New Hawaiian Language Immersion Preschool to Open in Hilo by 2028
A new Hawaiian language immersion preschool is scheduled to open in Hilo by 2028, located adjacent to the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center. This initiative aims to address the increasing demand for Hawaiian language education. The preschool, a collaborative effort between the University of Hawaii at Hilo, the Hawaii State Charter School Commission, and Aha Punana Leo, will offer early childhood education in Hawaiian to up to 80 pre-kindergarten students. Construction for the facility, awarded to Nan Inc., is slated to commence in March 2027. The project is funded by the Ready Keiki initiative, a statewide program focused on expanding access to early learning. According to Ka‘iu Kimura, Executive Director of Ka Haka ‘Ula o Ke‘elikolani College of Hawaiian Language, the U.S. Census data indicates Hawaiian as the fastest-growing non-English language spoken in homes across the state, with speakers increasing from 18,400 in 2016 to 27,338 in 2024. In Hawaii County alone, the number of speakers more than doubled from ap...