The Ho'oulu Hawaiian Data Center (Data Center) is creating a comprehensive database of the Hawaiian population to support planning for lifelong learning in the Hawaiian Community. One of the Data Center’s primary roles is to verify Hawaiian ancestry of applicants to Kamehameha Schools programs who wish to be considered under our preference policy*.

Through the Hawaiian Ancestry Registry:

• Applicants who wish to be considered under Kamehameha Schools’ preference policy can verify ancestry immediately and do not have to wait until the open-enrollment period for a particular program.
• Applicants who wish to be considered under Kamehameha Schools’ preference policy for KS programs will have to apply for Hawaiian ancestry verification one time only. Once Hawaiian ancestry has been verified, the applicant will not have to submit ancestry information to any subsequent Kamehameha Schools’ program to which he or she applies.
• Parents of Hawaiian newborns can register their child at birth or anytime thereafter.

Hawaiian Ancestry Verification in 4 Steps

1. Request a Hawaiian Ancestry Registry (HAR) form. (Click here to request a HAR form.)

2. Gather original birth certificates for the applicant, parents, and grandparents. (Other documents may be required. Click here for details about the required documents and instructions to fill out the HAR form.)

3. Submit the completed HAR form and required documents to the Ho‘oulu Hawaiian Data Center (HHDC). (Click here for our address and contact information.)

4. HHDC will contact you after your application has been reviewed if further documents are required or when your application is complete. All original documents submitted will be returned to you. Please allow us 4 - 6 weeks processing time. (Click here to see answers to other commonly asked questions.)

*Kamehameha School’s policy on admissions is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.