Early Childhood Educators of Hawaiʻi
Pipili no ka pīlali i ke kumu kukui. #2662 (Pukui, 1983, p. 292)
Said of one who remains close to a beloved kumu.
Serving keiki and ‘ohana as an Early Childhood Educator is one of the most noble professions you could choose. It is a career full of joy, wonder, and aloha. It is also a career that requires commitment, perseverance, and hope as the field of Early Childhood Education (ECE) continues to advocate for equitable pay and recognition as a well-educated, effective, and coherent profession in our society. Going to school for your ECE credentials is an important step in professionalizing the ECE field and developing a highly qualified workforce dedicated to giving our keiki and ʻohana the best care and education.
Paying for coursework required to become a qualified Early Childhood professional in Hawaiʻi can be costly. Challenges to pay tuition should not be a barrier to join the ECE workforce. This website has been created to help you navigate the various financial assistance available to those earning (and seeking to earn) degrees and credentials in early childhood education within the University of Hawaiʻi system, and to students living and working in Hawaiʻi.
Getting Started
Find some step-by-step basics to begin applying for various financial supports that fit your unique needs.
ECE programs at UH
See an overview of the different generalist ECE programs in the UH system that can help you earn the ECE credentials you need.
Scholarship News Alert
The following funding opportunities are open now for all eligible applicants. Check to see if you meet the criteria and apply today!
The Castle Foundation is now accepting applications for the Henry and Dorothy Castle Memorial ECE Scholarship for undergraduate ECE students and the Mary Tenney Castle Memorial Graduate Fellowship for ECE graduate students. The priority deadline for the Fall 2023-Summer 2024 school year is May 1, 2023.
The Hawaiʻi Early Childhood Educator Stipend Program is now accepting applications for Fall 2023. You can receive a partial to full tuition stipend, depending on coursework and tuition costs! Applications for Fall 2023 are due July 15, 2023.
Quick Links
You may already be familiar with the financial aid process and are ready to jump right in to apply to other funding sources in addition to what you’d typically receive through your college’s Financial Aid Office. If so, click below for a quick view of some funding sources available for individuals pursuing Early Childhood Education (ECE) credentials, whether it’s a degree, certificate, and/or licensure.