What Hawaii requires
Hawaii's financial literacy graduation requirement starts with incoming freshmen in the Class of 2030. Covered students must complete an educational opportunity before graduation and record completion in the Personal Transition Plan, which is already a required half-credit course for the diploma.[1][2]
The requirement is about demonstrated financial literacy rather than one prescribed course title. HIDOE expressly permits a stand-alone elective, integration into an existing course, self-paced learning, or another instructional design aligned to the state program standards.[1][2]
HIDOE released 30 program standards in August 2025. Five standards appear in each of six themes: earning income, spending, saving, investing, managing credit, and managing risk.[3]
Implementation is phased. Schools are encouraged to document financial literacy for the Classes of 2027, 2028, and 2029, but the formal statewide requirement begins with the Class of 2030. Principals review records for students transferring from outside HIDOE.[1]
- Grades / placement
- High school, Incoming freshmen in the Class of 2030 and later
- Responsible agency
- Hawaiʻi State Department of Education
- Assessment required
- Not located
- Evidence
- 3 primary sources
Implementation timeline
- Milestone 01
HIDOE released the 30 Financial Literacy Program Standards.[3]
- Milestone 02
HIDOE announced the statewide graduation requirement and implementation details.[1]
- Milestone 03
Incoming freshmen begin the required financial literacy educational opportunity.[1]
- Milestone 04
The first covered graduating class reaches diploma eligibility.[1]
Hawaii personal finance standards
The complete list below contains all 30 required personal finance topics currently identified in the controlling state materials. Each topic remains separate so educators and search engines can find the exact requirement.
Hawaiʻi State Department of Education Financial Literacy Program Standards
Adopted by Hawaiʻi State Department of Education.
Open the official documentEarning Income
Five standards cover take-home pay, compensation, education and training, labor-market change, and retirement income.
- 01
Net income is the amount left from wages and salaries after taxes and…
Net income is the amount left from wages and salaries after taxes and payroll deductions.[3]
- 02
Job compensation can include wages, salaries, commissions, tips,…
Job compensation can include wages, salaries, commissions, tips, bonuses, health insurance, retirement plans, and education reimbursement.[3]
- 03
People weigh the present costs of education and training against future…
People weigh the present costs of education and training against future career and earning benefits.[3]
- 04
Economic conditions, technology, and labor-market changes can affect…
Economic conditions, technology, and labor-market changes can affect income, career opportunities, and employment status.[3]
- 05
Retirement income typically combines continued earnings, Social…
Retirement income typically combines continued earnings, Social Security, employer-sponsored plans, and personal investments.[3]
Spending
Five standards address spending influences, budgeting, informed purchases, housing, and consumer protection.
- 01
Price, other people's choices, peer pressure, and advertising can…
Price, other people's choices, peer pressure, and advertising can influence purchase decisions.[3]
- 02
A budget supports informed choices about spending, saving, money…
A budget supports informed choices about spending, saving, money management, and financial goals.[3]
- 03
An informed purchase requires evaluating price, product claims, and…
An informed purchase requires evaluating price, product claims, and quality information from multiple sources.[3]
- 04
Housing decisions depend on preferences, circumstances, and costs and…
Housing decisions depend on preferences, circumstances, and costs and affect financial well-being.[3]
- 05
Consumer-protection laws, regulations, and agencies help people avoid…
Consumer-protection laws, regulations, and agencies help people avoid unsafe products, unfair practices, and fraud.[3]
Saving
Five standards cover savings goals, personal circumstances, compound interest, account choices, and tax incentives.
- 01
People save for large purchases, education, retirement, emergencies, and…
People save for large purchases, education, retirement, emergencies, and other future purposes.[3]
- 02
Savings decisions depend on individual preferences and circumstances and…
Savings decisions depend on individual preferences and circumstances and can affect financial well-being.[3]
- 03
Compound interest applies to principal and prior interest, while simple…
Compound interest applies to principal and prior interest, while simple interest applies only to principal.[3]
- 04
Savings accounts, money-market accounts, and certificates of deposit…
Savings accounts, money-market accounts, and certificates of deposit differ in deposits, rates, and insurance coverage.[3]
- 05
Tax policies can encourage saving through pretax contributions or…
Tax policies can encourage saving through pretax contributions or reduced or deferred taxes on earnings.[3]
Investing
Five standards explain returns, asset types, pooled investments, risk, and risk tolerance.
