Aloha,  

This summer we shared the exciting announcement that 44 new public preschool classrooms opened across the state just in time for the start of the 2024-2025 school year. As part of the Ready Keiki initiative, this expansion of the state’s Public Pre-Kindergarten Program is a huge step to making preschool more affordable and accessible for our keiki. 

We announced funding to support our future teachers and improvements to the state’s preschool and child care monthly subsidy program. I also had the opportunity to lead a delegation of Hawai'i leaders to Korea, to engage with our sister-state partners and learn about their work in sustainable tourism and technology.

I recently had the honor of leading a delegation of Hawaiʻi leaders to Korea, where we deepened the bonds between our two regions.

In Seoul, we met with Mayor Oh Se-hoon and discussed our shared commitment to investing in early childhood education, focusing on how to uplift families and communities in both Hawaiʻi and Korea.

In Jeju, Governor Oh Young-hun and I spoke about the challenges of climate change and renewable energy, recognizing that islands like ours must lead the way in sustainable development.

We also engaged with the Jeju Tourism Organization, whose innovative approaches to eco-friendly tourism align closely with Hawaiʻi’s Mālama Hawai‘i campaign. Both regions are dedicated to protecting the natural beauty that sustains our people and visitors.

I also had the opportunity to meet with some of Korea's leading businesses in technology, tourism, and aviation.

This visit reaffirmed the deep cultural and economic ties between Hawaiʻi and Korea, while opening new doors for collaboration in education, sustainability, and tourism.

This summer, I joined the Department of Human Services (DHS) to announce that the Preschool Open Doors (POD) tuition subsidy program is now accepting applications year-round.

Previously, POD only accepted applications during limited three-month periods. Expanding to a year-round process was a key goal of the Ready Keiki initiative.

This change builds on improvements made in January 2024, when new rules expanded income eligibility, reduced co-payments, and extended eligibility to 3-year-olds. Many families who previously exceeded income limits may now qualify. 

2024-2025 POD Monthly Gross Income Limits

Families can apply online or request an application from PATCH by visiting patchhawaii.org or calling 808-791-2130 (toll-free at 1-800-746-5620). PATCH can also assist with finding preschools.