Finding child care in Hawaii means dealing with state licensing, island geography and a limited number of seats. Our directory lists 603 daycare and preschool providers across Honolulu, Hawaii, Maui and Kauai counties. They include church preschools in Hilo, Head Start classrooms in Waianae and resort keiki camps in Lahaina. This page explains how the system fits together, so you know who sets the rules, where to start looking and what to ask when you call.

A daycare is not a government counter that assigns you a seat. Almost every provider is a private business or nonprofit with its own tuition, hours and waitlist. The state decides whether a provider may operate legally. You decide whether it suits your family.

How the State of Hawaii Licenses and Oversees Child Care

Child care licensing in Hawaii sits with the Department of Human Services (DHS). Its authority comes from Chapter 346 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes and the administrative rules adopted under it. Those rules cover background checks for staff, health and safety standards, space requirements and staff-to-child ratios. A provider that falls under the rules must meet them before it can legally care for children.

The rules differ by the type of setting. Group child care centers serve the largest groups in a dedicated facility, and some are set up for infants and toddlers. Group child care homes and family child care homes are smaller programs based in a residence. Family child care homes are the smallest, with only a handful of children. Capacity limits depend on the category, so ask any provider which one it falls under and how many children it may enroll.

Not every arrangement needs a license. Care by relatives, a nanny in your own home, and some school-run or recreation programs can fall outside child care licensing. That does not make them unsafe, but no state licensing worker has reviewed them. Ask the program directly how it is classified.

People Attentive to Children (PATCH) is a Hawaii nonprofit that works as the state's child care resource and referral agency. It helps families find providers, explains the licensing categories and supports providers with training. If you are new to the islands, a call to PATCH is a sensible first step before you start touring.

Military families on Oahu have another route. Child development centers on federal installations, such as those around Schofield Barracks near Wahiawa and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, follow Department of Defense standards instead of DHS licensing. Our listings focus on civilian programs, including several in Wahiawa such as Abundant Life Child Care Center on Kilani Avenue.

Oahu, the Big Island, Maui and Kauai: How Daycare Differs by Region

Hawaii is a state of separate islands, and each county has its own pattern of supply. Where you live changes how many choices you have and how far you will drive for drop-off.

Honolulu County: all of Oahu

Honolulu County covers the entire island of Oahu, which is why it holds 396 of our 603 listings. The urban core has the most variety. Aloha Aina Preschool on Piikoi Street is one example. Popular programs there often keep waitlists, and many parents join several lists early.

Leeward and central Oahu have grown quickly. Our listings include Alphabetland Preschool in Waipahu on Waipahu Street, Alphabetland in Pearl City on Komo Mai Drive, and Aiea Hongwanji Preschool on Puakala Street. Farther west are Calvary Chapel West Oahu Preschool on Fort Weaver Road in Ewa Beach and Kapolei Vip on Kamaaha Loop. Many parents who commute to town pick a provider near work rather than home, because H-1 traffic can make a late pickup stressful.

On the Waianae coast, Head Start Keiki Country II serves families on Kaukama Road. On the windward side, Head Start- Ben Parker is on Waikalua Road in Kaneohe, and Head Start- Waimanalo Elem Pre Plus is on Kalanianaole Highway. First Baptist Preschool of Haleiwa on Haleiwa Road serves the North Shore.

Hawaii County: long distances on the Big Island

Hawaii County has 86 listings spread over an island with very long drives. Hilo has the largest cluster, including Haili Christian Preschool on Ululani Street. In Puna and Hamakua-side communities, Keaau Inclusion on the Keaau-Pahoa Road and Kamehameha Preschool - Pahoa on Puna Road serve families who would otherwise face a long commute. On the Kona side, Hawaii Montessori School at Kona - Primary Program sits at 74 Manawalea in Kailua, meaning Kailua-Kona, not the Oahu town of the same name. Camp Mauna Lani-Seagull School is listed under Waimea, with an address on Mauna Lani Drive. Travel between Hilo and Kona can take close to two hours, so most families look within their own district.

Maui County: Maui, Molokai and Lanai

Maui County has 79 listings. In central Maui, Christ the King Preschool is on Kaulawahine Street in Kahului and Wailuku Hongwanji Preschool is on East Vineyard Street. Kama'aina Kids Piilani Preschool serves Kihei, and Headstart - Makawao A & B serves upcountry families. Lahaina has 16 listings, including Camp Hyatt on Nohea Kai Drive. The August 2023 wildfire disrupted many families and providers there, so confirm a program's current location before you visit. Molokai is part of this county too, and Na Kamalii Hoaloha Preschool in Kaunakakai is one of its few options.

Kauai County: a smaller, island-wide market

Kauai County has 42 listings. Ae Kamalii Preschool is on Kress Street in Lihue, All Saints Preschool is on Kuhio Highway in Kapaa, and Natural Bridges School is on Oka Street in Kilauea. With fewer providers, a call a few months before you need care is wise.

Kinds of Daycare and Preschool You Will Find in Hawaii

Hawaii's providers reflect the islands' communities. Looking at the names in our listings, you will mainly see these program types:

Many programs also build Hawaiian language, songs and culture into the day. Punana Leo Hawaiian immersion preschools exist on several islands, and PATCH can tell you what is near you.

