Hawaii Kindergarten Age Cutoff — Plus Preschool & TK (2026–2027)
In Hawaii, a child must turn 5 by July 31 to start kindergarten that fall. Hawaii does not have a statewide Transitional Kindergarten grade; children go from preschool/pre-K to kindergarten. Hawaii's public pre-K program, EOEL Public Pre-Kindergarten (Ready Keiki expansion), is available to eligible families (ages 3–4 by July 31; priority to IDEA/ELL/low-income/at-risk; expanding toward universal, seats limited).
| Kindergarten cutoff | Turn 5 by July 31 |
|---|---|
| Transitional Kindergarten | Not offered statewide |
| Public pre-K | EOEL Public Pre-Kindergarten (Ready Keiki expansion) — eligibility-based |
| Compulsory school age | 5 |
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Hawaii age cutoffs — the details
Kindergarten and TK cutoffs are set by state law; preschool has no legal age cutoff because it is private. Hawaii's July 31 cutoff is the earliest in the nation and is set in state law (no waiver). Cutoff verified from the official Hawaii source. Always confirm the current date with your school or district — rules can change year to year.