Got a 3- or 4-year old? Send your child to a high-quality, tuition free charter school Pre-K program.
Applications are now being accepted at eleven public charter schools statewide for the 2023-2024 school year. To be eligible, children must be three- or four-years-old on or by July 31, 2023. The schools listed below offer high quality early learning programs.

Hawaiʻi Island

  • Ka ʻUmeke Kāʻeo Public Charter School in Hilo, phone (808) 961-0470
  • Ke Kula ‘o Nāwahīokalani‘ōpu‘u Iki Laboratory Public Charter School in Keaʻau, and Waimea, phone (808) 982-4260
  • Kona Pacific Public Charter School, phone (808)322-4900
  • Kua o ka Lā in Nānāwale and Hilo, phone (808) 981-5866
  • Volcano School of Arts & Sciences in Volcano, phone (808) 985-9800
  • Laupāhoehoe Community Public Charter School in Laupāhoehoe, phone (808) 962-2200


Molokaʻi

  • Kualapu‘u Charter School on Molokaʻi, phone (808) 567-6900


Oʻahu

  • Kamaile Academy Public Charter School in Waiʻanae, phone (808) 697-7110
  • Ke Kula ʻo Samuel M. Kamakau Laboratory Public Charter School in Kāneohe, phone (808) 235-9175
  • Waiʻalae Elementary Public Charter School in Waiʻalae, phone (808) 733-4880
  • Ke Kula ‘o Nāwahīokalani‘ōpu‘u Iki Laboratory Public Charter School in Nānākuli, phone (808) 982-4260


Kauaʻi

  • Ke Kula Niihau O Kekaha, phone (808) 337-1289

All interested families are encouraged to apply directly with the school.

Early Learning Program Director Deanne Goya said, “Evidence shows that high quality preschool can lay the foundation for a child’s success in school and life. Social emotional learning is a priority and essential for a child’s development. And while classrooms look a little different due to COVID-19 safety measures, our teachers and staff are here to enrich your keiki’s life while working extra hard to keep them safe and healthy.”

These eleven charter schools previously participated in the rigorous federal Preschool Development Grant which sunset. Participation in this grant allowed Hawai‘i to continue to build on statewide efforts to support Hawai‘i’s early childhood system.

By replicating the high-quality prekindergarten classrooms already operating on Hawaiʻi DOE campuses and implementing them in charter schools, we are ensuring a comprehensive approach to a high-quality prekindergarten that will benefit more keiki in Hawaiʻi.

For more information or to register a child, please contact the charter school directly. If you have any questions, please contact Deanne Goya, the Early Learning Program Director at the Commission office at (808)586-3775.