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Early childhood education programs in Hawaii

3 early childhood programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

2 schools offer these early childhood education programs, and Hawaii has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Childcare workers look after children's needs and help their early development. What they need varies by state and employer, from no formal education to a certificate in early childhood education; most often states ask for the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, which takes coursework, experience and a period of being observed working with children.1 The CDA takes a high school diploma or GED, 120 hours of early childhood education, 480 hours of work with the age group you choose within three years, a portfolio and the CDA exam.2

In Hawaii, all 3 programs ask for earlier courses first.

By kind, the 3 programs here are child care or preschool certificate (2 programs) and early childhood education (associate degree, 1 program).

See the 3 programs

How much do early childhood education programs cost in Hawaii?

$6,247 to $11,678

from the lowest-priced program to the highest, if you pay yourself

In the typical program

Finished the program
Not enough data
2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Length
Not enough data
3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Hawaii may also offer early childhood education programs. How these figures are made

Are there free early childhood education programs in Hawaii?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 3 early childhood programs in Hawaii approved for WIOA funding

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Kind of program
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3 programs

  • Early childhood education (associate degree)In personEducation and courses

    Early Childhood Education - Preschool (Associates Degree)

    Honolulu Community College

    Honolulu

    Accredited school

    Education and courses

    Honolulu Community College, HonoluluEarly childhood education (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimated$29,900
    Price if you pay yourself$11,678
    More details about Early Childhood Education - Preschool (Associates Degree) at Honolulu Community College
    Finished
    24%
    Working at 6 months
    72%
    Earned in a quarter
    $7,471
    Length
    64 weeks, 16 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    259
    Earned a year, estimated
    $29,900
    Price if you pay yourself
    $11,678

  • Child care or preschool certificateHybridEducation and courses

    Early Childhood Education

    University of Hawaii - Maui College

    Kahului

    Accredited school

    Education and courses

    University of Hawaii - Maui College, KahuluiChild care or preschool certificate · Accredited schoolHybrid · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimated$25,400
    Price if you pay yourself$7,860
    More details about Early Childhood Education at University of Hawaii - Maui College
    Finished
    36%
    Working at 6 months
    86%
    Earned in a quarter
    $6,353
    Length
    50 weeks, 10 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    107
    Earned a year, estimated
    $25,400
    Price if you pay yourself
    $7,860

  • Child care or preschool certificateIn personEducation and courses

    Early Childhood Education - Preschool (Certificate of Achievement)

    Honolulu Community College

    Honolulu

    Accredited school

    Education and courses

    Honolulu Community College, HonoluluChild care or preschool certificate · Accredited schoolIn person · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimated$29,500
    Price if you pay yourself$6,247
    More details about Early Childhood Education - Preschool (Certificate of Achievement) at Honolulu Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    100%
    Earned in a quarter
    $7,363
    Length
    64 weeks, 13 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    16
    Earned a year, estimated
    $29,500
    Price if you pay yourself
    $6,247

How to pay for early childhood education programs in Hawaii

WIOA funding can pay for early childhood education programs in Hawaii

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for early childhood education programs

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.78

GI Bill for early childhood education programs

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.9

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Early childhood education programs in Urban Honolulu, Kahului and other Hawaii cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above.

Other training in Hawaii

How early childhood education programs compare with the rest of education and social services: Child care and social services training in Hawaii

Where the Hawaii early childhood education program numbers come from

Which Hawaii early childhood education programs are on this list?

These are the early childhood education programs Hawaii approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).10 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Hawaii offers.

How the prices and results of Hawaii early childhood education programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about early childhood education programs in Hawaii

Show the 10 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Childcare Workers
  2. Council for Professional Recognition: CDA Credentialing Process Overview (February 2026)
  3. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  4. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  5. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  6. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  8. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  9. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  10. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List