A+ (After-School Plus) is Hawaii’s statewide after-school care program for public-school keiki in grades K-6 — supervised care at your child’s own school from the end of the school day until 5:30 pm, Monday to Friday, August through May. Launched in 1990 as the nation’s first statewide subsidized after-school program, it’s run by the Hawaii Department of Education with contracted providers. Kids get homework time plus activities like arts, crafts, drama, dance, and sports (some sites add swimming, ukulele, even horseback riding).
What A+ costs in 2026-27 Fee went up Aug 1
- It’s a flat fee — no proration if your child attends only some days, and no refunds for unused days (Hawaii Administrative Rules Ch. 8-400).
- No sibling discount appears in current official fee materials — the fee is per child. (Sibling discounts existed in the 1990s fee schedule, not today’s.)
- Late pickup after 5:30 pm can incur a $5 per-school-day late charge.
- The DOE says the increase from $200 “offsets rising operational costs” and supports “hiring and retention of quality staff” — staffing is also what drives waitlists (more below).
Don’t pay full price before checking these two subsidies
1 · DHS A+ Subsidy — covers the FULL fee Income limit raised for 2026-27
The Department of Human Services covers the entire monthly A+ fee for income-eligible families — and for 2026-27 the gross-income limit was raised to 300% of the Hawaii federal poverty level, so families who didn’t qualify before may qualify now:
| Household size | Max annual gross income (2026-27) |
|---|---|
| 2 | $74,670 |
| 3 | $94,260 |
| 4 | $113,850 |
| 5 | $133,440 |
| 6 | $153,030 |
Apply through the official A+ financial assistance page (it has an eligibility calculator and the online application). You must reapply every school year with proof of income for all household members.
2 · Over the limit? Try the DHS Child Care Subsidy
Families above the A+ subsidy limit can apply to the separate DHS Child Care Subsidy (formerly Child Care Connection Hawaii) for partial tuition reimbursement paid directly to your family. It uses a sliding scale by income and family size; apply online at ChildCareSubsidyApplication.dhs.hawaii.gov or call 1-855-643-1643. Note: Preschool Open Doors (POD) is a preschool subsidy — it does not apply to A+ or school-age care.
More ways to make activities affordable are on our financial aid page.
How registration works (and why April matters)
A+ registration for each school year opens statewide in April — for 2026-27 it opened Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 3:00 pm HST, online and in person. Registrations are date- and time-stamped and processed in the order received, and popular sites fill fast, so treat the opening like an event: be ready at 3:00 pm.
Have these documents ready (both parents/guardians, regardless of marital status)
- Employed: pay stubs dated within the past 30 days, or an employer letter verifying work hours
- Self-employed: GET license plus a tax return with Schedule C or a recent business bank statement
- Student: class schedule on official school letterhead
- Job training: DHS First-to-Work approval letter
- If applicable: custody or guardianship documents
- Register at the official HIDOE A+ site, on your provider’s site, or in person at your child’s school — and only one household member should submit (duplicates slow processing).
- Submitting is not enrolling. Your child is accepted only when the A+ Site Coordinator reviews the packet and issues a notice of acceptance — incomplete applications delay enrollment while spaces fill.
- Oahu’s providers are the YMCA of Honolulu (about 59 school sites), Kamaaina Kids, and Dream Co. — your school’s provider determines where you register online. Example timeline from 2026: Kamaaina Kids families who completed registration by May 21 were notified of their status about a week later; later applications went to the waitlist.
- Mid-year enrollment is possible when a site has space — ask your school’s A+ Site Coordinator, or email aplus@k12.hi.us.
