The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in English language arts. The lowest is 39% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Kahakai Elementary School
Kahakai Elementary School sits in Kailua-Kona, the commercial and tourism center of Hawaii island's west side. The town grew from a small fishing village into a resort and residential hub, and the pace of that growth has shaped everything around the school. Real estate and construction have boomed, driven by tourism and outside investment, and the area continues to draw new families. Ali'i Drive, the oceanfront main street designated as a Hawaii Scenic Byway, anchors a walkable downtown core of shops, historic churches, and hotels, while the broader community spreads out well beyond that strip. The school is one of several public campuses serving the Kona side, operating under the statewide Hawaii Department of Education.
The school serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade and is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet campus. Its enrollment is moderate for an elementary in this area. The student body reflects the Kona community's mixed character. Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students make up the largest group, followed by Hispanic students, then a sizable share of students identifying as two or more races. White and Asian students each represent smaller portions. A little over half the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, which gives a sense of the economic range the school serves. The data did not include figures for English learners or students with individualized education programs, so those shares are unknown here.
On state assessments, Kahakai's results tell a mixed story. In math, proficiency across third, fourth, and fifth grades sits in a similar range, with roughly four out of ten students meeting or exceeding the standard. English language arts starts lower in third grade but climbs noticeably by fourth and fifth, where closer to half the students reach proficiency. Fifth-grade science lands in between, with a moderate share of students proficient. Participation was essentially full across all tested grades. The data covers only the most recent school year, so there is no trend to compare against. Average scale scores were not reported, which limits the picture to proficiency rates alone.
For a parent reading these results, the clearest takeaway is that the school's upper elementary ELA outcomes are stronger than its math outcomes, and that a substantial portion of students in every tested grade are not yet at proficiency. The upward movement in ELA from third to fifth grade suggests some growth within the building, though without multiple years of data it is hard to say whether that reflects the school's instruction, the cohort, or both. A parent weighing this school may want to ask how the school supports students below proficiency, particularly in math, and what intervention or enrichment structures are in place.
The housing market around Kahakai is expensive by national standards and steep even relative to the rest of the state. Home values in the school's zip code sit well above the national benchmark and above the state average, with a recent modest decline year over year. Rents have moved in the opposite direction, rising sharply. The gap between a monthly mortgage and monthly rent is wide enough that renting is meaningfully cheaper than buying at current prices and rates, and rent absorbs a large portion of typical household income. For families moving into the area, the cost of housing is a real constraint on school choice, since many Kona-side campuses draw from overlapping zones.
Kailua-Kona's economy runs on tourism, hospitality, and the airport, with seasonal events like the Ironman World Championship bringing surges of activity. The Kona coffee industry and nearby natural and historical sites give the area a distinct identity beyond the resorts. Public details on the district's recent policy or curriculum changes were sparse, so there is little to report on specific initiatives that might affect Kahakai directly.
What the school offers families is a community-rooted elementary education in a fast-growing town, with a diverse student body and assessment results that show real strength in upper-grade reading but a larger hill to climb in math. Families considering Kahakai would do well to visit and ask about academic support, classroom resources, and how the school is responding to the area's continued growth.
See more original research from School Decision →