Preschools & Pre-K in Hawaii
Preschool and pre-K programs across Hawaii take children from about 3 until kindergarten. Full-time preschool-age care at a center costs a median of $190 a week in the middle Hawaii county (2022).
- preschools and pre-K programs listed
- 652
- towns
- 60
- towns have their own preschools and pre-K page
- 36
- of all Hawaii daycares
- 95%
Map of Hawaii: each dot is a town with preschools and pre-K programs, sized by how many are listed
Preschool and pre-K
What preschool costs in Hawaii
- Preschool-age care at a center, per week, in the middle Hawaii county (2022)
- $190
- The median of 5 county medians, from $185 in the lowest county to $263 in the highest.
Hawaii
Largest towns for preschools and pre-K in Hawaii
Programs
Programs in Hawaii
Counts come from the state record and what each daycare says it offers. A daycare without a tag may still offer the program; ask.
| Program | Listed |
|---|---|
| All daycares | 685 |
| Take infants | 231 |
| Child care centers | 476 |
| Accept subsidy | 29 |
| In-home daycares | 209 |
| Christian & church daycares | 82 |
| Montessori schools | 25 |
| Preschools & pre-K | 652 |
| Early morning daycare | 99 |
| Weekend daycare | 10 |
| Part-time daycare | 17 |
| After-school care | 634 |
| Head Start | 88 |
The Hawaii state record
Hawaii Department of Human Services, Child Care Licensing licenses daycares in Hawaii.
- License list
- The state's public list of licensed child care
- Ages served
- The ages on each license
- Inspections
- Not in the records we carry for this state yet
Before you enroll
Choosing a preschool or pre-K in Hawaii
- 1
Ask about the day
Ask how the day runs: free play, circle time, outdoor time and naps. Ask what children do to get ready for kindergarten.
- 2
Half day or full day
Many preschools run half days or school-year hours. If you work full time, ask about before- and after-care.
- 3
Ask about cost
Ask for the tuition, the registration fee and whether the state's pre-K or child care assistance can pay part of it.
- 4
Check the license record
Open a listing for its state license, the ages it serves and, where the state publishes it, the inspection record.
Hawaii
Cost, inspections and ratios in Hawaii
A to Z
All 60 Hawaii towns with preschools and pre-K, A to Z
C1 town
- Captain Cook2 preschools
H11 towns
K20 towns
- Kahuku4 preschools
- Kahului23 preschools
- Kailua32 preschools
- Kailua-Kona16 preschools
- Kalaheo2 preschools
- Kamuela15 preschools
- Kaneohe26 preschools
- Kapaa14 preschools
- Kapaau1 preschool
- Kapolei25 preschools
- Kaumakani1 preschool
- Kaunakakai3 preschools
- Keaau12 preschools
- Kealakekua6 preschools
- Kekaha2 preschools
- Kihei9 preschools
- Kilauea2 preschools
- Koloa4 preschools
- Kula7 preschools
- Kunia3 preschools
L5 towns
- Lahaina9 preschools
- Laie1 preschool
- Lanai City2 preschools
- Lawai1 preschool
- Lihue18 preschools
M3 towns
- Makawao15 preschools
- Mililani Town25 preschools
- Mountainview2 preschools
P8 towns
- Paauilo4 preschools
- Pahala1 preschool
- Pahoa5 preschools
- Paia3 preschools
- Papaikou1 preschool
- Pearl City16 preschools
- Princeville1 preschool
- Pukalani1 preschool
V1 town
- Volcano1 preschool
No town on this list matches. Check the spelling, or search by ZIP code above.
Nearby
Nearby states
Questions
Questions about preschools and pre-K in Hawaii
How many preschools and pre-K programs are in Hawaii?
652 preschools and pre-K programs are listed in 60 Hawaii towns. A daycare without this tag may still run a preschool room; ask.
Which Hawaii town has the most preschools and pre-K programs?
Honolulu, with 144 listed. Next are Kailua (32) and Hilo (31).
What is the difference between preschool and pre-K?
Pre-K is the year before kindergarten, usually for 4-year-olds, and many states fund free or low-cost pre-K. Preschool is the wider term for programs for children of about 3 to 5. Many daycares run both, and this list has both.
Is there free preschool near me?
Head Start is free for children 3 to 5 from families who qualify, and many school districts run free pre-K classes. School-district pre-K is often not on child care license lists, so check with your school district too.
What age is pre-K?
Pre-K is usually for children who turn 4 by a cutoff date in late summer or early fall, the year before kindergarten. Each state sets its own cutoff.
What is the difference between preschool and daycare?
A preschool teaches children of about 3 to 5 before kindergarten, often for part of the day. A daycare looks after children while parents work, often all day, and many daycares run a preschool room. This list has both: places whose state record serves preschool-age children, that offer pre-K on their own website, or that are named a preschool.
Who licenses daycares in Hawaii?
Hawaii Department of Human Services, Child Care Licensing licenses daycares in Hawaii.