Quality care and education for Hawai'i's preschoolers can be found around the island.
General Information
Most preschools are privately owned and operated, with the exception of the state's Pre-Plus program which targets children whose families can't afford preschool even with the help of state and federal subsidies.
Preschool ages vary between 3-5, and enrollment/fees and additional requirements depend on the individual facility. Check the Child Care sign post for a list of island preschools.
Local Community Resources
-Inclusion Project: Provides support to families with developmental delays in childcare settings such as community pre-schools, daycare centers, and family childcare programs. Assistance is available to families to help them identify and choose appropriate childcare settings. In collaboration with the Department of Human Services, federal funding may also be available to pay for some or all of the childcare costs. For more information, call (808) 973-1113.
-Keiki Care Project: Keiki Care provides training, technical assistance, and support for children from 3 to 5 years of age with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges who are enrolled in preschools, family childcare homes, and other "community-based" early childhood programs. For more information, please call (808) 973-1114.
-Newborn Hearing Screening Program: The Newborn Hearing Screening Program (NHSP) helps families arrange follow-up audiological evaluations for babies who do not pass hearing screening and for children under three years of age who may have developed a permanent hearing loss after birth. If a permanent hearing loss is diagnosed, NHSP assists families in obtaining early intervention services such as speech therapy. State law requires that all babies born in Hawaii receive hearing screening soon after birth, unless testing conflicts with the family's religious beliefs.
-Respite Program: The Respite Program provides funds for respite care for families who have ongoing caregiving responsibilities for a child with special needs. Eligibility requirements apply. Program is also dependent on the availability of state funding and is non-mandated. Please call H-KISS at (808) 973-9633 for Oahu or 1-800-235-5477 from the Neighbor Islands for more information.