Cosmetologist Program is a Diploma program offered by Hawaii Institute of Hair Design in Honolulu, HI. The program takes About 12 months (1,800 clock hours) to complete, with a total tuition of $19,800.
Program Overview
The Cosmetologist Program at Hawaii Institute of Hair Design is 1,800 clock hours of training that prepares students to work as entry-level cosmetologists in shops and salons, or on their own as hairstylists, manicurists and makeup artists, and to sit for the Hawaii State Board examinations. The curriculum gives each student 400 hours of theory, classroom study and practical lab work and 1,400 hours of on-site practical training in the school’s clinic.
Students learn to apply the full range of chemical products for coloring, straightening and curling hair, together with haircutting and styling, hair, skin and scalp treatments, facials and makeup, and manicuring and pedicuring. The school describes its greatest strength as highly advanced technique in stylized haircutting, and trains students in several methods so they leave versatile. Basic shop management, salesmanship and the Hawaii laws and rules for cosmetology are part of the program.
The school first taught cosmetology decades ago, closed that program in 1986 and re-established it in 2023 alongside its long-running barber styling course. Learning is tracked through Milady’s CIMA online exams, and every exam must be passed at 75 percent before graduation, when students receive a diploma.
What sets this Program apart
- Hawaii’s long-standing hair school. Training students for more than 70 years, and describing itself as the only school of its kind in Hawaii.
- 1,400 clinic hours. Most of the program is supervised practice on real guests in a busy downtown practical clinic.
- Full cosmetology scope. Hair, chemical services, facials and makeup, and manicuring and pedicuring, with a professional manicure kit and makeup kit listed in the student tools.
- Kit you keep. Shears, clipper, irons, dryer, mannequins, a lockable tool trolley, a laptop and the Milady textbook bundle go home with graduates.
Admission Requirements and Process
Entrance is open to career-minded people who meet the Admission Requirements, and in the opinion of the school staff, would be able to obtain and utilize the skills taught for employment. Candidates are screened to determine their capabilities, career potential and desire to complete the course and work in the field.
General Requirements
- High School Diploma or EquivalentHigh school diploma, General Education Development Certificate GED®, HiSET®, Associates or Bachelors degree or official high school graduation transcripts designating the date of…
- Minimum Age 17Students must be 17 years of age or older.
- Valid Photo IDCopy of a valid State ID, Driver License or Passport.
- TB Health ClearanceTuberculosis (TB) health clearance.
- Immunization RecordsImmunization documents or titers as required by the state for Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella, and Tetanus (TDap) Shots Records.
- Personal InterviewA personal interview is required of all new students. Please call (808) 533-6596 to make an appointment.
- $25 Registration FeeThe $25.00 registration fee is the applicant's responsibility, and is due at the time of enrollment. It is refundable up to and within 3 days after touring the school in the event…
Application Process
- 1Contact Admissions and Tour the SchoolContact the school for answers from our registrar or financial aid department, to book an appointment, or a tour of the school. Due to limited enrollment, plan to visit the School and apply far in advance of the time you wish to start.
- 2Complete Your Personal InterviewA personal interview is required of all new students. Bring your records; you must apply in person if you are on Oahu. Applicants from off the Island of Oahu should let the school know in writing at least 30 days in advance by completing the School application.
- 3Submit Your DocumentsProvide a copy of your diploma, TB test, complete immunization records, and a valid ID, along with the $25.00 registration fee. Applications are processed as soon as received and students are advised of tentative acceptance of enrollment.
- 4Apply for Financial Aid (FAFSA)Application for financial aid is free online. After touring the school, selecting a class start date, and once the Financial Aid Department receives a valid ISIR, an estimated financial aid offer will be issued.FAFSA Code for Honolulu: 014268Fill Out the FAFSA
- 5Sign Your Enrollment AgreementSign your enrollment agreement; the $25.00 registration fee is due when signing.
- 6Start ClassesFormal start dates of classes commence on the second Wednesday of January, March, May, July, September, and November, and the third Monday of June.
