'Iolani School Archives: School History

This page reflects current knowledge of the history of 'Iolani School.

History is always revealing itself, providing the opportunity for ongoing learning.

King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma
Images: Hawaii State Archives, call # PP-97-8-011 and PP-96-4-009

In 1862, following a request from King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma to the Church of England, the first Anglican bishop and priests arrived to establish the Diocese of Honolulu.

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'Iolani was founded as an all boys school. The implementation to coeducation was gradual.

• Coeducation began in Fall 1979 (school year 1979/80).
• Grade 7 (class of 1985) is the youngest coeducational grade at onset in SY 1979/80.
• 1982- two girls appear in the class graduation photograph.
• 1983- First large group of girls appearing in class graduation photograph.
• Fall 1985 (SY 1985/86) girls began entering kindergarten.
• First Daughters of ‘Iolani = class of 1998

Bishop Thomas Nettleship Staley 

(Bishop of Honolulu 1861- 1870)

Appointed first Bishop for the missionary district of Honolulu in December 1861. Staley arrived in October 1862, sent by the English Church in response to requests from King Kamehameha IV to establish a mission in his kingdom. He formed the Hawaiian Reformed Catholic Church (later the Anglican Church of Hawai'i). 

In 1863, Bishop Staley, Rev. George Mason, and Rev. Edmund Ibbotson, with the patronage of the King and Queen, established St. Alban's College ('Iolani School).

Many changes have taken place in the long history of the school; including name changes:

• St. Alban's College
• Lahainalalo or Luaehu College (in Lahaina)
• Iolani College (also known as Bishop's College School)
• 'Iolani School

In materials reviewed, ‘Iolani as the school name has been attributed to both Queen Emma and King Kamehameha V.
Primary source documentation has yet to be explored in order to make the determination.
Kamehameha V is mentioned as naming the school in the
Hawaiian Church Chronicle, August 1930, page 3:

"On an official visit to the school, Kamehameha V gave it the name of Iolani."

"Very soon, however, Mr. Mason leased the Booth premises in Pauoa, and the school was transferred to that place. A new building was immediately put up and duly inaugurated, Queen Emma giving it the name of Iolani School.
(Note- The late Pierre Jones told Bishop Restarick that Kamehameha V gave Iolani its name.)"

Since its small beginnings, the needs of 'Iolani School have grown and changed. Campus location has changed several times to meet those needs.

• Parsonage House, Kukui Street, Honolulu, O'ahu: 1863 briefly
• Ka'ala, Pauoa Valley, O'ahu: 1863 - 1888
• Lahaina, Maui: End of 1863 or 1864 - 1868
• Bates Street, Nu'uanu Valley, O'ahu: 1873 - 1901
• St. Andrew's Cathedral Grounds, Honolulu, O'ahu: 1901 - 1927
• Judd Street and Nu'uanu Avenue, O'ahu: 1927 - June 1953
• Kamoku Street (Ala Wai Campus), Honolulu, O'ahu: Nov. 1946 - present

Reverend George Mason

(Warden 1863-64, 1868-72)

Rev. Mason was part of the initial party that arrived on O‘ahu with Bishop Staley in 1862. He played a crucial role in establishing the school and was the first Warden.
The 1862 newspaper article announcing opening of registration states that

"The Warden will receive a limited number of boarders.
The School will be conducted for the present at the Parsonage House."

An Episcopal school from its founding, 'Iolani became an independent school in 1942.

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This list, compiled from our sources in the Archives, is not definitive or all-inclusive; much of the early information is unavailable or unclear. Titles were used inconsistently and sometimes interchangeably. Years indicate the end of the school year; for example, "1950" denotes the 1949-50 school year. 

A more detailed list can be found at: