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Honaunau Elementary School

Q: Is Honaunau Elementary School a good school?

Honaunau Elementary School ranks 101 st of 203 Hawaii elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

101^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 203 Hawaii Elementary Schools

Better than 50% of Hawaii elementary schools

Summary

Honaunau Elementary School is a small public elementary school in Captain Cook, Hawaii, serving grades PK–5 with 148 students in the Hawaii Department of Education, where 93.24% of students were eligible for free/reduced-price lunch in 2024–25 — the highest rate among nearby schools with reported data.

The school's statewide rank has improved dramatically, moving from the 3rd percentile in 2020–21 to the 59th–62nd percentile in 2023–24 and 2024–25, with a slight dip to the 50th percentile (101 of 203 schools) in 2025–26. In 2025–26, ELA proficiency was 55% and math 50%, both among the strongest in the nearby group; only Innovations - PCS scored higher in ELA (69%), and math trailed Innovations (53%) and Hookena Elementary School (51%). Science is the clearest soft spot: proficiency fell from 56% in 2024–25 to 40% in 2025–26. Compared with its closest neighbors, Honaunau had higher ELA and math proficiency than Konawaena Elementary School (47% and 42%) while serving a much higher free/reduced-lunch population.

Attendance is a standout strength. Chronic absenteeism improved from 28.5% to 24.0% in 2024–25, tied with Innovations for the lowest among nearby schools and far below Hookena (57%) and Kealakehe Elementary School (43%). Honaunau's student-teacher ratio of 13.4 is favorable, and its strongest subgroup results were for Special Education students (84th percentile in 2023–24) and Low Socio Economic Status students (70th percentile in 2025–26). With only 148 students, year-to-year swings can be large, so these results are best read as broad indicators of a school that has made real progress.

148

Students ?

13.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

93.2%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

83-5360 Mamalahoa Hwy
Captain Cook, HI 96704

(808) 328-2727

District: Hawaii Department of Education

Students who attend Honaunau Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Konawaena Middle School
High:	Konawaena High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

41.2%

Pacific Islander:

27.0%

Two or more races:

16.2%

See top rated Hawaii elementary schools

Compare Honaunau Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 26th percentile in 2016 → 50th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 24 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Hawaii median (50th percentile)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school48%

101^st of 203

Hawaii public elementary schools ?

Top 50%▲ up 24 pts since 2016

From bottom 26% (2016) to top 50% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Hawaii Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 1Hawaii Department of Education among Hawaii districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	55.1	101 of 203	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	68.6	78 of 204	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.9	84 of 207	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	36.8	125 of 195	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	17.4	167 of 193	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	7.5	190 of 196	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	26.5	152 of 196	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	40.0	120 of 193	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	45.7	121 of 207	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2016	31.2	144 of 195	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	48.8	101 of 194	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	33.6	150 of 196	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	42.7	123 of 195	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2011	66.1	57 of 191	70.2%	★★★★☆
2010	64.9	59 of 183	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2009	77.2	30 of 191	84.3%	★★★★☆
2007	51.4	98 of 192	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2006	47.4	97 of 194	50.0%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	74.2	63 of 203	69.0%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	59.6	59 of 116	49.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	39.9	86 of 123	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	59.5	108 of 198	45.5%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	62.2	74 of 165	55.2%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	69.7	61 of 202	69.8%	★★★★☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	39.0	136 of 196	30.6%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	86.2	34 of 207	83.6%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	66.5	68 of 173	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	60.1	78 of 171	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.1	129 of 202	36.1%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Special Education (2024)84th percentile+24 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)70th percentile+20 vs school

Asian (2024)69th percentile+10 vs school

White (2026)61st percentile+10 vs school

Hispanic (2024)55th percentile-4 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)49th percentile~ school

Pacific Islander (2024)31st percentile-29 vs school

By subject vs Hawaii (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts55%

Mathematics50%

Science40%

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a teacher
Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Honaunau Elementary School is an excellent school. The teachers are warm and caring. Academics are rigorous and engaging. The school has an amazing garden program and the students are provided project-based learning opportunities regularly. The score given by this site is misleading. Close Quote

