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2025 is shaping up to be a year of big changes, including at HawaiiKidsCAN. We’re building on our successes in 2024 and growing our team so we can work even harder to advance opportunities for students and families across Hawai‘i. Our priorities this year include strengthening foundational literacy for all children, strengthening pathways to quality college and career opportunities and empowering students to flex their advocacy skills through transformational learning experiences. None of this would be possible without the incredible partners who make our work possible—from the grassroots to the Capitol. Mahalo for your support!
2025 Policy Goals
In the eighth legislative session since our founding, we’ll continue to build on the relationships we’ve established with legislative leaders and the lessons we’ve learned about how to help the community engage with policymakers. Our team has worked hard with coalition partners between legislative sessions to develop impactful policy proposals that will benefit kids across the K-12 spectrum and beyond!
A clear path to the career you choose. It’s about finding your fit and your pathway to a meaningful life.
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- Ensure that career-readiness initiatives are actually helping keiki stay in Hawaiʻi by building a statewide data system to track student outcomes from cradle to career. (SB742)
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The education that’s right for you, because every student learns differently.
This year, we’ve also made it easier than ever to support our work. Click the button below to sign on to HawaiiKidsCAN’s testimony and make your voice heard.
Submit your testimony
Hawaii Tutoring+ is coming to Nānākuli!
In 2024, Hawaiʻi Tutoring+ offered high-quality virtual tutoring to 128 students over 585 tutoring sessions, free of charge. This year, we’ll be piloting a new tutoring program in collaboration with Air Tutors and the Nānākuli Public Library. This multigenerational support program will provide students with access to afterschool tutoring and enrichment, enabling youth to deepen their learning in a place that also connects to a wealth of other resources. Contact us to learn more about this opportunity.
Help us build FAFSA awareness in your community!
The 2024-2025 FAFSA cycle is now open! Applications are due June 30, 2025 and a complete FAFSA application is often a prerequisite for other scholarships, so get started now!
We know that FAFSA can be intimidating, so we’ve gathered resources on our website affordcollegehi.com to help you fill out FAFSA. And if you want to stay in the know or share key updates with your community, follow our social media accounts.
We’re also looking for volunteers to get the word out at sign-waving events. Since November, we’ve partnered with students, teachers, and community members in Maui, Molokai, Hilo, Kea’au and Honolulu.
If you can hold a sign, throw a shaka, and bring good vibes, help us out! We’ll bring the signs, shirts, and snacks – just sign up here to let us know you’re interested!
Updates from the Field
Parent and School Expo 2025
Hawaiʻi is home to impactful and diverse schools and education organizations, but parents often struggle to find options that are the best fit for their children. Now in its second year, the Hawaiʻi K-12 Parent and School Expo welcomed back over 50 schools and organizations to help families connect with each other and local learning partners. This unique opportunity allowed participating schools and community organizations to showcase their contributions to Hawaiʻi’s education ecosystem and encouraged families to proactively consider next steps for their keiki’s education.
Hawaii Youth Advocates Return from Ireland
Seven youth advocates from Hawaiʻi visited the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland last November at the invitation of our international partners, Co-Operation Ireland. In just one week, participants engaged with local policymakers, community organizers and peer advocates who illustrated the ongoing peace-building work taking place. Students reflected on the deep historical and cultural connections between Hawai’i and Ireland, including shared challenges such as language suppression, the cost of living and the need for civic engagement and youth advocacy.
Students also shared profound personal insights gained through the program, particularly the value of building relationships with peers who are also leaders in their communities and civic organizations. Many discovered a deeper sense of curiosity about different cultures and histories, with some highlighting how parallels between Hawai’i, Ireland and other places deepened their understanding of global struggles and resilience. Mahalo to our partners at the Henry A. Zuberano Early Education Fund at the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation and Punahou School’s Davis Democracy Initiative for making this delegation visit possible.
“One key realization I had was how much more hopeful I feel about the future than I thought I would be. The trip reminded me that the work to create change can and should come directly from our youth. It was empowering to see how much impact youth can have, and it gave me confidence that we can make a difference, even in the face of challenging times.”
–Mele Kānealiʻi, Hawaiʻi youth ambassador
Changes at HawaiiKidsCAN
We’re excited to welcome Tiffany Huynh as the new Chair of the HawaiiKidsCAN Board!
As Senior Director of External Affairs at Elemental Impact, Tiffany brings a wealth of experience in policy, community engagement and innovation to our mission. Her leadership will be instrumental in advancing our work for Hawai‘i’s students.
“It’s an honor to step into the role of Board Chair at HawaiiKidsCAN, an organization I have been proud to support for several years. Past Chairs, Jeff Arce and AJ Halagao have done a fantastic job in setting the foundation in partnership with David. I look forward to working alongside our dedicated team to drive meaningful progress in education and ensure all students in Hawaii have the opportunities they deserve. Together, we will continue to build a brighter future for our keiki and communities.”
We’re also thrilled to introduce Erica Nakanishi-Stanis as our new Advocacy Director!
With a deep passion for education and community-driven change, Erica is committed to empowering students and families. She will be spearheading our legislative priorities as well as working with partners on our tutoring program, FAFSA awareness projects, and other community outreach initiatives.
As HawaiiKidsCAN grows and our work expands, the HKC team remains deeply committed to being trusted partners rooted in the community. Our ability to advocate for the real needs of our keiki comes from the relationships we build—with youth, parents, teachers, schools, community partners, and leaders. Mahalo for your continued partnership and support—we couldn’t do this work without you. E holomua kākou!