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Cosmetology in Hawaii
These pages summarize rules to help you plan. They are not legal advice. Before you place students at a work site or change a program, check with your state agency, your district's counsel and your insurance carrier.
In short
Hawaii students cannot earn cosmetology licensure hours in high school; schools offer exploration and a planned move to Honolulu Community College or a licensed beauty school.
State program: No HIDOE cosmetology program ()
What a high school can deliver
Career exploration only; licensure hours begin after graduation.
Credentials students can earn
None in high school; Hawaii beauty operator license after graduation (Prometric exams)
Age and hour requirements
Age 16 and a high school education; 1,800 hours in a licensed school or 3,600 as an apprentice (HRS 439-12(b)); schools enroll only high school completers (HAR 16-78-59(b)).
Other agencies involved
DCCA Board of Barbering and Cosmetology: beauty school licenses ($10,000 surety bond, 1 instructor per 25); no public school provision.
Who can teach it
CTE Permit or Standard Limited License for an exploration course; the beauty instructor license (600-hour teaching course, 1 year licensed) applies only to licensed schools.
Child labor rules for work placements
Certificate of Age (eCL-3) online at 16-17; no hour limits except school hours; no cosmetology-specific order.
College credit after high school
Honolulu CC cosmetology certificates and AAS after graduation (Confirm with the college).
Where to go next
Cosmetology in other states
Other pathways in Hawaii
- Nurse Aide / Patient Care
- EMT
- Electrical
- Welding
- Construction and Carpentry
- HVAC/R
- Cybersecurity / Networking
- Programming / Computer Science
- Automotive
- Medical and Dental Assisting
- Agriculture
- Early Childhood Education
- Culinary and Hospitality
- Machining and Mechatronics
- Engineering and Drafting
- Firefighting
- Law, Public Safety and Corrections
- Business Management and Marketing
- Entrepreneurship
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