Vaccination rates among kindergartners in Hawaii have improved for the 2024-2025 school year compared to the previous year, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Despite this progress, religious exemptions to vaccination continue to rise across grades K-12.
The CDC reports that while Hawaii’s kindergartner vaccination rates have been increasing over the past three years, they still remain below national averages. The religious exemption rate in Hawaii increased slightly from 5.3% in the 2023-2024 school year to 5.4% for 2024-2025. Nationally, the exemption rate rose from 3.1% to 3.4%. These figures reflect students’ vaccination status at the start of the current school year.
“It’s encouraging to see CDC data showing vaccination rates among Hawaiʻi kindergartners moving in the right direction,” said Dr. Kenneth Fink, director of the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH). “However, the religious exemption rate remains high and this preceded changes at the CDC, including to its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. At DOH we need to continue to work to be a trusted source and provide evidence-based recommendations so individuals can protect themselves, their loved ones and their community.”
The increase in exemptions and other factors make it challenging for Hawaii schools to reach a target of 95% immunization coverage needed for herd immunity—especially against diseases like measles.
MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine coverage is particularly concerning as it remains just below 90%. This comes at a time when there are high numbers of measles cases being reported on the mainland United States and globally. In April 2025, two confirmed cases of measles were detected in Hawaii; another detection occurred through wastewater sampling in August.
