Hawaii runs its child care subsidy through the Child Care Subsidy program, administered by the Department of Human Services. Here is exactly who qualifies, what it costs your family, and the step-by-step way to apply in 2026.
You apply online at the Department of Human Services Child Care Subsidy portal, childcaresubsidyapplication.dhs.hawaii.gov, or by submitting the paper Application for Child Care Services (form DHS 911) to the Child Care Subsidy Unit. If your gross monthly income is at or below 85 percent of Hawaii's State Median Income, at least one parent is working, in school, or in approved training, and your child needs care, you qualify on paper. Applications are accepted year-round, per the Department of Human Services.
The honest tradeoff. Hawaii has the highest child care costs in the country, and the subsidy reimbursement rate does not always cover full tuition at the priciest Oahu centers, so some families still owe a gap. The general subsidy runs year-round, but the related Preschool Open Doors program only opens for a short window each spring. Mark your calendar.
To qualify, your household's gross monthly income must be at or below 85 percent of Hawaii's State Median Income, at least one parent must be in an approved activity such as work, school, or job training, and the child must need care during those hours, per the Department of Human Services. Hawaii residency and a DHS-approved provider are required.
Some families are served as a priority. Children in the child-welfare system, families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or the First-To-Work program, and families experiencing homelessness are prioritized, per BESSD policy. These groups are protected even when funding is tight.
These are the core requirements. Hawaii publishes exact dollar limits by family size separately, because Hawaii's State Median Income figures differ from the mainland.
| Requirement | What the program asks for |
|---|---|
| Income | Gross monthly income at or below 85% State Median Income |
| Activity | Employment, education, or approved training |
| Family co-pay | Sliding fee scale by income and family size |
| Provider | Licensed center, family child care home, or approved license-exempt care |
| When to apply | Year-round (Preschool Open Doors: spring window only) |
| Source: Hawaii Department of Human Services, Child Care Subsidy program (2025). Exact income limits and the sliding fee scale are on the DHS portal. | |
Most families pay a monthly co-payment on a sliding fee scale set by family size and gross income, per the DHS Child Care Gross Income Eligibility Limits and Sliding Fee Scale. Co-pays are lowest for the lowest-income families and rise toward 85 percent of State Median Income. The subsidy covers the rest, up to the maximum payment rate DHS sets for the care type and the child's age.
Because the subsidy is capped at a maximum payment rate, families at higher-priced Honolulu and Kailua centers may owe the difference between the cap and the center's tuition. Infant and toddler care, which is the most expensive and hardest to find on the islands, is where the gap tends to be widest.
Apply in five steps through the Department of Human Services. Gather your documents first; a complete application is the fastest path to a determination and payment, per DHS guidance.
One practical tip. If your child is turning four, watch for the Preschool Open Doors spring enrollment window. POD can pay a large share of preschool tuition in the year before kindergarten, but it does not accept applications year-round the way the general subsidy does.
You can request an administrative hearing to appeal a Department of Human Services denial or termination, generally within the timeframe stated on your notice, per DHS due-process rules. Many denials turn on a missing income document or proof of activity and are resolved once you supply the right paperwork.
While you wait, other supports layer well. Head Start and Early Head Start serve income-eligible children at no cost, Preschool Open Doors helps with the pre-kindergarten year, and a Dependent Care FSA through your employer can shelter up to $5,000 pre-tax for care costs. The federal Child and Dependent Care Credit can also offset part of what you pay out of pocket.
Apply online at childcaresubsidyapplication.dhs.hawaii.gov, or submit form DHS 911 to the Child Care Subsidy Unit by mail or email. Upload your documents and wait for a determination.
Gross monthly income must be at or below 85 percent of Hawaii's State Median Income for your family size. Exact dollar limits and the sliding fee scale are published on the DHS portal.
The Hawaii Department of Human Services, through its Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division (BESSD) Child Care Subsidy Unit, formerly Child Care Connection Hawaii.
A separate DHS subsidy for the pre-kindergarten year, prioritizing children turning four. It accepts applications only during a limited spring open enrollment period.
Yes. Hawaii allows approved license-exempt care, including by a relative, once the caregiver registers with DHS and meets health, safety, and background-check requirements.
For most Hawaii families near the income ceiling, the best move is to apply through the Department of Human Services Child Care Subsidy portal now, since the general program runs year-round. Gather your documents, confirm the current 85 percent State Median Income limits on the DHS site, and if your child is turning four, set a reminder for the Preschool Open Doors spring window.
Eligibility, the sliding fee scale, Preschool Open Doors, and payment rates across the islands.
Read the guide → Hawaii costWhat a center or family child care home actually costs across Hawaii in 2026.
See Hawaii costs → Free toolEstimate your net out-of-pocket tuition after credits and subsidies.
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