Pacific Resources for Education and Learning
Enhancing community well-being through partnerships in education
About PREL
State of Hawai‘i, USA
The State of Hawai'i is the largest and most populous area in the region PREL serves, with 6,425 square miles and 1,275,194 people (est. 2005). The volcanic Hawaiian Islands, 2,400 miles from the U.S. West Coast, are the center of much trade, commerce, and industry for the whole Pacific. Indigenous Pacific Islanders constitute a minority within its diverse population, which includes Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos, and Caucasians. Its capital, Honolulu, is a major urban center, but many residents live in rural and remote areas. The economy of Hawai'i is based on tourism, the U.S. military, and agriculture.
Culture
Indigenous Pacific Islanders constitute a minority within Hawaii's diverse population, which includes Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos, and Caucasians. Hawai`i became the 50th state of the Union in 1959 and has since been the hub of America's naval fleet in the Pacific. Hawai`i is also a destination for tourists from all over the world.
Language
The Hawaiian language is experiencing a revival, along with the renewed interest in Native Hawaiian culture. With probably the fewest letters of any alphabet in the world, the Hawaiian language is spoken and taught in Hawaiian Immersion Schools and also at the University of Hawai`i at Manoa. Useful greetings are provided with English translations and phonetic pronunciations on Language Cards.
Education
The educational system of Hawai`i is the same as the continental U.S. There are 285 public schools with an enrollment of 181,355 students where children attend preschool, followed by elementary school grades K-5, then intermediate or middle school grades 6-8. High school consists of grades 9-12.
For higher education, students may choose from the University of Hawai`i system of universities and colleges, Hawai`i Pacific University, and Brigham Young University of Hawai`i.
PREL Service Center, Honolulu (Main Office)
900 Fort Street Mall - Suite 1300
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 441-1300
Fax: (808) 441-1385
AskPREL
PREL Service Center, Maui
353 Hanamau Street, #21
Kahului, HI 96732
Phone: (808) 258-4362
Email: mauisc@prel.org
Hawai'i Department of Education
Ms. Kathryn Matayoshi, Superintendent of Education
1390 Miller Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 2360
Honolulu, HI 96804
Phone: (808) 586-3310
Fax: (808) 586-3320
www.k12.hi.us
Institutions of Higher Education
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Dr. Christine K. Sorensen, Dean
College of Education
1776 University Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96822
Phone: (808) 956-7703
Fax: (808) 956-4271
Email: sorens@hawaii.edu
www.hawaii.edu
Government
Airline Service
All Major Airlines
Contact PREL
Pacific Resources for Education and Learning
Phone:
(808) 441-1300
U.S. Toll-free Phone:
(800) 377-4773
AskPREL
Phone:
(808) 441-1300
U.S. Toll-free Phone:
(800) 377-4773
AskPREL
About PREL
Click here to view our video about PREL!
Our Pacific Region Leaflet