Child care problems hurt Hawai‘i’s families and the state’s economy. 

Many young keiki in Hawai‘i reach school at a disadvantage. Statewide, kindergarten readiness scores are lowest in the Language & Literacy domain. Readiness gaps become academic achievement gaps and grow wider over time. Early childhood experiences matter for school readiness and success.

Expanding public investment is critical to increasing access to early care and learning opportunities to meet the state’s high needs. Federal and state funding plays a pivotal role in building capacity, improving quality, and reducing the financial burden for families. The information in this primer provides a general overview of the majority of available public funding for child care and early learning programs in Hawai`i and the flow of these funds.

Food insecurity can harm individuals of any age, but it can be especially devastating to young children.

Corporal punishment harms children.

In 1973 Hawai‘i became the third State to ban corporal punishment in schools. With the accumulating evidence on the harms of corporal punishment, there is a clear path to legislative action to have us again lead the United States in eliminating the purposeful infliction of pain on children.

Research shows homelessness in the early years is harmful to children’s development.

The cost of infant care in Hawaii is higher than the annual cost of college tuition.

Supporting employees’ child care needs supports businesses’ bottom line. Providing child care supports to workers is less expensive than many employers believe because the provision of child care assistance is tax-deductible to employers.