Community Education and Services

Visit program web site »

Kamehameha strongly supports the need for early childhood education and has dedicated significant resources to provide preschool opportunities to Hawaiʻi keiki. KS enrolls over 1,500 3- and 4- year-olds in 31 preschools statewide.

The preschool program, which emphasizes the development of social and emotional skills created the community-based preschools because the earliest years of life from before birth until 8 years of age is the most critical time in a child’s development. About 90 percent of brain growth occurs before age 5, when the foundations for thinking, language, vision, attitudes, aptitudes and other characteristics are established. Quality early education is key to future success in school and often in life.

Foundations for Early Learning

KS’ Community-Based Early Childhood Education curriculum and programming are based on the belief that children learn best through positive, supportive relationships with peers, teachers, families and community members. Positive relationships are fostered through natural conversations, social dramatic play, planned activities, celebrations and scheduled events where everyone participates together as a group. In addition, learning about and integrating cultural information and practicing Hawaiian values such as Aloha, Mälama, Pono, Kuleana, Laulima and Lokomaikaÿi is encouraged as part of everyday preschool life.

Classrooms are organized into several learning centers and a large group area for story time, music, dance and creative movement activities. Learning centers – reading, writing, art, science, math, dramatic play, blocks, manipulatives, discovery and sensory – have been placed to promote interactions and friendships and develop children’s different skills and abilities. Applications are accepted from October through January.

Preschool locations:

Oʻahu

Kalihi-Palama  Hawaiʻi Kai – Pearl City Extended Day
Nuʻuanu      Extended Day
Waiʻalae      Extended Day
Waimānalo  Waimānalo   Extended Day
Kahaluʻu  Kailua to Kahuku
Kahuku
Heʻeia       Extended Day
Hoʻaliku Drake  Waipahu to Mākaha  Extended Day
Nānākuli I
Nānākuli II
Waiʻanae/Puʻu Kāhea    Extended Day (Puʻu Kāhea)

Hawaiʻi

Hāmākua  Waikoloa to Laupahoehoe Extended Day
Kohala
Waimea      Extended Day
Keaukaha  Papaʻaloa to Nāʻālehu  Extended Day
Hilo       Extended Day
Waiʻānuenue      Extended Day
Piʻihonua      Extended Day
Pāhoa       Extended Day
Keaʻau
Kona   Kailua-Kona to Waiʻōhinu Extended Day
Hōnaunau
Kailua-Kona      Extended Day

Maui

Häna   Keʻanae to Kahikinui  No tuition
Paukūkalo  All of Maui   Extended Day 
ʻAʻapueo      Extended Day

Kauaʻi

Anahola  All of Kauaʻi   No tuition
Kaumakani      Extended Day

Molokaʻi

Kalamaʻula  All of Molokaʻi

Kamehameha preschools operate for 10 months a year (August-May). Preschool instruction is 6 hours a day on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and ends at noon on Wednesdays. The extended day program is offered at certain preschool sites and ends between 5:00 to 5:30 p.m. The preschools are closed for holidays, breaks – Fall, Winter and Spring, parent-teacher conferences and teacher work days.