Report: Hawaii child care facilities failing to keep pace with demand

‘Investing in Hawaii’s future’

There is not enough infant, toddler and preschool child care to meet demand in Hawaii, and annual preschool costs hover around $9,500, according to a recent report by the University of Hawaii Center on the Family.

On Maui, there are three children ages 3 to 5 per one licensed child care center seat, such as one at a preschool. It is the same for Molokai, but on Lanai the number goes up to four children per one licensed child care center seat, the report said.

It's even more grim for parents seeking a child care center for their son or daughter under age 3.

There are "no seats," or no opportunities, for child care on Lanai and Molokai for infants and toddlers, as there are no infant-toddler centers on the islands.

On Maui, there are 34 infant-toddler-age children per one licensed infant toddler center seat on island.

The report, released Nov. 30, says the annual average cost of full-time child care in homes of registered child care providers is about $7,800. The annual average cost for child care in centers such as preschools is $9,500, which translates to $950 per month, with the school year lasting around 10 months.

Costs are higher for younger children and infant care. It exceeds $13,000 per year for such children.

The state has the nation's least affordable center-based care rates.

The study also notes there are programs to help families with tuition, as well.

The report was conducted in partnership with the Hawai'i Children's Action Network, with funding from the Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation.

The study was intended to serve as a "critical tool" to evaluate and improve how Hawaii supports the development of all of its children, an announcement said.

"If lawmakers and community leaders are serious about investing in Hawaii's future, then we need to start with children from birth to 5 and collectively find solutions to the problems addressed in the study," said Deborah Zysman, co-author of the report and the network's executive director.

The study shows that the cost of running a child care program is prohibitive, with centers and family child care providers struggling to keep tuition as low as possible while remaining viable as a business.

It adds that many child care providers do not earn a living wage and may need access to on-site professional development and a pathway to earning a credential or college degree in the early-childhood field.

The report's results were not surprising to early-childhood education providers.

At Little Explorers Maui Preschool in Wailuku, there's a waiting list of more than 30 children ages 12 months to 5 years, said director Kimberly Kuloloia.

"I know it is so unfortunate that we don't have enough preschool space, child care centers or even infant-toddler centers," said Kuloloia, whose preschool accepts children ages 2¢ and older during the regular school year. It accepts children who are 2 years old in the summer.

Tuition at Little Explorers is $710 per month, which has remained the same for several years. Kuloloia charges less than other schools because there's no large outdoor play area for the children. Instead, they go to a nearby park or go on excursions.

Kuloloia also tries to keep tuition low to allow children to attend preschool. She added that early-childhood education providers do not do their jobs for economic gain. Rather, they are passionate about educating children, she said.

The preschool's tuition leaves "very little" to pay for overhead, which is the highest expense along with rent and supplies, she said.

"It's no secret that teachers are underpaid in general, but we see the importance and need for building an early foundation," Kuloloia said.

Unlike other preschools that may get support from churches, grants and donations, Kuloloia's 35-student preschool doesn't have that type of help, she added.

Kahului Baptist Preschool does not receive financial help from a church, but it relies on grants, private donors, volunteers and low teacher pay to make ends meet, said director Melanie Nishita.

At $685 a month, tuition covers expenses but it cannot pay for things such as classroom furniture or playground equipment. That is where the donations and grants come in.

Nishita said that to run a high-quality program, teachers are required to have at least a bachelor's degree.

"This is a great requirement but comes with higher pay, which we cannot afford. Out of my 10 teachers, eight of them either already have a bachelor's or (they're) working on one," she added. "A great asset for us, but higher pay will be a hardship. Some of my staff can flip burgers at McDonald's for the same pay they are given to touch . . . the lives of young children. That saddens me."

The preschool has a waiting list of 150 students. It currently accommodates 72 students from nearly 3 years old up to 5 years old.

Dean Wong, executive director of Imua Family Services, which has an inclusion preschool where students of varying abilities learn together, said that the needs for child care go beyond "seats in preschool."

"It's also about quality early-childhood education," he said. "There is a need for families to be able to place their children into child care or preschool so that they are most ready to start school when they (reach) their age. There is a need to support children with their varying levels of needs as well."

Wong serves as board president of the Hawai'i Children's Action Network. The nonprofit is committed to educating and advocating for children.

While the preschool program runs on its own, Wong's other prong of Imua has programs to conduct outreach and support at preschools for educators who may need help with children with challenging behaviors.

Wong said that, with waiting lists for space, it may be easier for schools to ask unruly students to leave instead of working out their issues.

"It puts the children who actually need (preschool) the most without a seat," Wong said.

In addition, the nonprofit from time to time brings in experts on childhood education, and preschool teachers can attend these sessions -- sometimes obtaining continuing education credits. There may be a charge for the classes, but there are scholarships offered, Wong said.

While the study looks at the glaring needs of early-childhood care and education, it also has bright spots.

Wong said: "I think people are seeing Hawaii is a good place to raise children. I think it's a good place for families and so we need to embrace that as a community."

"But we need to provide for children and for families here, so every child has access to high-quality learning experiences," he said.

* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.