Maui Economic Opportunity’s Head Start preschool programs in Ha‘ikū and Lahaina currently have open spaces for children 3 to 5 years old.

The program offers preschool at eight sites on Maui and one on Moloka‘i at no cost to families who meet income and MEO Head Start eligibility criteria. The Head Start program is designed as a two-generational model by providing comprehensive family services and quality early childhood education by empowering families to succeed and be lifelong learners.

Both centers operate 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday to Thursday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Friday. The Ha‘ikū site is located next to Ha‘ikū Elementary and the Lahaina site, on the Princess Nāhi‘ena‘ena Elementary campus.

MEO Head Start is licensed for 20 students per classroom.

Families with children who turned 3 by July 31, 2024, are eligible to apply for the 2024-25 school year. Children entering kindergarten in fall 2026 will be prioritized.

The MEO Head Start application and eligibility criteria is available on the MEO website: www.meoinc.org. For more information, contact the MEO Head Start office at (808) 249-2988.

MEO Head Start is a federally funded program with additional support from the County of Maui.

About Maui Economic Opportunity
Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc., is a nonprofit agency that’s part of the national Community Action Partnership network, whose goal is to help low income individuals and families and disenfranchised people help themselves and transform their lives. Chartered in 1965, MEO offers more than 40 programs that assist low income people, kupuna, youths, persons with disabilities, immigrants and other disenfranchised individuals countywide. MEO runs the Human Services specialized transportation program for health and dialysis appointments, after-school and youth sports activities and more; and the Maui Bus paratransit system; Head Start preschools and Kahi Kamali‘i Infant Care Center; as well as programs that offer kupuna socialization and information; rent, mortgage and utility assistance; Spanish interpretation and translation; entrepreneurial and financial classes and support, including microloans; inmate reintegration into the community after release; youth drinking, drug, smoking, bullying and suicide prevention; and employment training and placement. For more information about the entire array of programs, visit meoinc.org or call (808) 249-2990.