two installments. The first payment is due on or before July 24. The second payment is due on or before December 24. Participation in the TRP is required.

Monthly
Tuition is paid in ten monthly installments. The first payment is due on or before July 24. Subsequent payments are due on or before the 24th of each month through April. Participation in the TRP is required. In addition, a $20 per month handling charge will apply (total of $200 per academic year). 

A finance charge of 1% per month shall be charged on any unpaid balance after the due date.

Tuition Insurance

Punahou offers the Tuition Refund Plan (TRP), an insurance policy that provides for the payment of unpaid tuition in the event a student withdraws from school during the school year. Participation in the TRP is required of families who choose the Monthly or Semester payment options, as well as families who receive financial aid. For the 2025 – 2026 school year, the TRP premium is $182 and is payable with the first tuition payment in July. Additional information about the TRP is available here.

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