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Following U.S. Senator Brian Schatz’s successful negotiation for a one-year extension of $46 million in funding for the federal Native Hawaiian Education Program in June, a first tranche —$29.7 million — is now being distributed. That preserves full operation of preschool early learning and parent education programs that had been threatened with shutdowns or drastic cutbacks to Native Hawaiian- focused funding — for now.
Funding beyond 2026-2027 remains uncertain, as does the fate of the more than 60 early childhood education sites, home visiting services, Hawaiian language immersion and parents’ programs supported, which serve more than 3,000 Hawaii families.