Hawaii Catholic Schools Mark 200 Years in 2027
Four Maui Catholic schools are each preparing special projects as the state's Catholic school system approaches its bicentennial.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Catholicism
Live Poll
Would you consider sending your child to a Catholic school in your area?
Catholic schools in Hawaii are preparing to celebrate 200 years in 2027, with four Maui campuses working on bicentennial projects. The anniversary comes as the island's only Catholic high school closed this year after 178 years at St. Anthony School in Wailuku.
Why it matters
The closure of St. Anthony School's high school, driven by dwindling enrollment, shows the pressures facing Catholic education on Maui even as the system marks a major milestone. Sacred Hearts School's ongoing recovery from the 2023 Lahaina fire adds a further test for schools serving West Maui families.
Hawaii's Catholic schools reach their bicentennial in 2027, while St. Anthony School closed its Catholic high school this year after 178 years. The source does not provide current enrollment numbers for the affected schools.
The players
Sacred Hearts School
Sacred Hearts School is the only Catholic school in West Maui, serving the community for 164 years and currently operating from a temporary site in Kaanapali.
St. Anthony School
St. Anthony School in Wailuku closed the island's only Catholic high school after 178 years, shifting to a multi-age model on its upper campus.
The details
St. Anthony School in Wailuku moved to a multi-age model, consolidating classrooms on its upper campus after the high school closed. Each of the four Catholic schools on Maui is developing a special project for the bicentennial celebration.
Timeline
2023: The Lahaina fire burned more than half of Sacred Hearts School.
This year (2026): St. Anthony School closed its Catholic high school.
2027: Hawaii's Catholic schools celebrate 200 years.
2028: Sacred Hearts School hopes to return to its Dickenson Street campus.
Legacy Context
Hawaii's Catholic school system traces its roots to the 1820s, and the 2027 bicentennial marks two centuries of that history. The high school closure at St. Anthony School is a contraction within that long legacy.
Families in West Maui, Wailuku and Upcountry face changed options, with the nearest Catholic high school gone and Sacred Hearts operating from a temporary site. Parents weighing Catholic education on Maui now have fewer local high school choices.
The takeaway
Catholic schools on Maui are adapting through consolidation and special projects rather than retreat alone. Families planning for high school should confirm current options directly with each school.
What happens next
Hawaii's Catholic schools celebrate their bicentennial in 2027, and Sacred Hearts School hopes to return to its Dickenson Street campus by 2028.
Further reading
Explore more on Catholicism to see how faith-based education is evolving across the islands.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hawaiinewsnow.
Live Poll
Would you consider sending your child to a Catholic school in your area?
