Hawaii Launch Guide

How to Start a Daycare in Hawaii (2026)

Last updated: June 2026

Researched by the TotReady Research Team

Opening a licensed daycare in Hawaii means applying to the Hawaii Department of Human Services (DHS), Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division (BESSD) — Child Care Licensing Program, clearing fingerprint-based background checks, meeting facility and staff-to-child ratio rules, and passing a licensing inspection. This guide walks the process end to end, grounded in Hawaii's licensing statutes.

Hawaii Daycare Licensing: Fees & Key Numbers

The statute-cited figures that shape your Hawaii launch budget and timeline.

Application fee
Contact your Hawaii licensing office to confirm.
Annual renewal fee
Hawaii's administrative rules specify no renewal fee in dollars; certificates of registration (family child care homes) and licenses (group and infant/toddler centers) are valid one year for new applicants and providers in their first four years and two years for providers licensed/registered four years or more, renewed by application and department approval (HAR §§ 17-891.1-3(i); 17-895-3(j); HRS §§ 346-163(a), 346-171). Although HRS §§ 346-163(b)/346-173(b) authorize the department to set renewal fees by rule, a specific renewal-fee dollar amount could not be verified against a Hawaii .gov source.
Pre-service training
Contact your Hawaii licensing office to confirm.
Annual training
Contact your Hawaii licensing office to confirm.
License-exempt threshold
In Hawaii, child care is exempt from licensing/registration when a person cares for two or fewer children unrelated to the caregiver by blood, marriage, or adoption, OR provides care for a child less than six hours a week; a 'family child care home' (care for three to no more than six unrelated children) must obtain a certificate of registration, and a 'group child care home' (seven to twelve children) or group child care center must be licensed (HRS §§ 346-152(a)(2),(a)(11); 346-151; 346-171).
Family child care capacity
A Hawaii family child care home may provide care for no more than six children at the same time during any part of a twenty-four hour day, with no more than two children under eighteen months of age — increasing to up to four children under eighteen months if there is additional adult help in the home; the provider's own children age six or older (and those under six who are in school or another child care facility more than six hours per day) are not counted in the total (HAR § 17-891.1-18; § 17-891.1-5).
Indoor square footage
Hawaii requires a minimum of thirty-five square feet of unencumbered indoor instructional or play area per child for daytime care and fifty square feet per child in rooms used for sleeping (nighttime/night care), across family child care homes, group child care centers, and infant/toddler centers; outdoor space must be at least seventy-five square feet per child for family child care homes (children twelve months or older, with a 150-square-foot minimum total) and for infant/toddler centers, while group child care centers use a graduated outdoor-area formula (e.g., 720 sq ft for 6 children plus 70 sq ft per additional child) (HAR §§ 17-891.1-38; 17-892.2-80(d); 17-895.1-85).
Inspection schedule
Authorized DHS representatives (and parents/guardians of enrolled children) may visit a facility at any time during hours of operation for monitoring and inspection (HAR §17-892.2-3(a)); renewal requires departmental re-evaluation including inspection. Licensing period (HAR §17-892.2-3(j)): 1 year for new applicants and providers licensed less than four years, and up to 2 years for providers licensed four years or more (unless sooner suspended/revoked); a provisional license may be issued for up to 6 months. Renewal application due at least 90 days before expiration. Background-check re-screening occurs annually (HAR §17-892.2-3(d)).

The 8 Steps to Open a Daycare in Hawaii

Follow these in order. Each step is grounded in Hawaii's childcare licensing rules.

  1. Research your state's rules

    Confirm whether your program needs a license in Hawaii. In Hawaii, child care is exempt from licensing/registration when a person cares for two or fewer children unrelated to the caregiver by blood, marriage, or adoption, OR provides care for a child less than six hours a week; a 'family child care home' (care for three to no more than six unrelated children) must obtain a certificate of registration, and a 'group child care home' (seven to twelve children) or group child care center must be licensed (HRS §§ 346-152(a)(2),(a)(11); 346-151; 346-171).

    Read the rule that defines license-exempt care before you do anything else — it determines whether you operate as a family child care home, a center, or an exempt arrangement.

  2. Complete pre-service training & CPR

    Finish the required pre-service training and certifications. Contact your Hawaii licensing office to confirm.