Waitlisted? You’re not stuck
Waitlists are real — the YMCA of Honolulu reported 425 keiki on its A+ waitlist in late July 2026, with roughly 25 of its ~59 Oahu sites waitlisted. But here’s the useful part: waitlists are usually driven by staffing (state rules require one adult per 20 children), not by room — so spots open as providers hire through the fall. Stay on the list, check in with the site coordinator, and bridge the gap with these:
| Option | Who it serves | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii | Ages 7-17 · clubhouses in Honolulu, Ewa Beach, Nanakuli, Waianae, Kailua | $25/year youth membership |
| After-School All-Stars Hawaii | Middle/intermediate (ages 11-14) · 8 Oahu partner schools incl. Jarrett, Kalakaua, King, Nanakuli, Waialua, Waianae, Washington | Free |
| YMCA non-A+ after-school programs | Varies · incl. Na Pua Lei (drop-in) and federally funded 21st Century sites (Kauluwela El, Pauoa El, Kawananakoa Mid, Stevenson Mid) | Na Pua Lei ~$15/day drop-in; 21CCLC typically low/no cost — confirm with the Y |
| Palama Settlement (Kalihi) | Keiki & teens · drop-in tutoring, sports, aquatics, digital arts | Call (808) 845-3945 for fees |
| PATCH referral service | Free statewide help finding licensed care near you | Free · (808) 839-1988 |
HIDOE also runs UPLINK and REACH enrichment programs for middle/intermediate students — see the DOE after-school programs page. The DHS Child Care Subsidy can pay toward any DHS-approved licensed provider, including private and church-run programs.
Many families mix A+ with one or two enrichment activities a week — browse 585+ verified keiki programs on Oahu by category, region, and age, or see what’s near your school in academic enrichment and clubs.
Quick answers
How much does the A+ program cost in 2026-27?
The A+ monthly fee is $240 per child for the 2026-27 school year, set by the Hawaii Department of Education and due on the first program day of each month. It is a flat fee: there is no proration if your child attends only some days, and current official fee materials list no sibling discount. It rose from $200 on August 1, 2026.
Can I get the A+ fee covered or reduced?
Yes. Income-eligible families can have the full monthly fee covered by the DHS A+ Subsidy. For 2026-27 the income limit was raised to 300% of the Hawaii federal poverty level (for example, up to $113,850 gross annual income for a household of 4), so families who did not qualify before may qualify now. A new application with proof of income is required every school year. Families over that limit can apply to the separate DHS Child Care Subsidy for partial reimbursement.
When does A+ registration open?
Registration opens statewide in April for the following school year: for 2026-27 it opened Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 3:00 pm HST, online and in person. Registrations are date- and time-stamped and processed in the order received, and popular sites fill quickly. Submitting a registration does not enroll your child; enrollment is confirmed only when the A+ Site Coordinator issues a notice of acceptance.
Who is eligible for A+?
Public-school students in grades K-6 at participating elementary schools, when parents or guardians are working, attending school, or in job training during after-school hours. In two-parent households, both parents must show proof of eligibility (such as recent pay stubs or an employer letter).
What if my school's A+ site is full or waitlisted?
Waitlists are usually driven by staffing, not space, so positions can open as providers hire through the fall; stay on the list and check back with the site coordinator. Meanwhile, look at Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii ($25/year youth membership, ages 7-17), the YMCA’s non-A+ after-school programs, licensed providers via PATCH’s free referral service (808-839-1988), and enrichment programs in our activities directory.
Does A+ cover middle school students?
No. A+ serves grades K-6 only. For middle and intermediate students, look at After-School All-Stars Hawaii (free, ages 11-14, at eight Oahu partner schools), HIDOE’s UPLINK and REACH programs, Boys & Girls Club clubhouses and teen centers, or the programs in our activities directory.
Sources & freshness. Facts verified August 20, 2026 against the HIDOE 2026-27 A+ announcement, the official A+ program site (HIDOE Community Engagement Branch), DHS subsidy pages, provider pages (YMCA of Honolulu, Kamaaina Kids), and dated local news coverage. Fees, dates, and income limits change — confirm details with your school’s A+ Site Coordinator or aplus@k12.hi.us before making plans. We refresh this page each April when the next year’s registration is announced.