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Hawaiʻi Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance

The Hawaiʻi Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance (HECAA) is a collaboration of individuals and organizations from the public and private sectors. HECAA strengthens advocacy efforts to ensure all children have equitable access to affordable, culturally reflective, high-quality early learning. Supporting young keiki also means supporting families and the early learning professionals who care for and educate them.

Preschool Open Doors

Hawai‘iʻs high cost of living makes it extremely challenging for working families with young children. Affordable housing and affordable child care top the list of expenses. In fact, child care is the second largest expense after housing. This is especially critical for a third of Hawai‘iʻs households who are ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families.

Preschool Open Doors – A Solution to Support Families

Allowing families to receive financial support for early learning for two-year-olds until they are ready to enter kindergarten will provide welcome financial relief, support families, and support local businesses. Preschool Open Doors gives keiki a strong foundation in their education to set them on a positive trajectory.

 
Making Early Learning More Accessible

The State has made significant strides to expand access to early learning with public pre-kindergarten, which currently serves about 12% of Hawai‘i‘s three- and four-year old keiki. Community based programs still serve over 75% of Hawai‘i’s three- and four-year-olds, and 100% of children under three years old in a formal setting. Expanding Preschool Open Doors will make early learning more accessible and affordable for Hawai‘i families.

It is also important to note that many working families need access to full-day care. Community-based programs operate full days throughout the year, while public pre-kindergarten may have set hours operating for nine months of the year.

 

Early Learning Apprenticeships

Hawaiʻi faces critical shortages of early learning professionals. Recruitment and retention of these professionals can be difficult because of low wages. Apprenticeships offer higher pay and on-the-job training while improving the quality of early learning programs.

A state grant program would remove financial barriers for early learning center employers to participate in this valuable program, raising wages for existing staff, and ensuring that Hawaiʻi’s children, families, and businesses benefit from a stronger, more sustainable early learning workforce.

Earn While They Learn

Early Learning Apprenticeship Programs are a structured, hands-on training model designed to help individuals gain the skills and knowledge needed to work in early learning programs.  The on-the-job experience with classroom learning allows participants to earn while they learn and develop expertise in child development and learning, teaching strategies, and classroom management under the tutelage of a mentor. Employees can retain full-time employment and count their experience towards their college degree.

Check out HECAA's 2025 Policy Priorities. Download one-pager here.

  • Moving strongly to the finish line

    Aloha all, Sending this message in hope and gratitude. It's been a busy year so far and a very busy legislative session. With so many uncertainties in our midst it is very grounding and inspiring to know that we are surrounded by such a strong body of caring, dedicated early childhood advocates. We are quickly approaching the close of session and I am enamored to let you know that our bills are still alive. HB 549 our apprenticeships bill and HB 692, our Preschool Open Doors bill passed through WAM this week. They'll be going to conference so we will stay vigilant and continue to keep you apprised of any matters of concern. SB 1609 our contracts bill needs to be heard by FIN, so please call Rep. Yamashita to request a hearing today. His contact info and a script are below. As always, we send you our sincere gratitude for all your support this session and for all the work you do year round. Wishing you a wonderful day. In humble gratitude and best wishes, Malia   FIN Chair Kyle Yamashita Hawai‘i State Capitol, Room 306 Phone: 808-586-6200 Fax: 808-586-6201 [email protected] Sample Script Aloha! I am calling Representative Yamashita  to kindly request that he please schedule a hearing for SB1609. This bill would create a model for a more stabilized revenue stream for programs helping to secure access to childcare for Hawai'i's families Thank you for your consideration of scheduling this bill to be heard!
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    You all are amazing

    Over 3,000 bills were introduced at the legislature in the 2025 session. With amazement and gratitude our HECAA bills are still alive with only one senate version getting deferred. Our senate bill for contracts, SB 1609 has passed out of finance committee and is making to crossover!! Nice work all!! This week we have our final two house bills being heard. Mahalo to the many advocates that took time to call Rep. Yamashita and other reps to get these bills heard. Each and everyone of you has made such an impact in helping to keep our bills alive and moving forward. Thank you for being an active advocate for our keiki, families and workforce.  Hearings happening this week: Preschool Open Doors HB 692- Monday 2/24/25 12:00 pm Rm. 308 HB 692 Sample Testimony (FIN) Apprenticeships HB 549- Tuesday 2/25/25 2:00 pm Rm. 308 HB 549 Sample Testimony (FIN)-   We still need a hearings scheduled for senate apprenticeship bill, SB 426,  so if you are so inclined please give Senator Dela Cruz a call as well. WAM sample hearing request script Senate District 17Portion of Mililani, Mililani Mauka, portion of Waipi‘o Acres, Launani Valley, Wahiawā, Whitmore Village Room: 208Phone: 808-586-6090Fax: [email protected] Thank you for staying the course and advocating for our keiki. It has been a very busy new year and we thank you so much for taking the time to stay engaged. Your time, efforts, and energy are so appreciated. Our community is a better place because of all you do. Sending our sincere gratitude as we move into the second half of the legislative session. Let's keep our momentum going and bring more advocates into the fold. Please contact us if we can be of any support at all. Wishing you a wonderful day and a great week ahead!    
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