Hawai’i, like all states, has a unique early childhood policy landscape that is shaped by economics, demographics, political history, coalitions, and other factors that create a state-specific environment for policy advocacy.
State early childhood policy progress is dependent both on the state’s environment and the numerous efforts—by the organizations listed on this page, other organizations, parents, policymakers, practitioners, and more—who work both independently and collaboratively to achieve wins for young children.
Research shows that family economic security is foundational to children’s overall wellbeing. Research also shows that widespread disparities in opportunity (especially by race) drive wide disparities in outcomes. States with policies that offer strong support to young children and their families are more likely to see 1) declining numbers of children in low-income households and 2) low racial disparity among those children.
Young Children in Low-Income Households: Declining
Approximately 31% (43,000) of the state’s children 0-8 live in households below 200% FPL (2022). This is a decline from the 30% rate (47,000 children) in 2017.1
Racial Disparity Among Young Children Living in Low-Income Households: Moderate
Native Hawai’ian children aged 0-8 are moderately more likely to be living in households below 200% FPL than are Asian and non-Hispanic White children.2
State General Fund Appropriations: Declining
In 2023, Hawaii enacted a biennial budget for fiscal 2024-2025. In July of 2024, Hawai’i”s governor signed into law the state’s supplemental budget for the fiscal 2024-2025 biennium. According to the conference committee report, the revised budget calls for total operating spending from all funds in fiscal 2025 of $19.21 billion, a net increase of 1.0 billion compared to the original fiscal 2025 budget adopted last year. General fund spending in fiscal 2025 is set at $10.40 billion under the supplemental budget, an increase of $499.9 million over the originally enacted level for fiscal 2025. Under the supplemental budget approved in conference committee, fiscal 2025 operating spending from all funds is set to increase 1.0 percent and spending from general funds is set to decrease 3.1 percent compared to fiscal 2024 revised levels.3
Key Revenue Sources (after Federal Transfers):4
Hawaii collects a relatively large amount in sales tax revenue because its general excise tax is levied on all business activities, whereas most state general sales taxes are only levied on the final transaction and mostly on goods.
State Budget Rules:4
Hawaii uses a biennial budget. The legislature must pass a balanced budget, but it can carry a deficit over into the following year. Hawaii also limits spending growth with a formula tied to the state’s personal income growth. The rule is binding and requires a two-thirds legislative supermajority to override it. The state also imposes limits on total authorized debt and debt service incurred by the state.
Political Alignment: Aligned Democrat
During the 2024 session, the state’s Senate and House were both Democrat controlled. The state’s Governor was also a Democrat.5
Types of Common Ballot Measures Available.6 One
Early Childhood Policy Advocacy Organizations Include:
Early Childhood Policy Advocacy Multi-State Initiatives Include:7
Highlights from the state’s early childhood policy advocacy community include:7
Hawaiʻi significantly improved its Preschool Open Doors subsidy program to make early childhood education accessible to more families. In 2023, advocates won a substantial increase in funding for the program, with investments growing from $12 million to $50 million in the state budget. The Hawaiʻi Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance coalition also worked with government partners to change administrative rules to expand income eligibility to support more working families and include 3-year-olds in the program.
Act 153, Session Laws of Hawaiʻi, 2024, extends the application period for Preschool Open Doors from three months to year-round – thereby enhancing program accessibility and efficiency for families. The Act prioritizes families with the greatest need during a specific selection period, ensuring that underserved communities have a better chance of securing preschool placements. Applications received after the priority period are processed on a first-come, first-served basis, which allows more families to access the program subsidies quickly. This streamlined approach reduces wait times and clarifies the status of families planning their preschool enrollment. By prioritizing early application for those most in need while keeping the program open for others, these policy changes help ensure that more children in Hawaiʻi can benefit from early education opportunities.
Our key ally in in Hawai’i, Hawai’i Children’s Action Network, is the leading children’s advocacy organization in the state. The organization builds policy-driven coalitions, mobilizes family advocates, and publishes data reports to drive progress on important issues such as early childhood education, economic justice, oral health, and child abuse and neglect prevention.
Hawaii Children’s Action Network is working to advance early childhood policies in several areas:
Preschool and Pre-K
Child Care
Child Care Workforce
Infant & Child Health
Child Welfare
Family Economic Security
Paid Family and Medical Leave
Early Childhood Governance
Click here for more information on advocates’ policy agenda.
Alliance allies at Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network (HCAN) worked in coalition with partner organizations this session to pass legislation that will improve economic security for children and families – particularly those who have been most impacted by structural racism and continue to have the lowest wages.
NOTES:
1 Kids Count Data Center, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Children Ages 0 to 8 Below 200 Percent Poverty, January, 2024.
2 National Center for Children in Poverty, Children Ages 0 to 8 Below 200 Percent Poverty, March 2023, NCCP analysis of ACS 1-Year Estimates – Public Use Microdata Sample 2021.
3 National Association of State Budget Officers, Proposed and Enacted Budgets, FY 2025.
4 Urban Institute, State Fiscal Briefs, June 2024.
5 National Conference of State Legislatures, 2024 State & Legislative Partisan Composition, April 29, 2024.
6 Ballotpedia, Ballot Measures by State, Kids Count Data Center, retrieved July, 2024.
7 Alliance for Early Success, Multi-State Initiatives for Early Childhood Policy Advocacy, July, 2024.
8 Alliance for Early Success, State-Wide Advocacy Highlights Survey, April-October, 2024; and 2024 Prenatal-to-3 Legislative Highlights, Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center, July, 2024.
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© 2024 Alliance for Early Success
The Alliance for Early Success does not endorse or advocate for specific legislation or candidates.
