Hawaii Graduation Requirements

Credits Required for Graduation

To earn a diplomaA Hawaii High School Diploma shall be issued to students who meet the following minimum course and credit requirements (Board of Education Policy 102-15):
​Download the Graduation Requirements Brochure

Graduating with Honors

Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude

In order to graduate cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude, students must meet the following requirements in grades 9-12:​

• To graduate Cum Laude you must meet all of the above requirements and earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 - 3.5. 
• To graduate Magna Cum Laude you must meet all of the above requirements and earn a cumulative GPA of 3.5+ - 3.8. 
• To graduate Summa Cum Laude you must meet all of the above requirements and earn a cumulative GPA of 3.8+. 

Calculation of cumulative GPA for graduation honors purposes will be based on the first seven semesters (the final semester of the 12th grade year will not be included in this calculation). All marks a student earns will be included in calculation of the grade point average. 
Valedictorians: Any student with a cumulative 4.000 GPA after the first seven semesters will be named Valedictorian.

Valedictorian Designation

Effective for the Class of 2016 and beyond, graduating seniors will be declared valedictorian if the following criteria are met:

• GPA of 4.0; and
• Earned and met the requirements of one of the Honor Recognition Certificates.

Valedictorians will be named after the third quarter.

Commencement Exercises

Commencement exercises may be scheduled any time after the last day of school for seniors. The last day of school for seniors shall be set by the Hawaii State Department of Education. Students shall be permitted to participate in commencement if they:

1. meet the requirements for a diploma or a certificate;
2. have fulfilled their financial obligations; and
3. meet other conditions, established by the Department of Education, which meet the standards of clarity, reasonableness, and justifiably.