Program Schedule
1,800 clock hours, scheduled over 52 weeks at 35 hours a week; the catalog notes that the average student takes 14 months, and attending at 80 percent extends graduation by up to three months. The maximum time frame is 78 weeks, including holidays, absences and leaves, with no more than 129 absent days. Progress is checked at 450, 900 and 1,350 hours, with CIMA exam minimums of 8, 17 and 25 tests at those points and all 34 by graduation. Each clock hour is 60 minutes, and no credit-hour conversion is used.
Attendance. Full-time students are assigned 7 hours a day, 5 days a week, or 35 hours a week. The school is open 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday; every student attends on Saturdays and is off on Sunday and one other weekday. Level 1 students are off on Mondays during their first two months, and the day off changes as they progress. Students arrive by 8:15 a.m. to set up before 8:30 classes, and absent hours are made up by attending beyond the schedule. Theory classes rotate every two months, so a missed class can be attended when it comes round again. Satisfactory progress means 80 percent attendance and a 75 percent average in theory and practical work.
Every student may take a leave of absence of up to 60 days for any good reason, with further leaves for medical, family, jury or military reasons; all leaves together may not exceed 100 days or push the program past its maximum time frame, and a leave adds no charges. The school operates year-round with no scheduled vacation, closing for New Year’s Eve and Day, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Start dates. Classes start on the second Wednesday of January, March, May, July, September and November, and on the third Monday of June. Enrollment is limited, so the school suggests applying well ahead.
The catalog’s 2026 schedule runs starts on January 14, March 11, May 13, June 15, July 8, September 9 and November 11, 2026, each ending 52 weeks later, and lists 2027 and 2028 dates on the same pattern.
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
When you attend an accredited institution, you attend a school that has been independently evaluated for educational quality.
Hawaii Institute of Hair Design is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). The Cosmetologist Program is licensed by the Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology and the Barber Styling Program by the Hawaii Department of Education; both are approved for GI Bill training.
- A reliable indicator of quality
- Approved program of study
- Qualified instructors
- Recognition by employers nationwide
Accreditations
Student Demographics
These are demographics for all students at the Honolulu Campus (IPEDS, 2024).
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Registration fee | $25.00 |
| Tuition | $19,800.00 |
| Books and supplies kit | $2,366.20 |
| Total | $22,191.20 |
Where the prices come from. These charges are from the Cosmetologist Programs catalog effective May 1, 2026. Students who pay without financial aid may use an installment plan with no finance charge: the $25 registration fee, $2,166.20 on the first day of school and 10 monthly payments of $2,000. Those payments add to $22,191.20, the same as the cost table, although the catalog prints the installment total as $21,191.20. The catalog’s kit section also lists a Le Chat student manicure kit at $417.61 and a CAO student makeup kit at $250.00 among the additional cosmetology tools; the tuition table does not show them as separate charges. Graduates pay the state (DCCA) directly for a temporary work permit and license application ($40) and the exam ($90). Prices are subject to change. A Cosmetologist Program net price calculator is published.
Paying for school. Hawaii Institute of Hair Design is an eligible institution for Federal Pell Grants, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) and William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans, available to students who qualify. The FAFSA is free at studentaid.gov, and the school warns against websites that charge for help. The school works with FAME, a financial aid management firm, which can help complete the application; once the school receives a valid Institutional Student Information Record after a tour and a chosen start date, it issues an estimated aid offer. Applicants facing job loss, domestic violence, homelessness or similar circumstances may ask for professional judgment, with supporting documents. Aid depends on satisfactory progress: a student who has not reached 80 percent attendance and 75 percent academic progress by the final disbursement loses eligibility and must pay the resulting balance before graduating. The school offers no private loans. Veterans’ benefits under the GI Bill are approved for both programs.
FAFSA school code. Both catalogs tell applicants to list school code 014268 on the FAFSA. That code does not match the Office of Postsecondary Education ID the U.S. Department of Education lists for the school (021395), so this page does not record a code; confirm the FAFSA school code with the school’s financial aid office before filing.
