GE application period is January 2- February 27

Aloha Maʻemaʻe Parents,

This is a reminder to families who would like to submit a Geographic Exception (GE) request for Kindergarten-aged siblings (born 8/1/20-7/31/21) for the upcoming 2026-27 school year. The GE request period for all grades is 1/2/26-2/27/26.  If your child is currently on an approved GE, you do not need to submit another request for them to remain at Maʻemaʻe.  

You may come into the office to pick up a GE request form or fill out the attached form, print and submit it to your **Geographic Home School, before the 2/27/26 deadline.  Parents/Guardians shall complete only Section I of the GE request form.  Your home school will complete Section II, then they will forward your request to the Maʻemaʻe School office. 

**If you do not know your Geographic Home School, please use the HIDOE School Finder to determine your Home School.

It's a good idea to apply to several schools at once as there is no guarantee that Maʻemaʻe will approve your request.  You broaden your options if you apply to multiple schools.  The most important thing is to get your application in before the deadline, 2/27/26.  Requests received after the deadline will be placed on the school’s waitlist according to the date received.  If it is a "lottery" school, your request will be waitlisted after the lottery entries.  Lottery schools are schools that have more requests than space available.  Maʻemaʻe Elementary is a lottery school; we typically receive 200+ GE requests for Kindergarten each year.  It is imperative to get your application in before the deadline. 

See the GE Parent Flow Chart  with more information regarding the GE request process.  

Please remember to attach a self addressed, legal-size, stamped envelope for each GE request you submit.  This is a sample of what the envelope should look like:

 Please call 595-5400 if you have any questions.