- 01
Investors expect capital gains, regular income such as interest or…
Investors expect capital gains, regular income such as interest or dividends, or both.[3]
- 02
Common financial assets include certificates of deposit, stocks, bonds,…
Common financial assets include certificates of deposit, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and real estate.[3]
- 03
Mutual funds and exchange-traded funds let investors buy shares of…
Mutual funds and exchange-traded funds let investors buy shares of pooled investments rather than individual securities.[3]
- 04
Different investments expose investors to different levels of risk
Different investments expose investors to different levels of risk.[3]
- 05
Risk tolerance depends on personality, financial resources, experience,…
Risk tolerance depends on personality, financial resources, experience, and life circumstances.[3]
Managing Credit
Five standards address borrowing costs, debt, postsecondary financing, scores, and non-lender uses of credit reports.
- 01
Interest rates and fees vary by lender, credit type, and market conditions
Interest rates and fees vary by lender, credit type, and market conditions.[3]
- 02
Borrowing increases debt and can negatively affect personal finances
Borrowing increases debt and can negatively affect personal finances.[3]
- 03
Postsecondary education is financed through combinations of…
Postsecondary education is financed through combinations of scholarships, grants, loans, work-study, and savings.[3]
- 04
A credit score rates credit risk using information in a credit report
A credit score rates credit risk using information in a credit report.[3]
- 05
Landlords, employers, insurers, and other non-lenders may request and…
Landlords, employers, insurers, and other non-lenders may request and use credit reports or scores.[3]
Managing Risk
Five standards cover unexpected loss, mandatory insurance, health coverage, public insurance, and identity protection.
- 01
Unexpected events can damage health, wealth, income, property, or future…
Unexpected events can damage health, wealth, income, property, or future opportunities and create financial loss.[3]
- 02
Some forms of insurance coverage are mandatory
Some forms of insurance coverage are mandatory.[3]
- 03
Health insurance covers medically necessary care and may include…
Health insurance covers medically necessary care and may include preventive care and employer premium contributions.[3]
- 04
Unemployment insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare protect people from…
Unemployment insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare protect people from specified forms of economic hardship.[3]
- 05
Online transactions and unprotected documents can expose consumers to…
Online transactions and unprotected documents can expose consumers to privacy infringement, identity theft, and fraud.[3]
Relevant law, rule, or board action
Notes for teachers and curriculum leaders
- Document a covered student's completed financial literacy opportunity in the Personal Transition Plan.[1]
- A separate course is optional; any chosen design must align with HIDOE's 30 program standards.[1][3]
- For an incoming transfer student, refer the record to the principal for a determination about additional coursework or documentation.[1]
Official sources
- 1Financial literacy requirement for Hawai‘i public school students to begin next school yearLocator: Implementation announcement, paragraphs 1-8Supports: Class of 2030, 2026-27 start, PTP documentation, delivery options, transfer review
- 2Subject Matter Standards: Financial Literacy standardsLocator: Financial Literacy standards sectionSupports: graduation requirement, PTP documentation, flexible delivery
- 3Hawaiʻi State Department of Education Financial Literacy Program StandardsLocator: PDF pages 1-7, all 30 content standardsSupports: adopted program framework, six themes, complete standards list
Frequently asked questions
Does Hawaii require financial literacy to graduate?
Yes. Incoming freshmen in the Class of 2030 and later must complete a financial literacy educational opportunity before graduation and document it in their Personal Transition Plan.[1]
Does Hawaii require a stand-alone personal finance course?
No. HIDOE permits a stand-alone elective, integrated instruction, self-paced learning, or another design aligned to the program standards.[1][2]
How much personal finance credit does Hawaii require?
HIDOE does not specify a separate personal-finance credit. Completion is documented through the required half-credit Personal Transition Plan course.[1]
Which Hawaii students are covered first?
The Class of 2030 is the first required cohort. The Classes of 2027 through 2029 are encouraged, but not required, to document financial literacy in their PTPs.[1]
What do Hawaii's financial literacy standards cover?
The 30 standards cover earning income, spending, saving, investing, managing credit, and managing risk.[3]