The crisis in Kauaʻi’s child care system is affecting not only families but also businesses and local government operations, leading to serious implications for the island’s workforce.
Elizabeth “Bitta” Lindsey-Poe’s experience is reflective of the struggles many Kauaʻi parents face.
After returning to her finance job just three months post-birth of her first child, Lindsey-Poe realized she couldn’t balance her work and child care commitments.
“More than half my paycheck was going to child care,” said the 29-year-old from Hanapēpē.
She quit her job after just a week, epitomizing the barriers that many parents encounter.
Across the island of 74,000 residents, only two licensed daycares are available for infants and toddlers, severely limiting options.
One facility charges $2,400 a month for full-time care, while the other caters strictly to children of military personnel at the U.S. military base on Barking Sands.
The lack of affordable child care has become a pressing issue statewide, but it is most acute in rural areas like Kauaʻi.
To address this ongoing problem, Kauaʻi County is set to open a $7.5 million child care center in Līhuʻe in September.
The center, named the Pi‘ikoi Youth Center, aims to provide on-site child care services for both county employees and the public.
Mayor Derek Kawakami mentioned in his state of the county address, “Child care challenges should not be a barrier for parents who want to get back to work.”
Local businesses are feeling the impact, as the child care crisis inhibits their ability to recruit workers.
Kauaʻi Chamber of Commerce President Mark Perriello reported that he regularly hears from business owners struggling to find workers.
He mentioned how hotel general managers sometimes take on cleaning duties because employees are unable to work due to child care issues.
Tamara Lawrence, 28, of Puhi, also shared her challenges in securing affordable child care for her three children.
Even though she struggled, dropping out of the workforce wasn’t an option due to bills, rent, and other expenses.
“We pay $2,800 rent,” she said, explaining the financial constraints that made her continue working despite the rigors of parenting.
After delaying preschool for her twins due to cost, she took initiative and launched a nonprofit called Na Keiki Collective.
Her goal is to create a commercial indoor playground with on-site child care that remains affordable for families through sponsored and donation-based programs.
For Lindsey-Poe, staying at home was a temporary solution.
She eventually secured a full-time job in marketing, while her husband shifted his career to become the primary caregiver for their two young sons.
This arrangement reflects a broader struggle—how does one find stable employment when the barrier of child care looms large?
Kauaʻi’s child care industry is pressed under economic realities, with workers making an average of $37,430 per year.
This income level is not even comparable to that of fast food workers and parking attendants, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates.
Advocates like Alice Luck, president of Kauaʻi Planning and Action Alliance, insist that without significant wage increases for child care workers, the sector may not grow, and more parents will find care beyond their financial reach.
Despite Hawaii’s ambitious objective to provide universal access to early childhood education by 2032, there are still critical hurdles to overcome, including staff shortages and limited facilities.
Currently, only about half of the 3- and 4-year-olds in Hawaii attend preschool, revealing the dire need for roughly 400 additional classrooms statewide to meet demand.
Moreover, overcoming the long-standing stigma attached to child care providers is essential, according to Luck.
“It’s not babysitting, it’s brain-architecting,” she stated, highlighting the importance of structured play in early development.
Recent efforts to train more child care providers include Kauaʻi Community College’s early childhood education program, which graduated eight students this semester, a slight decline from an all-time high of ten.
Toni Fujimoto, an assistant professor at the college, emphasizes the need for compensation incentives to draw students to the field.
Fujimoto is working towards establishing an apprenticeship program so that students can earn a wage while pursuing their degrees, akin to programs for electricians and carpenters.
Meanwhile, many local parents are also finding innovative ways to navigate the child care crisis.
Addison Bulosan and Nikki Cristobal, an entrepreneurial couple from Līhuʻe, chose to bring their infant son, Zenith, to work instead of relying on traditional child care.
Creating a flexible work environment, they divided their schedules and responsibilities to accommodate their professional commitments while caring for their child.
Bulosan is keen on developing a unique child care solution at Hale Līhuʻe, a community center and co-working space he helped establish.
He envisions a setup where parents could become licensed child care providers, fostering a community where everyone pitches in to care for the children.
The center offers various family-friendly services, including yoga classes, fitness sessions, and a calendar full of events aimed at expecting mothers and parents with young children.
Kahea Collins, who manages events at Hale Līhuʻe, underscores the need for accommodating setups where parents can work while caring for their children.
“The only way I can work is if I can have my baby on my hip,” the 35-year-old stated.
This initiative exemplifies a community-driven approach to address child care challenges facing Kauaʻi’s families.
As Kauaʻi County seeks to make strides in the child care sector, the hope remains that innovative solutions, increased funding, and significant awareness will pave the way for a brighter future for both children and working parents alike.
image source from：https://www.civilbeat.org/2025/05/kaua%CA%BBi-tackles-child-care-crisis-with-new-spaces-and-baby-friendly-workplaces/
