Kalihi Kai Elementary School: Great Community Vibes in Honolulu (2026 List)

About Kalihi Kai Elementary School

Kalihi Kai Elementary School is located at 626 McNeill Street, Honolulu, in the Kalihi area of Honolulu. The school serves grades PK–5 and enrolls about 542 students. The student–teacher ratio is about 14:1. Recent data show roughly 42% of students are proficient in math and about 40% are proficient in reading. The student body is approximately 51% male and 49% female. The???????????????? school environment has been described as a place where the community vibe is very strong and the staff and families are not only working hand in hand but also supporting learning and inclusion. Real estate in the areas around Honolulu close to Kalihi are mostly single-family homes, which are going for between $700,000 and $1,200,000 approximately. Parents and guardians report that the teachers are compassionate and approachable, fostering a friendly and inclusive environment where children can thrive. By its consistent involvement with the community and paying attention to the needs of the students, Kalihi Kai Elementary School is on the way to becoming one of the top elementary schools in ????????????????Hawaii.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 42%

Reading 40%

State average proficiency is 42% in Math and 40% in Reading.

38

Full-time Teachers

14 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

542

Total Students

$73843

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 0.37%

Asian 70.66%

Hispanic 4.98%

Black 0%

Two+ Races 6.27%

Native Am. 0%

White

0.37%

Asian

70.66%

Hispanic

4.98%

Black

0%

Two+ Races

6.27%

Native Am.

0%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 542

49.08%

266 Female

50.92%

276 Male

Student Population

542 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 14 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

271 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Kalihi Kai Elementary School Contact Information

Address

626 McNeill St, Honolulu, HI, 96817

View on Map

Phone

(808) 832-3322

Call Now

Website

hawaiipublicschools.org

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 8:00 AM - 2:15 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 7:45 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

Kalihi Kai Elementary School’s fourth-grade students toured the voyaging canoe Mo?okiha O Pi?ilani in December 2025 through the Ho?akea program. The experience combined ?aina-based and wa?a-based learning to connect students with Hawaiian science and cultural traditions. The program empowers students with knowledge about caring for Hawai?i’s environment.

FAQ

Q1. How does Kalihi Kai help students learn about how different objects make shadows?

Ans. Students test objects of different shapes in front of a light source and see how the outline of each object changes when the angle and position change.

Q2. How does the school help students find the main points in oral presentations?

Ans. Teachers show students how to listen for key ideas, and then students practice writing down one or two important points after hearing a short talk.

Q3. What routines do students use to keep track of shared science observation kits?

Ans. Students check things in and out, follow the rules for how to handle them, and put tools back in the right compartments after each use.

Q4. How does Kalihi Kai help students compare the natural landforms of islands?

Ans. Students look at pictures of ridges, valleys, beaches, and volcanic craters to learn about the different types of island landscapes.

Q5. How does the school teach kids to use problem-solving language when they read math directions?

Ans. Students learn to look for signal words like "decide," "choose," or "figure out" to know when a task needs reasoning steps.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

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What Parents Say