READY KEIKI TO OPEN 50 PRESCHOOL CLASSROOMS OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS
HONOLULU — Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke today announced the next phase of preschool classroom openings under the Executive Office on Early Learning’s (EOEL) Public Pre-Kindergarten Program, a key part of the Ready Keiki initiative — the state’s plan to provide universal access to pre-kindergarten for all Hawaiʻi families by 2032.
The announcement was made at Kalihi Elementary School alongside EOEL, the Department of Education, and Ready Keiki partners.
Over the next two years, 50 additional public pre-K classrooms will open statewide. Of those, 25 are scheduled to open for the 2025–26 school year, adding approximately 1,000 new seats and bringing the statewide total to more than 2,700 by August 2026.
“Ready Keiki continues to commit to Hawaiʻi’s youngest learners and their families,” said Lt. Gov. Luke. “Expanding public pre-K is a key part of that vision. By opening more free preschool classrooms across our islands, we’re giving families greater access and more options while ensuring every child has the opportunity to start school ready to learn and thrive.”
This next phase prioritizes areas with high workforce demand and rural communities on Oʻahu, helping more working families access free, high-quality preschool close to home.
Among the new classrooms is EOEL’s 100th public pre-K classroom, a major milestone in the state’s early learning efforts. “With 117 classrooms across 89 locations statewide, this is a transformative moment for early learning in Hawaiʻi,” stated Yuuko Arikawa-Cross, Director of the Executive Office on Early Learning. “We’re especially pleased that this expansion will ensure more equitable access to quality preschool for families in rural Oʻahu and our neighbor islands.”
Expansion Highlights:
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21 of the 25 new classrooms will open at Title I schools.
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Two Hawaiian language public pre-K classrooms will open at Hāna High & Elementary on Maui and Hauʻula Elementary on Oʻahu.
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Kapolei will welcome its first public preschool classroom at Barbers Point Elementary.
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Seven sites— Hāhaʻione, Hāna, Kaʻala, Kāhala, Keaʻau, Linapuni, and Solomon — will add additional classrooms due to continued interest from families.
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With the addition of Kaumualiʻi Elementary, more than half of Kauaʻi’s elementary campuses will now host a public pre-K classroom.
Each classroom renovation was completed under budget, with costs averaging between $291,000 and $320,000 — well below the budgeted $1 million per site, reflecting the state’s commitment to a cost-effective early learning expansion.
Each classroom will serve up to 20 students ages 3 and 4, with priority given to children in the following categories:
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Children in foster care
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Children experiencing homelessness or unstable housing
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Children from families earning no more than 300% of the federal poverty level
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Children in other at-risk situations that may impact development and learning
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Children eligible for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), whose least restrictive environment is general education
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Dual or multi-language learners
Applications for EOEL’s Public Pre-Kindergarten Program are open and accepted on a rolling basis at earlylearning.ehawaii.gov.
For more information, families can contact EOEL at (808) 784-5350.
25 New Public Pre-K Classrooms Opening in August 2025:
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Hawaiʻi Island
Kalaniʻanaʻole Elementary & Intermediate
Keaʻau Elementary
Keaukaha Elementary
Kauaʻi
Kaumualiʻi Elementary Maui
Hāna High and Elementary * |
Oʻahu
Barbers Point Elementary
Hāhaʻione Elementary
Hauʻula Elementary * **
Heʻeia Elementary
Helemano Elementary
Kaʻala Elementary
Kāhala Elementary **
Kaʻiulani Elementary
Kalihi Elementary
Linapuni Elementary
Lehua Elementary
Lunalilo Elementary **
Maʻili Elementary
Mākaha Elementary
Maunawili Elementary
Royal Elementary
Solomon Elementary
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**Multiple classrooms opening