Make Educational Opportunity Possible in Hawaii

Great news! Hawaii is a qualified ACE Scholarships state.

ACE Scholarships has served Hawaii families since 2025, helping students access educational opportunities that work best for them. Hawaii has declined to participate in the Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC), but you can help make future participation possible.

Eligible Hawaii taxpayers can commit now to make a qualifying EFTC contribution through ACE Scholarships starting January 1, 2027. Your contribution can help students in participating states while you encourage Hawaii to opt-in.

Hawaii’s Current Status

Not Participating

Hawaii has declined to participate in the EFTC. Here’s what that means for students, families, and taxpayers.

EFTC Status

Not Participating

Hawaii has declined to participate in the EFTC initiative. However, as a taxpayer, you can still commit and receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit.

ACE in Hawaii

Active

ACE Scholarships has delivered scholarships to Hawaii students since 2025. For more information on the ways ACE is active and making an impact in Hawaii, please click here.

Partner Schools

5

ACE Scholarships currently partners with 5 schools throughout Hawaii.

Scholarships

50

In its first year in Hawaii, ACE delivered 50 scholarships.

You Can Still Contribute

Eligible Hawaii taxpayers can commit now to make a qualifying EFTC contribution through ACE Scholarships starting January 1, 2027. Your contribution can help students in participating states while you encourage Hawaii to opt-in.

Help Bring the EFTC to Hawaii

Hawaii students cannot currently receive EFTC-funded scholarships because the state has declined to participate. You can encourage the governor to opt-in and help make EFTC-funded scholarship opportunities possible for eligible students in the state.

Help Bring the EFTC to Hawaii

Explore ACE’s Impact in Hawaii

Proof ACE Works

National Proficiency Rates

ACE vs FRL
4th Grade Reading Proficiency

3.5x

More Proficient

ACE vs FRL
8th Grade Math Proficiency

4x

More Proficient

FRL = Free and Reduced Lunch

National High School Graduation Rates

*State Department of Education for the 12 states ACE operated in 2024. ACE Partner Schools with analyses done by QREM.

National Impact Since Launch in 2000

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0

Scholarships Delivered

$0

Delivered in Scholarships and ESAs

National Impact Since Launch in 2000

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0

Scholarships Delivered

$0

Delivered in Scholarships and ESAs

Our Model Works

In its first year in Hawaii, launched in 2025, ACE awarded 50 scholarships.

Last year, almost 28,000 students nationally applied for an ACE scholarship—but more than 9,700 were turned away due to a lack of funding. The demand is real and the results are proven, but we need your help.

Average School Tuition Cost

(K-8) $17,953   (HS) $21,712

Average Scholarship Amount

(K-8) $3,000   (HS) $4,000

Average Household Size

4

Average Household Income

$17,615

ACE partners with families, donors, and private schools to provide equal access to quality education for Hawaii students, empowering lower-income families with scholarships, support, and the freedom to choose the learning environment that best fits their children’s needs.

82,430

Lower-Income Students
Across Hawaii

5

Partner Schools
Across Hawaii

1,360

Open Seats
in Hawaii Schools

296

Qualified,
Turned Away

A Venn diagram with Ace, Family, and School making up the three circles, overlapping with an icon of a graduate wearing their cap.

The ACE Model

Here’s How Your Gift Works

Donate

Thank you for choosing to donate to ACE Scholarships Hawaii.

For donations up to $50,000, please click the button below to begin your donation.

For gifts over $50,000, or for additional ways to donate, please reach out to: Micah Hirokawa, President ACE Hawaii, at [email protected] or (808) 203-7416.

Make a Tax-Deductible Donation

See how far your donation can go!

 

Your Support Give Once Monthly
10 children for a year $35,000 $3,000
5 children for a year $17,500 $1,500
2 children for a year $7,000 $600
1 child for a year $3,500 $300
1 child for a semester $1,750 $150
1 child for a quarter $875 $75

Hawaii Leadership

Micah Hirokawa, President, ACE Hawaii

President,
ACE Hawaii
Micah Hirokawa
mhirokawa@acescholarships.org

Three Ways to Give

There are several ways to help make educational opportunities possible for students. Choose the option that works for you.

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EFTC Contribution

You can participate even if Hawaii has not opted in. Make a qualifying EFTC contribution through ACE Scholarships to help fund K–12 scholarships for eligible students in participating states.

Eligible taxpayers will receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit on qualifying contributions of up to $1,700 per taxpayer, or $3,400 for married couples filing jointly, subject to federal requirements.

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Tax-Deductible Donation

Make a charitable donation to ACE Scholarships and help students access educational opportunities that allow them to thrive.

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Planned Giving

Explore planned giving options that can help make educational opportunities possible for future generations of K–12 students.

Stay Connected

Get updates about scholarships, educational opportunities, and EFTC participation in your state.

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