Hawaiian Language Renaissance Hits Milestone as Immersion Schools Report Record Enrollment

Enrollment in Hawaiian language immersion schools across the state has surpassed 4,000 students for the first time, marking a major milestone in the decades-long effort to revitalize a language that was once on the brink of extinction.

The Department of Education reported 4,127 students enrolled in Kaiapuni (immersion) programs at 25 schools statewide for the 2025-2026 academic year — a 22 percent increase from five years ago. The numbers include students from preschool through 12th grade who receive instruction primarily in Hawaiian.

“In the 1980s, there were fewer than 50 children who could speak Hawaiian,” said Dr. Keiki Kawaiaea, director of the Ka Haka Ula O Keelikolani College of Hawaiian Language at UH Hilo. “Now we have over 4,000 learning through Hawaiian. That’s not just survival — that’s a renaissance.”

The growth has been driven by new immersion programs opening in communities where demand long outpaced availability. This year, new Kaiapuni tracks launched at schools in Kapolei, Kailua, and Lahaina, with waitlists at all three. The DOE plans to add four more programs by 2028.

Research by UH Manoa’s College of Education shows that immersion students perform at or above their English-medium peers in standardized testing by fifth grade, after an initial adjustment period. Bilingual graduates report higher college enrollment rates and stronger connections to cultural identity.

The renaissance extends beyond schools. Hawaiian language podcasts, social media content, and a Hawaiian-language news broadcast on public television have created an ecosystem where the language is increasingly visible in daily life. Google added Hawaiian to Google Translate last year, and Apple recently released a Hawaiian keyboard and predictive text for iOS.