In 2016, Project Hawai’i, Inc. received a call from a preschool teacher sharing a heartbreaking story: their government funding had been cut because the preschool couldn’t provide the necessary documentation for each child. Since most of the children attending were homeless, they didn’t have the usual paperwork—birth certificates, proof of residency, or other formal records.

Faced with this challenge, the six teachers responsible for the 60 children took action. They secured a donated space, found sponsors for educational resources, and kept their state-funded salaries. But they still needed support to make this preschool a thriving environment for the children.

Seeing their commitment, Project Hawai’i, Inc. stepped in to help. Since then, we’ve supported this preschool by hosting holiday events, creating a garden where children can grow their own vegetables, establishing a library, and purchasing playground equipment to ensure these keiki have a safe, enriching place to learn and grow.