Ready Keiki expands public pre-K access; New Early Childhood State Plan released
Hawaiʻi continues to make significant progress in expanding access to early childhood education, with major milestones achieved under the state’s Ready Keiki initiative. Now, all six elementary schools in the Nānākuli-Waiʻanae complex area offer free public pre-K, marking a major step in improving access for local families living on the leeward coast.
Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, who leads Ready Keiki, visited the newest public pre-kindergarten classroom at Mākaha Elementary School today alongside Department of Education Superintendent Keith Hayashi and Executive Office on Early Learning Director Yuuko Arikawa-Cross.
“We’re excited that the Nānākuli-Waiʻanae complex now has a public preschool at every elementary school. This is not just a vision for West Oʻahu, but for every community across Hawaiʻi,” said Luke. “Preschool and child care are among the biggest drivers of the cost of living in our state, so expanding access is not only about preparing our youngest learners, but it’s also about easing the financial burden on working families.”
In addition, the Hāna-Lahainaluna-Lānaʻi-Molokai complex has offered a public pre-K classroom at every elementary school since the 2024-25 school year. Kauaʻi is also making progress toward this goal, currently offering public pre-K at five of its nine public elementary schools, with a sixth classroom set to open this August.
Since the launch of Ready Keiki in January 2023, the state has opened more than 80 classrooms through the EOEL Public Pre-Kindergarten Program, including the milestone 100th classroom celebrated last October.
In 2022, there were 37 public pre-K classrooms statewide. Today, there are 117 classrooms across 89 locations, reflecting Ready Keiki’s success and the state’s continued investment in early learning.
Superintendent Keith Hayashi spoke about how public preschool helps with the transition to kindergarten. “Ready Keiki helps to cultivate our students from an early age in pre-K, helps them to grow and provides them the supports that our students need when they start in early age here at Mākaha Elementary,” Hayashi said. “It helps with transitions, it helps with bringing family together, it helps with socialization of students.”
Each classroom in the state’s Public Pre-Kindergarten Program serves up to 20 students ages 3 and 4, with priority given to children in foster care, families experiencing homelessness, and those facing other at-risk circumstances. Enrollment is accepted year-round. Applications are currently being accepted for the 2026-27 school year.
Families are encouraged to apply for available seats or join a waitlist at earlylearning.ehawaii.gov or by calling EOEL at 808-784-5350.
Nānākuli-Waiʻanae Complex Area EOEL Public Pre-K Campuses:
- Leihōkū Elementary (Opened SY24-25) **
- Māʻili Elementary (Opened SY25-26)
- Mākaha Elementary (Opened SY25-26)
- Nānāikapono Elementary (Opened SY24-25) **
- Nānākuli Elementary (Opened SY23-24) **
- Waiʻanae Elementary (Opened SY24-25) **
**Two public pre-K classrooms
Strengthening Early Childhood Support Statewide
The state has also released the Hawaiʻi Early Childhood State Plan (2025–2030), a comprehensive roadmap to strengthen early childhood learning and care, health, cultural and community programming, and family support systems over the next five years.
Released by Lieutenant Governor Luke and EOEL, the plan reflects a coordinated, community-driven effort to improve outcomes for keiki and ʻohana across Hawaiʻi.
The plan builds on lessons from the 2019–2024 State Plan and findings from the 2024 Hawaiʻi Early Childhood Comprehensive Needs Assessment. More than 150 participants attended in-person forums across all four counties, and more than 300 individuals contributed through surveys and virtual listening sessions.
“This State Plan reflects our collective commitment to Hawaiʻi’s keiki and ʻohana,” said Yuuko Arikawa-Cross, EOEL director. “It brings together the voices of families, providers and community partners to create a shared path forward—one that strengthens our systems, honors our values, and ensures every child has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.”
The plan is organized around six key focus areas:
- Keiki and ʻOhana Health, Safety and Well-Being
- ʻOhana Partnerships and Engagement
- Keiki Learning and Development
- Early Childhood Workforce
- Access to Early Care and Learning Opportunities
- Early Childhood Systems
Key priorities include expanding access to affordable early learning, strengthening transitions to kindergarten, incorporating Hawaiian language and culture into early learning standards, improving access to family resources, and increasing support and wages for the early childhood workforce.
EOEL will track progress annually and continue engaging partners statewide to support implementation and continuous improvement.
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