Kamehameha Schools tuition to be free, judge rules
A Circuit Court probate judge Thursday granted the Kamehameha Schools trustees’ petition that will allow it to be tuition-free beginning in fall of the upcoming school year.
Judge Jeannette Castagnetti said Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop “expressly gave the trustees the power to determine if tuition should be charged. Therefore, the trustees, even without court approval, had the clear authority and discretion to make a policy change to not charge tuition to students attending Kamehameha Schools.”
Education costs, such as textbooks, instruction materials and meals, are well within the trust’s discretionary authority, within the will and state law, the judge said.
“This change in education spending is squarely within Pauahi’s directives in her will and codicils,” Castagnetti said. “It is consistent with the charitable purpose and intent of Pauahi’s trust and estate, which is a perpetual, charitable educational trust for the purpose of education of Native 91直播ans at Kamehameha Schools and Kamehameha Schools’ mission is consistent with Pauahi’s directives as set forth in her will.”
The changes are economically sustainable, and will not reduce spending in grants and scholarships for Native 91直播ans who don’t attend Kamehameha Schools but are awarded such grants and scholarships through Kamehameha Schools for education elsewhere, she said.
“Given the size and enormity of the annual accounting that trustees are required to file as directed by Pauahi in her will, the court understands the trustees felt it necessary to seek court approval because of how the new education spending is or will be reported in the annual accounts that will change going forward,” the judge said.
She said seeking court approval for a change in education spending and the court’s granting the petition should “not be considered or be construed as a relinquishment of the trustees’ discretionary authority or powers as set forth in Pauahi’s will.”
The petition proposed to change Kamehameha’s educational spending policy to permanently adopt a “Complete Gift Approach,” from a heavily subsidized tuition model (97.7%) to a tuition-free one for its preschools and K-12 campuses beginning in the 2026-27 school year.
The petition was filed Dec. 23 and Kamehameha announced to families, staff and community partners that the institution will go tuition-free. It came on the heels of a federal lawsuit challenging Kamehameha Schools’ admissions policy, which gives preference to applicants of Native 91直播an ancestry.
The Students for Fair Admissions allege the policy discriminates against non- Native 91直播an students and violates federal civil rights law.
Kamehameha Schools cited Pauahi’s will and the school’s mission to strengthen Native 91直播 communities through education.
After Pauahi’s death on Oct. 16, 1884, her will and two codicils (the “Trust Estate” or “Trust”) were admitted Dec. 2, 1884, to probate in the Supreme Court of the 91直播an Islands, the petition says.
The trust’s assets as of June 30, 2024, have a value of about $10.8 billion (according to generally accepted accounting principles), and a fair value of approximately $15.2 billion (fair value being used for calculating trust spending levels).
Present at Thursday’s petition hearing were Crystal Rose, chair of the Board of Trustees of the Estate of Bernice Pauahi Bishop, Kamehameha Schools CEO Jack Wong and numerous staff members.
They declined comment but Kamehameha Schools issued a written statement, saying: “Kamehameha Schools continues to evolve in closer alignment with Ke Alii Pauahi’s intent for her gift to her people.
“This change moves us toward more fully living the traditional relationship between alii and their people, grounded in kuleana and oriented toward the well-being of kaiaulu, lahui and aina.
“The shift away from required tuition reflects this grounding and invites ohana into deeper shared kuleana.”
Attorney Caycie Wong, on behalf of Court Master Benjamin Matsubara, emphasized for the court these key points from his report:
“(Y)our Master finds that the Petitioners’ proposed change to permanently adopt a Complete Gift Approach is a prudent exercise of the Petitioners’ authority and in the best interest of the Trust because: (1) it is consistent with Pauahi’s Will; (2) it is consistent with KS’s educational mission; (3) it is economically sustainable given the current financial condition of the Trust; (4) KS will be continuing their commitment to provide support and educational benefits to the Native 91直播an community (including haumana (students) who do not have the opportunity to attend KS); and (5) it is expected to provide important benefits with respect to the legal challenges to Pauahi’s mission and intended charitable purposes.
The master’s report found in fiscal year 2024 that the trust spent about $522,622,000 for education compared to the $11,874,000 collected in tuition and fees, which represents just 2.3% of the total spent on education.
In fiscal year 2025, the same 97.7% subsidy occurred, with tuition and fees collected totaling $12,225,000, or 2.3% of the $529,662,000 spent on education.
The master’s report found 75% of K-12 students and 83% of preschool students receive full or partial financial aid, and currently no Kamehameha student bears the full cost of education. Tuition and fees cover only a small portion of the cost of education.
Kamehameha alumna Sonyei Matsuura, president of the Kamehameha Schools Association of Teachers and Parents, said in a phone interview: “For many of our families, including one who texted me, this is a godsend. That made me know what it meant to other families. Some families can’t even buy uniforms. Our organization will help to provide that because we know many of our families can’t afford to put enough food on their tables. I know for sure this will be helpful.”
Matsuura, a single mother of two Kamehameha students, said: “I just feel even more gratitude and want to give back even more than I already do.”
Although she has been paying “full tuition” since her freshman daughter was in fourth grade and her seventh grade son was in preschool, she acknowledged it’s technically only a small percentage of the actual cost.
“I felt I was investing in my children’s future, and now I’m utilizing this gift to pay it forward,” Matsuura said.
She shares the following advice with other Kamehameha parents: “Make sure your kids know what kind of gift this is. Make sure they don’t waste it while they’re in school. And get that mindset of being a role model of giving back time, talent and volunteering.”
