HONOLULU — More than $14 million in federal funding is headed to the Honolulu Community Action Program to support the organization’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs, U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono announced this week.

What You Need To Know

  • The amount is more than twice what the HCAP received from the Department of Health and Human Services last year

  • HCAP’s Head Start program was founded in 1965 and has since grown to become the largest early childhood program in Hawaii, serving more than 1,500 children and their families on Oahu each year

  • A federal program, Head Start focuses on early learning, health and family well-being for children from low-income families

The amount is more than twice what the HCAP received from the Department of Health and Human Services last year.

“For over 50 years, the Head Start programs have helped to support families and set up keiki for a lifetime of success,” Hirono said. “Head Start and Early Head Start provide safe, inclusive learning environments and help enable children and families with low incomes to access quality early childhood education. As we work to ensure every child gets the early childhood education they deserve, I’m glad this federal funding will help HCAP offer Head Start services to even more families in Hawaii.”

A federal program, Head Start focuses on early learning, health and family well-being for children from low-income families. The network of programs nationwide provides support growth in language, literacy and social and emotional development.

Eligibility is determined by federal poverty guidelines. Children in foster care, homeless children and children from families receiving public assistance (including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or Supplemental Security Income) are also eligible for Head Start and Early Head Start services regardless of income.

HCAP’s Head Start program was founded in 1965 and has since grown to become the largest early childhood program in Hawaii, serving more than 1,500 children and their families on Oahu each year. HCAP offers the Head Start preschool program for children ages 3 to 5 and the Early Head Start program for infants, toddlers, and pregnant women.

“We are grateful for Sen. Hirono and the rest of Hawaii’s congressional delegation for their continued leadership and stalwart support in providing funding for HCAP to carry out its mission,” said HCAP executive director Robert Piper. “Their support helps make it possible for our agency to offer important Head Start early learning and job development services, as well as much-needed wraparound support services, to Oahu’s working families.” 

A longtime proponent of early education, Hirono led the development of the Hawaii Pre-Plus Program while she was lieutenant governor. There are currently 14 Pre-Plus sites statewide, some of which are used by HCAP for its Head Start Programs.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii.