KANE'OHE — It is never too early to start thinking about college. That was the message from national education leaders, college admission directors and school superintendents to Hawai'i students in local school visits this week.

At a visit to a Pu'ohala Elementary School fourth-grade class yesterday, Kathy Greider, a lead principal in Hartford, Conn., told about two dozen wide-eyed students to have big dreams.

And most of them do. From nurses to doctors, veterinarians to airplane pilots, the students each stood and announced what they want to be when they grow up.

Greider shared with the Pu'ohala students the importance of having someone encourage her to go to college and telling her she can succeed.

"I needed to hear that from another person," said Greider. "You all have the potential to go to college."

Greider also passed out mock college applications to give the fourth-graders exposure to the process of applying to colleges.

The education leaders gathered in Honolulu from around the country as part of the Century Program of the Foundation for Excellent Schools, which promotes educational achievement in high-need communities. Their message is one that applies to any student in any family: Start thinking about, talking about and planning for college now.

"We realized that you have to get (students) geared up very early so that they can begin to think about college," said Robert Henry, superintendent of schools in Hartford. Henry was one of more than a dozen education leaders who visited local schools.

At a young age, students need to be exposed to the possibility of going to college, Henry said. He said parents and teachers need to instill in students that education "is the passport to a better life."

The Century Program does this through the use of mentors — normally parents, teachers, school counselors or other community members, Henry said. At home, parents can play the role of mentor by talking to children about what they want to be when they grow up and about the importance of education.

As they get older, students should be coached through the college search and application process and guided in picking a school that is right for their individual goals, Henry said.

The more parents and teachers talk to children about college and career goals when they are younger, the less likely they will be intimidated by the college search process, Henry said.

"When you talk about it, the more they realize it is not an impossible dream," he said.

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.