Welcome!

Kamehameha students are encouraged to develop second language skills. Such skills permit direct access to a variety of cultures, prepare students for college, and can be helpful in a variety of work situations. Currently, about two-thirds of the four-year colleges Kamehameha students attend have a language entrance requirement of two or more years in the same language. Second language skills are useful in travel industries, human services including health care, and preschool through post-secondary education careers.

HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM

Three years of French, four years of Japanese, four years of Mandarin, five years of Spanish and six years of Hawaiian are offered at Kapālama. Advanced Placement Japanese is also offered. Two consecutive years of the same language are required for graduation from Kamehameha. (Note: A fourth year or higher in any language, taken in grade 12, meets one of the grade 12 requirements for an Honors diploma. See Honors Program section for more information.)

ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language) Proficiency

Classes 2020 and 2021

All Kamehameha High School students, regardless of prior Hawaiian language study or experience, must demonstrate a level of Hawaiian language proficiency in the areas of listening, reading, speaking and writing:

  1. Through a series of assessments OR
  2. C- or higher in the second semester of Hawaiian 1 along with current Hawaiian 1 teacher recommendation OR
  3. Department head approval in consultation with high school administration

Classes 2022 and Beyond

All Kamehameha High School students, regardless of prior Hawaiian language study or experience, must demonstrate a level of Hawaiian language proficiency through:

  1. Satisfactory completion of Hawaiian 1 and 2 OR
  2. Departmental approval (which may include assessment)

THE SUMMER PROGRAM

First year courses comparable to a full year in the grade 9-12 program are offered in Hawaiian, Japanese and Spanish. See the Summer School catalog or the grade level counselor for more information.