Child Care Assistance in Hawaii

Hawaii offers several options for making child care more affordable. In addition to the Head Startprogram, there’s the Hawaii Financial Assistance program. The program is meant to help needy families with children afford child care. It encourages job preparation and starting careers, in an effort to create financially self-sufficient families. To qualify, families must live in Hawaii. The parents or guardians applying must also be pregnant or responsible for a child under 19 years old. Parents or guardians must make low or very low income and/or be under-employed, unemployed or about to become unemployed.To apply, visit Hawaii’s public assistance application form through the State of Hawaii’s Department of Human Services.

How to get started:
To get started in the enrollment process, find the programs in your area by using the online Head Start Locator.

Many programs use the Federal Poverty Line as a guide for financial assistance with child care. If your annual income is at or below the poverty line, you may qualify for financial help. These are the guidelines:

• A family of 1 must make less than $13,230 per year.


• A family of 2 must make less than $17,850 per year.


• A family of 3 must make less than $22,470 per year.


• A family of 4 must make less than $27,090 per year.


• A family of 5 must make less than $31,710 per year.


• A family of 6 must make less than $36,330 per year.


• A family of 7 must make less than $40,950 per year.


• A family of 8 must make less than $45,570 per year.