Kamehameha Schools to Host Early Childhood Education Fairs on Maui

With early learning services in high demand on Maui, Kamehameha Schools is joining partners in hosting two Early Childhood Education Fairs on Maui.

The fairs will be held:

• Jan. 10 at the Velma McWayne Santos (Wailuku) Community Center
• Jan. 15 at the Hannibal Tavares (Pukalani) Community Center.

Both events will run from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The fairs are free and open to the public. More than 60 providers have been invited to participate.

Families visit different booths to get information from early learning providers at an Early Childhood Education Fair organized by Kamehameha Schools as a pilot project last year in Central Maui. Photo credit: Kamehamhea Schools.

The event is held in partnership with People Attentive to Children (PATCH Hawai‘i), County of Maui Office of Early Learning, Tūtū & Me and Maui Family Support Services are hosting two

“Early learning provides the building blocks that result in lasting positive effects in academics, social and psychological behaviors, and developing young minds into industrious adults contributing to a thriving community,” said Venus Rosete-Medeiros, KS Regional Director for Maui, Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i. “In Maui County, the demand is high for early childhood education services and our goal with these fairs is to provide as much information as possible in one location so families are empowered to make decisions about their children’s early learning needs.”

According to a 2017 University of Hawai‘i report, on Maui, there is only one available seat for every 34 infants/toddlers (under age 3) and only one available seat for every 3 preschoolers (ages 3 to 5). The gap is even wider on Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i.

Families with children ages 0-5 are especially welcomed to attend to learn about the different services and resources offered including various preschools, family-children interaction learning, early learning opportunities, resources and financial supports available to them.

Families visit different booths to get information from early learning providers at an Early Childhood Education Fair organized by Kamehameha Schools as a pilot project last year in Central Maui. Photo credit: Kamehamhea Schools.