Schools Near Honaunau Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				HSA Science (2026)	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts (2026)	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	HSA Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Honaunau Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	83-5360 Mamalahoa Hwy	Captain Cook	96704	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 328-2727	148	11	13.4	93.2%	18 (12.2%)	0 (0.0%)	61 (41.2%)	5 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (27.0%)	24 (16.2%)	55.1	101^st of 203 public elementary schools	50.2%		68.6	78^th of 204 public elementary schools	61.8%	23	40.0	55.0	50.0	$29,218	$5,013	$24,205
Hookena Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	86-4355 Mamalahoa Hwy	Captain Cook	96704	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 328-2710	98	7	14.0	65.3%	14 (14.3%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (22.4%)	2 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (42.9%)	18 (18.4%)	50.4	107^th of 203 public elementary schools	47.3%		35.7	133^rd of 204 public elementary schools	34.8%	26	33.0	54.0	51.0	$31,970	$2,723	$29,247
Konawaena Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	81-901 Onouli Rd	Kealakekua	96750	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 323-4555	505	37	13.6	64.4%	49 (9.7%)	1 (0.2%)	172 (34.1%)	40 (7.9%)	1 (0.2%)	136 (26.9%)	106 (21.0%)	43.6	121^st of 203 public elementary schools	40.4%		42.1	121^st of 204 public elementary schools	40.7%		41.0	47.0	42.0	$25,313	$2,843	$22,470
Kona Pacific - PCS	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	79-7595 Mamalahoa Hwy	Kealakekua	96750	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 322-4900	177	18	10.1	62.7%	82 (46.3%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (26.6%)	3 (1.7%)	1 (0.6%)	10 (5.6%)	34 (19.2%)	39	133^rd of 203 public elementary schools	34.5%		25.2	160^th of 204 public elementary schools	21.6%	27	50.0	44.0	29.0	$13,792	$2,833	$10,959
Holualoa Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	76-5957 Mamalahoa Hwy	Holualoa	96725	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 322-4800	438	24	18.2	47.7%	96 (21.9%)	0 (0.0%)	128 (29.2%)	31 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	59 (13.5%)	124 (28.3%)	65.9	81^st of 203 public elementary schools	60.1%		65.6	86^th of 204 public elementary schools	57.8%	5	64.0	52.0	47.0	$22,619	$2,573	$20,046
Kahakai Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	76-147 Royal Poinciana Dr	Kailua Kona	96740	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 327-4313	507	35	14.4	56.4%	60 (11.8%)	0 (0.0%)	116 (22.9%)	65 (12.8%)	1 (0.2%)	174 (34.3%)	91 (17.9%)	46.9	113^th of 203 public elementary schools	44.3%		38.1	129^th of 204 public elementary schools	36.8%	16	42.0	45.0	48.0	$23,112	$2,465	$20,647
Innovations - PCS	Public, Charter	K-8	75-5815 Queen Kaahumanu Hwy	Kailua Kona	96740	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 331-3130	241	14	17.2	42.7%	74 (30.7%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (19.5%)	19 (7.9%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (7.9%)	82 (34.0%)	75.3	60^th of 203 public elementary schools	70.4%		76.7	59^th of 204 public elementary schools	71.1%	1	53.0	69.0	53.0	$12,714	$1,077	$11,637
Kealakehe Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	74-5118 Kealakaa St	Kailua Kona	96740	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 327-4308	924	64	14.5	68.2%	53 (5.7%)	0 (0.0%)	181 (19.6%)	78 (8.4%)	0 (0.0%)	446 (48.3%)	166 (18.0%)	6.5	199^th of 203 public elementary schools	2.0%		8.5	195^th of 204 public elementary schools	4.4%	4	19.0	24.0	15.0	$20,964	$2,280	$18,684

Frequently Asked Questions about Honaunau Elementary School

What district is Honaunau Elementary School in?

Hawaii Department of Education

How many students attend Honaunau Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 148 students attended Honaunau Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Honaunau Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Honaunau Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Konawaena Middle School
High : Konawaena High School

What is the racial makeup of Honaunau Elementary School?

Students at Honaunau Elementary School are 41% Hispanic, 27% Pacific Islander, 16% Two or more races, 12% White, 3% Asian.

Is Honaunau Elementary School a good school?

Honaunau Elementary School ranks 101^st of 203 Hawaii elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Honaunau Elementary School!

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Schools in Captain Cook, HI

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Latest Hawaii data All new data »

2021–22 through 2024–25 school spending dataNewNov 6, 2026

2013–14 through 2024–25 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

2025–26 graduation ratesSep 19, 2026

2025–26 HSA & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresSep 19, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Hawaii State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.