    Plan for ongoing training too: Contact your Hawaii licensing office to confirm.

  3. Pass background checks

    Submit fingerprint-based background checks for yourself and every staff member, volunteer, and (where applicable) household member before anyone has unsupervised access to children.

    Background-check clearance often takes the longest of any single step — start it early so it doesn't gate your opening date.

  4. Prepare your facility

    Set up a space that meets Hawaii's facility standards. Hawaii requires a minimum of thirty-five square feet of unencumbered indoor instructional or play area per child for daytime care and fifty square feet per child in rooms used for sleeping (nighttime/night care), across family child care homes, group child care centers, and infant/toddler centers; outdoor space must be at least seventy-five square feet per child for family child care homes (children twelve months or older, with a 150-square-foot minimum total) and for infant/toddler centers, while group child care centers use a graduated outdoor-area formula (e.g., 720 sq ft for 6 children plus 70 sq ft per additional child) (HAR §§ 17-891.1-38; 17-892.2-80(d); 17-895.1-85).

    Match your enrollment plan to capacity limits: A Hawaii family child care home may provide care for no more than six children at the same time during any part of a twenty-four hour day, with no more than two children under eighteen months of age — increasing to up to four children under eighteen months if there is additional adult help in the home; the provider's own children age six or older (and those under six who are in school or another child care facility more than six hours per day) are not counted in the total (HAR § 17-891.1-18; § 17-891.1-5).

  5. Submit your license application & fee

    File your application with the Hawaii Department of Human Services (DHS), Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division (BESSD) — Child Care Licensing Program and pay the licensing fee. Contact your Hawaii licensing office to confirm.

    Include your parent handbook, staff policies, enrollment forms, and operations manual — inspectors ask for these at the initial visit.

  6. Pass the licensing inspection

    Schedule and pass your pre-licensing inspection. Authorized DHS representatives (and parents/guardians of enrolled children) may visit a facility at any time during hours of operation for monitoring and inspection (HAR §17-892.2-3(a)); renewal requires departmental re-evaluation including inspection. Licensing period (HAR §17-892.2-3(j)): 1 year for new applicants and providers licensed less than four years, and up to 2 years for providers licensed four years or more (unless sooner suspended/revoked); a provisional license may be issued for up to 6 months. Renewal application due at least 90 days before expiration. Background-check re-screening occurs annually (HAR §17-892.2-3(d)).

    The inspector checks ratios, square footage, sanitation, emergency preparedness, and your written policies against the regulations.

  7. Open your doors

    Once your license is issued, you can legally begin caring for children under Hawaii rules. Maintain the staff-to-child ratios at all times: Under 24 months (under 2 years) Not permitted in a group child care center / group child care home (per HAR §17-892.2-36(d) Ratio and Group Size Chart I; infants/toddlers are served under HAR Chapter 17-895.1), 2 years old 1:8 (one staff member per 8 children; maximum group size 16) — HAR §17-892.2-36(d), 3 years old 1:12 (one staff member per 12 children; maximum group size 24) — HAR §17-892.2-36(d), 4 years old 1:16 (one staff member per 16 children; maximum group size 32) — HAR §17-892.2-36(d), 5 years and older 1:20 (one staff member per 20 children; maximum group size 40) — HAR §17-892.2-36(d)

    Keep certifications current and your handbook updated — these are the items most often cited at renewal.

  8. Enroll families

    Use your compliant enrollment paperwork to bring in families. A complete, Hawaii-specific parent handbook signals professionalism and keeps you inspection-ready from day one.

    Required enrollment and admission forms must be signed before a child's first day — have them ready before you advertise open spots.

What You Need to Apply in Hawaii

Hawaii licensing requires these documents and forms at the initial application and inspection.