Cancellation and refunds. The registration fee and all money paid are refunded if requested within three days of signing the enrollment agreement (for veterans, $15 of the registration fee is prorated). After that, a student who withdraws is charged tuition and registration on an exact prorate of the hours completed to the program’s total hours, and refunds are paid within 45 days. The tool kit is not refundable once issued. Written notice of withdrawal is not required for a refund.
Curriculum
The catalog’s Cosmetologist Studies total 1,800 hours: theory 200, salesmanship, shop management and motivation 100, hairdressing and shampooing 350, hair, skin and scalp treatments 50, haircutting 150, perms 175, hair coloring and bleaching 150, hair straightening 50, facials and makeup 175, manicuring and pedicuring 150, and unassigned hours for electives, specialization and testing 250. The same content is delivered as courses matched to Milady CIMA exams and practical assessments: Theory (200 hours), Salesmanship and Shop Management (100), Hairdressing Treatments, Cutting and Styling (550), Chemical Texture and Hair Coloring (375), Facials, Makeup and Hair Removal (175), Manicuring and Pedicuring (150) and Unassigned (250).
The required courses below are from Hawaii Institute of Hair Design's published catalog.
Required Courses
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Theory | 200 |
| Salesmanship, Shop Management & Motivation | 100 |
| Hairdressing and Shampooing | 350 |
| Hair, Skin & Scalp Treatments | 50 |
| Haircutting | 150 |
| Perms | 175 |
| Hair Coloring & Bleaching | 150 |
| Hair Straightening | 50 |
| Facials and Makeup | 175 |
| Manicuring and Pedicuring | 150 |
| Unassigned | 250 |
| Totals | 1,800 |
Required Courses
| Name |
|---|
Career Outcomes
The program prepares graduates for the Hawaii State Board examinations for cosmetology licensure, and for entry-level work in hair shops and salons or self-employment as a hairstylist, manicurist or makeup artist, with basic shop management skills. The school says it receives many calls from shops asking for graduates, keeps a current list of shops with openings for all graduates, and that most graduates step easily into professional positions, with many going on to run their own shops; job placement is not guaranteed.
Because the Cosmetologist Program was re-established in 2023, the catalog reports no graduation or employment rates for it yet. The rates it publishes are for the school’s Barber Styling Program. Advanced seminars, workshops by visiting professionals and occasional evening classes for licensed cosmetologists remain open to graduates who want to keep up with trends.
What to expect as a Hawaii Institute of Hair Design student
Hawaii Institute of Hair Design sits in downtown Honolulu at 1128 Nuuanu Avenue, placed there to bring as many live patrons as possible to its student clinic. The school began as Hawaii Barber School in the early 1940s, was incorporated as Honolulu Barber School, Ltd. in 1956 and has done business as Hawaii Institute of Hair Design since 1976; it describes itself as the only school of its kind in Hawaii, family run, with more than 70 years of training, graduating and placing students.
Training begins with two months of intensive introductory theory and practical classes in the Level 1 classrooms upstairs, then moves to short review and advancement classes and supervised practice on paying guests in the ground-floor practical clinic, which has styling stations, hydraulic chairs, shampoo bowls, dryers and a dispensary. Classrooms have audio-visual and projection equipment, a text library and self-test computers, and a ground-floor lounge has a refrigerator, microwave and magazine library. The building is licensed for 70 students in the Level 1 classrooms and 85 in the clinic; an average starting class is about 12 students, with no more than 20 students to each teacher.
Students receive a progress report every two months. Excursions introduce shop and salon management and distributorships, guest artists lead seminars, and inter-school competitions and fashion shows build confidence. Graduates may use the school’s list of shops with openings, though placement is not guaranteed. The school provides no housing; the catalog notes rooms in homes and the local YMCAs on the bus line. Reasonable accommodations are available for students with disabilities on request.