Financial Aid FAQs

Hanahau‘oli School is committed to having a diverse student body reflecting a broad economic mix. While financial aid resources are limited, every effort is made to make a Hanahau‘oli education affordable for all who wish to enroll.

As an independent school, Hanahau‘oli does not receive funding from the state or federal government. To offset educational expenses, we charge tuition for each student. Tuition alone, however, does not cover the cost of educating each child. The School's endowment and gifts from alumni, parents and friends help close the gap. Because some families are unable to afford the full tuition fee at Hanahau‘oli, we offer financial aid on the basis of demonstrated need for those who qualify.

What is Financial Aid?

At Hanahau‘oli School, financial aid consists of tuition grants which do not need to be repaid. However, we hope that the recipient and the recipient's family will make an effort to repay the grant - in whole or in part - at some future date, enabling Hanahau‘oli to award similar aid to future students.

What does financial aid cover?

Financial aid awards are applied to tuition only. Any optional charges such as After School Care fees, after school enrichment course fees, catered school lunch, and other incidental expenses are excluded from aid. Families must be in good financial standing with the School to be considered for financial aid.

How many students receive financial aid?

Approximately 20% of all our students (Grades JK - 6th Grade) receive financial aid.

Who makes financial aid decisions?

Financial aid applications are reviewed by the Financial Aid Committee and are processed by the Business Office. All information required for the application process is kept in strictest confidence.

Will a request for financial aid influence the admission decision?

No. Hanahau‘oli practices an "aid-blind" admission policy. A family's financial status is not part of admission criteria. After a child has been accepted, a financial aid committee then reviews requests and grants aid on the basis of demonstrated financial need.

What do I need to submit to apply for financial aid?

The financial aid application period for the 2025-2026 school year is open on September 1, 2024. Download this informational PDF on how to apply for financial aid to get started. Please also refer to this PDF for some key information you need to know as you complete the 2025-2026 Parents' Financial Statement (PFS).

To consider individual students for financial aid fairly, the School assesses each family's financial situation with the help of the School and Student Service ("SSS"), an outside agency used by independent schools nationwide. Every family applying for aid completes a Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) each year at https://sssandtadsfa.force.com/familyportal for processing, along with supporting documents (please do not submit to Hanahau‘oli School). The due date for all Financial Aid forms for students applying for the 2025-2026 school year is March 1, 2025.

  1. Completed SSS Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) at sssbynais.org based on actual prior years' information, including Business Farm Statement, if appropriate.

  2. Copy of completed and signed Federal Tax Form (IRS Form 1040) and all supporting schedules as filed for the previous calendar year.

  3. Copy of Wage and Tax Statement(s) (Form W-2) and Miscellaneous Income Statement(s) (Form 1099-MISC) for the previous calendar year.

  4. Copy of most recent Property Assessment Notice, if real estate is owned.

What does it cost to apply for financial aid?

SSS charges a fee of $60 for processing the PFS. You may download a copy of the report or request that a copy of the report be sent to you.

Would my salary qualify us for aid?

A number of factors are used to determine financial need, so it is impossible to specify income levels or other criteria that would guarantee a student receive financial aid. Income, assets, taxes, family size, unusual expenses, parents' ages and number of family members in tuition-paying schools are just some of the factors used in the equation to determine financial need.

What is "demonstrated need" and how is it determined?

"Demonstrated need" is defined as the difference between the amount a family can be expected to contribute to the cost of the student's education and the amount of annual tuition at Hanahau‘oli. To consider individual students for financial aid fairly, the School assesses each family's financial situation with the help of the School and Student Service (SSS), an outside agency used by independent schools nationwide. Every family applying for aid completes a Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) and sends it to SSS for processing, along with supporting documents. A calculation of financial need is then sent to Hanahau‘oli.

The information received guides the Financial Aid Committee in making its decision, but is by no means the sole factor used with making a decision about financial aid. Complexities and unusual circumstances of each family situation are acknowledged and considered in the final decision.

In determining need, consideration is given to a family's net income before taxes and to some extent net worth. These figures are balanced against taxes, educational expenses of other children, unusual debts, medical expenses, cost of living, etc. Therefore, families must fully explain all unusual circumstances that they feel the Financial Aid Committee should be aware of when making an award decision.

Download this informational PDF for assistance with the SSS application.

How does this process work for divorced, separated, or never married parents?

We believe that both parents hold an ethical obligation to contribute to their children's educational expenses, whether or not they have a legal obligation to do so. Therefore, we consider the assets and earnings potential of both natural or adoptive parents, if living, when making any financial aid award. As a result, PFS forms and all supporting documents are required from both parents every year.

  • Hanahau‘oli School will not be bound by any divorce agreement specifying a parents' responsibility for educational expenses since we were not a party to the agreement. Likewise, Hanahau‘oli cannot be bound by the assertion that one parent has disclaimed responsibility for the student.

  • If either parent has remarried, the needs analysis considers the assets and earnings potential of the stepparent as well, keeping in mind the stepparent's responsibility to his or her own children.

  • Hanahau‘oli considers the obligations of the parents to their new family situations in determining the award, but will not become involved in allocating the award on a proportional basis to the families involved. The responsibility for all communication and payments ultimately lies with the custodial parent.

  • In cases where one parent has had no contact with the student for more than seven years, the requirement that both parents apply for assistance may be waived. The guiding principle is "lack of contact," which must be documented by the custodial parent.

  • In cases where the involvement of the non-custodial parent is not in the best interest of the student (abuse, incest, addiction, etc.), the requirement will be waived upon receipt of acceptable documentation from a disinterested third party.

When will we learn if we will receive financial aid?

Notifications of financial aid awards are usually mailed within two weeks after a student is offered admission. The process may take longer if there are complicated or extenuating circumstances in the family situation. We would not expect a student who has been offered admission and applied for financial aid to make a decision about enrolling until the student's financial aid offer is known.

Will we receive aid every year?

Family financial circumstances can change. Therefore, we require families to re-apply for financial aid each year.