Paying for Child Care in Hawaii

Child care in Hawaii is expensive, and tuition varies a lot by island and program type. Three public routes can reduce the cost, depending on your income and your child's age.

Child Care Connect Hawaii is the DHS program that helps eligible working families pay for care. Eligibility turns on household size, income and whether parents are working, in school or in training. The provider you choose must also meet program requirements, so ask whether a program accepts the subsidy before you enroll.

The Executive Office on Early Learning (EOEL) oversees public pre-kindergarten classrooms at selected Department of Education schools. It also runs Preschool Open Doors, which helps eligible families pay for private preschool in the year before kindergarten. Funding and participating programs change, so check the current rules.

Head Start is free for eligible families. Sites such as Ben Parker in Kaneohe, Keiki Country II in Waianae and Makawao on Maui are run by local agencies, and each handles its own applications. Call the site directly to ask about income limits and openings.

Licensed daycare and childcare programs in Hawaii are regulated by the state's child care licensing division, which establishes standards for health, safety, staff qualifications, and caregiver-to-child ratios to protect enrolled children.

Daycare locations are available in 53 cities across Hawaii. They are spread across 4 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Honolulu, Kailua, Hilo, reflecting population centers where working families have the greatest demand for licensed childcare options.

Families in Hawaii searching for licensed childcare should verify that any facility is currently licensed by the state, check inspection history, and inquire about available subsidy programs that may reduce out-of-pocket childcare costs.

Daycare by Counties

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Daycare by Cities

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Families in Hawaii can verify the licensing status of any childcare provider through the state's child care licensing agency online database. Income-eligible families may qualify for childcare subsidies through the Child Care and Development Fund program administered at the state level.

Browse Daycare by county across Hawaii to find the nearest location.

Starting Child Care in Hawaii: A Practical Checklist

Begin your search earlier than you expect. In busy parts of Honolulu County, parents often join waitlists during pregnancy. On smaller islands, a few months of notice is usually enough, but the choices are fewer.

When you visit a program, ask to see its license or registration and confirm which category it holds. Ask about staff-to-child ratios, background checks, staff training in first aid and CPR, and how parents are told about incidents. Hawaii's emergency risks are different from the mainland's, so also ask about plans for hurricanes, tsunami warnings and flash floods. The outdoor warning sirens are tested monthly, and a good program can explain what it does when a real alert sounds.

Visit at a busy time of day, not only during a quiet tour. Watch how staff speak to children and whether the outdoor space is shaded and secure. Ask how naps, meals and allergies are handled. Compare total costs, including registration fees, supply fees and charges for late pickup or school holidays.

Finally, check the practical details. Does the schedule match your commute? Does the provider close for Hawaii's state holidays? Is there a plan for a sick child? A short call to PATCH can help you compare options and confirm what the licensing categories mean before you commit.

Daycare in Hawaii: Frequently Asked Questions

The Hawaii Department of Human Services licenses child care under Chapter 346 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes and its administrative rules. Group child care centers and group child care homes are licensed, and smaller family child care homes are also covered by DHS rules. Care by relatives and some school-run programs may be exempt. To check a provider, ask to see its license, and call DHS or PATCH if you need help confirming its status or understanding which category it holds.

Hawaii public schools generally require a child to turn five by July 31 to enter kindergarten. That means the year before, when your child turns four by that date, is the usual pre-kindergarten year. This is also the year the Executive Office on Early Learning focuses on through public pre-K classrooms and Preschool Open Doors. If your child's birthday falls near the cutoff, ask your school and your preschool early so you can plan the right year of care.

Yes, for eligible families. Child Care Connect Hawaii, run by DHS, helps working families pay for care, with eligibility based on income, household size and work or school activity. Head Start offers free programs to eligible low-income families at sites like Ben Parker in Kaneohe and Makawao on Maui. Preschool Open Doors helps with private preschool in the year before kindergarten. Rules and funding change, so contact each program for current requirements. Gather proof of income, identification and your child's birth record before you apply.

Providers commonly ask for your child's immunization record, a tuberculosis clearance, a birth certificate or other proof of age, emergency contacts and a list of any allergies or medical needs. Hawaii health rules for child care and schools usually include TB screening, so ask your pediatrician early because appointments can fill up. If you use a subsidy, bring income and employment documents too. Each provider has its own enrollment packet, so ask for it before your visit and fill it out at home.

Choices are fewer than on Oahu, so call early. On Molokai, which belongs to Maui County, Na Kamalii Hoaloha Preschool in Kaunakakai is listed on Mauna Loa Highway. On Kauai, Ae Kamalii Preschool in Lihue, All Saints Preschool in Kapaa and Natural Bridges School in Kilauea appear in our directory. Because families cannot drive to another island for care, many also rely on relatives or small home-based providers. Ask PATCH about family child care homes near you, and confirm their licensing status.

Kailua is both a windward Oahu town in Honolulu County and the common short name for Kailua-Kona on the Big Island. Our database shows 46 listings under Kailua, and they may come from either place. Hawaii Montessori School at Kona - Primary Program, at 74 Manawalea, is on the Big Island in Hawaii County. Always check the county and street address before planning a visit, because the two Kailuas are on different islands and a flight apart.