EDUCATION
We envision a thriving Hawaiʻi where every learner has a strong educational foundation, built through learning experiences relevant to their needs and interests, with opportunities to explore their passions and live a meaningful and purposeful life. Education in Hawaiʻi must embrace all learners and learning environments to foster a sense of belonging for every individual.
However, a variety of roadblocks stand in the way. Despite decades of policy interventions, Hawaiʻi's education system still struggles to close the achievement gap between students in lower socioeconomic conditions and their more advantaged peers. Recruiting and retaining high quality educators is hindered by compensation inequities and limited advancement opportunities. Although the state allocates more than $2 billion annually to education, many stakeholders find it difficult to track spending, access funds, or trust that the budget is being managed effectively.
Why overcome these challenges? Quality education empowers our children and future generations to achieve their full potential, equipping them with knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities, allowing them to access better job opportunities, contribute positively to society, make informed decisions, and improve their overall quality of life. Together, we can give keiki the future they deserve.
EXPLORE THE DATA
How We Can Make Change Together
By uplifting learners’ diverse voices, and strengthening partnerships between schools, families, and communities, we can transform education in Hawaiʻi. It will become more relevant to the needs, interests, and cultures of our learners, thereby improving educational equity, reducing social disparities, and creating an inclusive and prosperous Hawaiʻi.
We’re hoping to create a collaborative education system that strives for equity, innovation, and excellence.
– CHANGE Convenings participant
Eight Strategies to Pursue
Given the insights and analyses driven by community feedback, experts, and data, here are the leverage points we’ve identified that can help push the sector forward.
- Nurture networks and partnerships between schools and communities to support families holistically, affording them greater opportunities to be engaged in their learner’s education.
- Invest in the infrastructure and staffing of early learning centers to meet demand and reduce costs per seat, ensuring Hawaiʻi’s early learners gain a well-rounded foundation as they enter primary education.
- Make learning more engaging by creating educational experiences based on learners’ interests and culture.
- Amplify and empower learners’ voices by involving them in decision-making so they can co-create their own learning experiences and journeys.
- Advocate for accessible and equitable learning environments to address learners’ needs.
- Enhance educators’ capacity to offer relevant learning experiences by providing professional development, competitive wages, and funding for resources.
- Expand opportunities for exploratory programs and career-connected learning, especially in rural areas, so learners can discover their purpose and passions in trusted surroundings.
- Create pathways with mentorship to guide learners in the pursuit of their passions and interests.
How HCF is Working to Support and Improve Education in Hawaiʻi
HCF currently funds community-based solutions aligned with several of these strategies. We also nurture relationships across the education ecosystem to foster understanding, leverage resources, and improve problem-solving in education.
HCF Scholarship Program – HCF distributes more than $7 million annually to deserving students, making us the third-largest private provider of post-secondary scholarships in the state. Our scholarships support students pursuing degrees from colleges and universities, as well as obtaining career and technical education at community colleges. In 2023, the average award amount per student was $6,941.
Stronger Together Hawaiʻi – HCF enhanced our scholarship program goals by investing in this initiative to increase postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion rates among Hawaiʻi students from lower-income households. The initiative addressed the largest barrier to postsecondary success—financial affordability—which is compounded by complex systems for tuition assistance and educational funding. After awarding scholarships for the 2023-24 academic year, HCF has reevaluated our approach to supporting postsecondary educational success and will be relaunching our new strategy and fundraising effort in 2025, shifting our focus from emergency student-level response to systems-change and capacity-building grantmaking to increase alignment with our goals.
Stories of Impact
The Watercolor Philanthropist
Clytie Mead’s legacy supports practical education and STEM learning for her Hawai‘i Island community.
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Bringing Early Education to More of Hawaiʻi’s Keiki
$38 million Preschool Open Doors expansion supports ALICE families and keiki, allowing 2,000 more children to qualify for education subsidies.
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Bridging the Gap
ClimbHI connects Hawaiʻi’s keiki to local leaders and future careers.
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