  • DHS 951 — Application for License to Operate a Group Child Care Center or Group Child Care Home
  • DHS 950 — Guide for GCC, GCH, BAS, IT Licensing
  • DHS 952 — Statement of Operation Policies
  • DHS 953 — Statement of Legal Authority
  • DHS 954 — Child Care Center Staff and Volunteer Listing
  • DHS 957 — Staff Sequence Form
  • DHS 948 — Authorization for Background Check and to Release Information (DHS 948A instructions; DHS 948B Non-Criminal Justice Applicant Privacy Rights)
  • DHS 961A / DHS 961D — Instructions for Background Checks (Oahu / Neighbor Island)
  • DHS 958 / DHS 959 / DHS 959A — Instructions for Employment History Clearance, Employment History Form, Self-Certification of Employment
  • DHS 962 — Synopsis of Criminal History Law Requirements
  • DHS 969 — Child Care Licensing Self-Certification Form
  • DHS 974A — Notification of Change(s) Form
  • DHS 975 / DHS 975A — Request to Increase or Determine License Capacity and Agreement (with instructions)
  • DHS 970 / DHS 971 / DHS 972 — Reference Guides for Preschool / Infant-Toddler / Before-After School Staff Qualifications
  • DOE Form 14 — Child's Health Record (physical examination, immunizations)
  • DHS 908 / DHS 908A — Early Childhood Pre-K Health Record Supplement (with instructions)
  • DHS 984 / DHS 984A — Medical Report (with instructions)

Staff-to-child ratios you must maintain

Hawaii requires these maximum staff-to-child ratios, enforced by the Hawaii Department of Human Services (DHS), Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division (BESSD) — Child Care Licensing Program: Under 24 months (under 2 years) Not permitted in a group child care center / group child care home (per HAR §17-892.2-36(d) Ratio and Group Size Chart I; infants/toddlers are served under HAR Chapter 17-895.1), 2 years old 1:8 (one staff member per 8 children; maximum group size 16) — HAR §17-892.2-36(d), 3 years old 1:12 (one staff member per 12 children; maximum group size 24) — HAR §17-892.2-36(d), 4 years old 1:16 (one staff member per 16 children; maximum group size 32) — HAR §17-892.2-36(d), 5 years and older 1:20 (one staff member per 20 children; maximum group size 40) — HAR §17-892.2-36(d).

Skip the 80-hour paperwork grind

Get your Hawaii licensing kit

The inspector asks for a parent handbook, staff policies, enrollment forms, and an operations manual — all Hawaii-specific. The TotReady Startup Bundle gives you every document you need to apply, ready to customize in about 30 minutes.

See the Startup Bundle →

One-time purchase · Hawaii-specific documents

Starting a Daycare in Hawaii: FAQs

Do I need a license to start a daycare in Hawaii?
In Hawaii, child care is exempt from licensing/registration when a person cares for two or fewer children unrelated to the caregiver by blood, marriage, or adoption, OR provides care for a child less than six hours a week; a 'family child care home' (care for three to no more than six unrelated children) must obtain a certificate of registration, and a 'group child care home' (seven to twelve children) or group child care center must be licensed (HRS §§ 346-152(a)(2),(a)(11); 346-151; 346-171).
How much does it cost to get a daycare license in Hawaii?
Contact your Hawaii licensing office to confirm. Renewal: Hawaii's administrative rules specify no renewal fee in dollars; certificates of registration (family child care homes) and licenses (group and infant/toddler centers) are valid one year for new applicants and providers in their first four years and two years for providers licensed/registered four years or more, renewed by application and department approval (HAR §§ 17-891.1-3(i); 17-895-3(j); HRS §§ 346-163(a), 346-171). Although HRS §§ 346-163(b)/346-173(b) authorize the department to set renewal fees by rule, a specific renewal-fee dollar amount could not be verified against a Hawaii .gov source.
Who issues daycare licenses in Hawaii?
Childcare licensing in Hawaii is handled by the Hawaii Department of Human Services (DHS), Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division (BESSD) — Child Care Licensing Program. You apply to this agency, pay the licensing fee, and schedule your inspection through them.
What training do I need before opening a daycare in Hawaii?
Contact your Hawaii licensing office to confirm.

Keep researching Hawaii

Hawaii Licensing Requirements

Full handbook sections, ratios, immunization rules, and penalties for Hawaii.

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How to Start a Daycare: Complete Guide

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License-Exemption Thresholds by State

Compare when a license is required across all 50 states.

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Licensing Fees by State

Application and renewal fee data for every state we track.

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Licensing rules change. The figures above are compiled from Hawaii statutes and agency materials and are provided for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Hawaii Department of Human Services (DHS), Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division (BESSD) — Child Care Licensing Program before applying. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal advice.