#ready keiki initiative
Hawai‘i earns top preschool quality recognition for fourth consecutive year
Hawaiʻi is once again being recognized as a national leader in preschool quality, meeting all 10 benchmarks for high-quality early learning for the fourth consecutive year, according to the newly released National Institute for Early Education Research 2025 State of Preschool Yearbook.
New public Pre-K increases access on Kauaʻi
Ready Keiki launched in January 2023 with the goal of expanding preschool access statewide. Since then, the state has opened more than 80 classrooms through the Executive Office on Early Learning Public Pre-Kindergarten Program.
Ready Keiki celebrates expansion of public charter preschool classrooms
This pre-K expansion represents a major milestone in the state’s efforts to increase early learning opportunities in Hawaiʻi’s public charter schools.
Hawaiʻi recognized for preschool quality as leaders focus on expanding Pre-K access
State-funded preschool enrollment grew to 1,026 children, an increase of 322 students from the prior year.
Maui’s keiki get a boost: Six new public preschools opening this August
Six new, public preschool classrooms will open in Maui County this fall for the 2024-2025 school year, announced Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and the state’s Ready Keiki Initiative on Friday. The pre-K schools enroll 20 students per classroom at no cost to parents.
Preschool Open Doors now accepting applications year-round
Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, who is serving as Acting Governor, joined the state’s Department of Human Services to announce that the preschool tuition subsidy program, Preschool Open Doors, is now accepting applications on a year-round basis. A
Hawaiʻi state funded preschool tops quality rankings
A new national report finds Hawaiʻi is one of only five states in the country to meet 10 of 10 research-based quality benchmarks for pre-kindergarten programs. However, the report finds the state ranks 44th in the nation for preschool enrollment for four-year-olds and 31st for three-year-olds.
Fitness specialist and housing developer earn Volunteer and Benefactor of Year awards
Fitness and wellness specialist Justin Yanagida and affordable housing developer Highridge Costa were honored as Volunteer of the Year and Benefactor of the Year, respectively, at Maui Economic Opportunity’s 38th Volunteer Celebration held Wednesday.
Blessing marks construction of new Kaiāulu o Kūku′ia affordable housing and Bezos Academy preschool
An estimated 200 affordable rentals are under construction in Lahaina as part of the Kaiāulu o Kūku′ia project, which includes Hawaiʻi’s very first Bezos Academy preschool.
