Hilo Will Gain Hawaiian Immersion Preschool by 2028
Nan Inc. will build a new campus to serve 80 students, addressing growing demand for local immersion education.
Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Language Learning
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A new Hawaiian language immersion preschool will open in Hilo in 2028, providing space for up to 80 prekindergarten students. The facility will be constructed by Nan Inc. and will serve as a laboratory for the University of Hawaii at Hilo's teacher education program.
Why it matters
The school will help alleviate the current capacity issues at existing immersion preschools in the county. This project aims to support the increasing number of families seeking Hawaiian language instruction for young children.
The campus will accommodate 80 students across four classrooms, each supporting 20 children. This expansion responds to the 2024 census recording 27,338 Hawaiian speakers statewide.
The players
Nan Inc.
This construction firm has been contracted to build the new immersion preschool facility in Hilo.
University of Hawaii at Hilo
This public university serves as a partner in the project and will use the site as a laboratory for its teacher education program.
Aha Punana Leo
This non-profit organization is dedicated to the revitalization of the Hawaiian language through immersion education.
Hawaii State Charter School Commission
This state body oversees the charter school system and is a lead partner in the development of the new campus.
The details
The facility is a collaborative project between the University of Hawaii at Hilo, the Hawaii State Charter School Commission, and Aha Punana Leo. The campus design will integrate native Hawaiian ethnobotany and the existing landscape near the 'Imiloa Astronomy Center.
Timeline
Construction is scheduled to begin in March 2027.
The preschool is slated to open for the 2028-29 school year.
Culture Shift
This development reflects a broader societal movement toward revitalizing indigenous languages through formal education systems. By scaling immersion capacity, the region is responding to a decade of growth in the number of Hawaiian speakers.
Families in the Hilo area will gain access to additional prekindergarten immersion slots starting in the 2028-29 school year. This project provides a new option for parents seeking indigenous language instruction for their children.
The takeaway
The addition of this school marks a significant investment in the long-term vitality of the Hawaiian language for young learners. Residents should monitor local school district announcements for enrollment information as the 2028 opening approaches.
What happens next
Construction on the new Hilo campus is scheduled to commence in March 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts to promote indigenous education in our Language Learning section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hawaii Tribune-Herald.
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