Between checking off school supply lists and picking out the perfect first-day outfit, preparing for the new school year is a busy time for families. Amid the hustle, making sure your keiki is up to date on their immunizations is one of the most important things you can do to set them up for a safe, healthy, and successful year.
Hawaii School Health Requirements
In Hawaii, state law mandates that students meet specific immunization requirements before attending any childcare facility, preschool, or K–12 school (Hawaii State Department of Health, 2020). Checking these off early prevents any administrative delays in starting the school year.
According to Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) Title 11, Chapter 157, the key milestones include:
Preschool &
Childcare Entry
Requirements include:
- DTaP (Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis)
- Polio
- MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella)
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b)
- PCV (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine)
- Varicella (chickenpox)
Kindergarten / First-Time School Entry
Booster doses must be completed before entering school for the first time:
- DTaP (Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis)
- Polio
- MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella)
- Varicella (chickenpox)
7th Grade
Entry
All students entering the seventh grade must show evidence of receiving these specific adolescent vaccines:
- Tdap (Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis booster)
- HPV (Human Papillomavirus Vaccine)
- MCV (Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine)
AlohaCare Covers Keiki Vaccines
All routinely recommended childhood and adolescent immunizations are fully covered at no cost to our members. Don’t wait for the late summer rush! Schedule an immunization appointment or a comprehensive Well-Child Visit with your pediatrician today.
Questions about AlohaCare benefits or need to find a doctor? Call the AlohaCare Member Service Center at 808-973-0712. We are here to help you get your keiki school-ready!
The Official Recommendation: Following the Experts
While school entry is legally regulated by individual state mandates, clinical recommendations for children’s health are established by pediatric experts.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) publishes the gold-standard “Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule” annually (O’Leary, 2026, as cited in Goldman, 2026). Endorsed by major organizations like the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the AAP schedule ensures comprehensive protection against 18 vaccine-preventable diseases (Kim-Farley, 2026).
The AAP clinical schedule emphasizes timely protection, recommending:
- Starting the HPV series early—as young as 9 to 12 years of age—to build a stronger, highly effective immune response before adolescence (Lehman, 2026; Goldman, 2026).
- Maintaining routine, universal protection schedules for early childhood vaccines to safeguard overall public health (Smith, 2026).
At AlohaCare, Your Health is in Caring Hands
AlohaCare is a nonprofit health plan created in 1994 by Hawaiʻi’s community health centers and Queen Emma Clinics. We support people of all ages who qualify for government-funded health plans. We are proud to be the second largest Medicaid and Medicare health plan in Hawaiʻi, serving families across the state.