Hawai'i School Facilities Authority
HISFA
Why The SFA was Created
Summary of PreK Movement
Access to affordable and high-quality early child care and education is vital to the well-being of children, families, and the community. Benefits associated with high-quality early child care and education include increased achievement test scores, high school graduation, college enrollment, and reduced risk factors, such as the negative impacts of poverty and delinquency.
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Currently, the challenges Hawaii families face in accessing childcare services consist of costs, lack of available seats, physical access (e.g., distance), and lack of quality programs. To address some of these barriers, the Hawaii State Legislators, local and State agencies, and community-based non-private and private programs have joined forces to promote and improve the early learning and pre-kindergarten movement.
Program Guiding Principles
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We help build healthy communities by supporting all children and their families with equitable, high-quality access to prekindergarten education
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We help children develop the mindsets for lifelong learning and the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing future
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We engage Hawaii’s children, families, and colleagues in a collaborative learning process that leverages the knowledge, expertise, and cultures within the whole learning community.
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We provide our workforce with the tools they need to thrive both in and outside the classroom
The Role of the Hawaii School Facilities Authority in Hawaii’s Pre-K Expansion Plan
In partnership with Lieutenant Governor Office Ready Keiki Initiative and the Executive Office on Early Learning (EOEL), the Hawaii School Facilities Authority (SFA) is assisting the Hawaii State efforts in expanding the number of pre-kindergarten programs to 405 by 2032 (goal as of September 2023). The HISFA is committed to achieving this goal through three development pathways:
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Pathway 1: Converting underutilized classrooms on existing public school sites.
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Pathway 2: Renovating underutilized state-owned facilities like libraries or office buildings into dedicated pre-kindergarten facilities (‘Pre-kindergarten Learning Hubs’).
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Pathway 3: Constructing new pre-kindergarten facilities.
Program
Governor Released = $81,685,613
Act 257 (2022)
Appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $200,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the school facilities authority to expand access to pre-kindergarten to eligible children of the State.
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​Act 175 (2023) Transfers $200,000,000 to the school facilities special fund
Act 230 (2024) HB1800 State Budget
Objectives
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Statewide
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8,092 underserved pre-kindergarten children
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20 pre-kindergarten children per classroom
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405 classrooms needed = 8,092/20
**data based on Sept. 2023 data
Phase I: Renovations 2024-27
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Minor renovations: $36M 96 classrooms.
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$300K-$400K/classroom
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August 2024. 46 additional classrooms. $16M
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August 2025. 25 additional classrooms. $10M
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August 2026. 25 additional classrooms. $10M
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Major renovations. $10M 10 classrooms.
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$1.0M/classroom
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Longer timeframe for permits
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$46M = estimated budget 106 classrooms
Phase II: Buildings 2024-28
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Traditional. $19.5M 12 classrooms.
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$10M UH Manoa housing (6) October 2023
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$4M HSPLS Pearl City (2) 2024
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$1.5M Malama Honua PCS expansion (2) 2024
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$4M HSPLS Waikoloa (2) 2025
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Prefabricated. $48M 32 classrooms.
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$6M/building; 4,000 SF; 4 classrooms; support spaces
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Pre-Design 2024 @ 8 sites
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Design 2025
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Construction 2026-27
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$67.5M = estimated budget 44 classrooms