Foster Care by Island: Oahu, Maui, Big Island, and Kauai

Hawaii's foster care system is statewide in its rules and administered by DHS centrally, but it operates through island-based offices that differ meaningfully in staffing levels, training availability, and day-to-day experience for applicants. If you live on the Neighbor Islands — Maui, the Big Island, or Kauai — your licensing experience will not be identical to Oahu's.

Here is what prospective resource caregivers should know about applying on each island.

Foster Care on Oahu

Oahu is home to approximately 70% of Hawaii's population and is the administrative center for Child Welfare Services. Most DHS resources, contracted agencies, and in-person training sessions are concentrated here.

There are two licensing units on Oahu:

Licensing Unit 1 (Urban Oahu / Honolulu): 677 Queen Street, Room 400A, Honolulu, HI 96813 (808) 587-5266

Licensing Unit 2 (Leeward Oahu): 94-275 Mokuola Street, Room 203, Waipahu, HI 96797 (808) 675-0470

Which unit you contact depends on which side of the island you live on. Leeward communities (Waipahu, Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Pearl City) use Unit 2. Central and urban Honolulu, Windward, and North Shore use Unit 1.

H.A.N.A.I. training on Oahu: Most frequently available as in-person sessions, typically through Catholic Charities Hawaii and Hui Ho'omalu. Sessions rotate, so check with your licensing unit or Catholic Charities for the current schedule. Webinar options are also available.

What to know about Oahu applications: Higher population means more frequent training sessions and shorter waits for orientations. Staffing at licensing units fluctuates, and Oahu's units handle the highest volume of applications statewide. Using the Binti portal to upload documents early and keep your application moving is especially important in a high-volume office.

Foster Care on Maui

Maui County includes Maui, Molokai, and Lanai. The main licensing office is in Wailuku.

Maui County CWS: Central Maui Unit 270 Waiehu Beach Road, Suite 107, Wailuku, HI 96793 (808) 243-5866

H.A.N.A.I. training on Maui: In-person training sessions are less frequent than Oahu. This was historically the biggest barrier for Maui applicants — having to travel to Oahu or wait months for a local session. Live webinar training has significantly addressed this problem. Maui applicants can now attend H.A.N.A.I. sessions via video conference from home.

What to know about Maui applications: Staffing at Maui CWS can be limited, and home study scheduling may take longer than on Oahu. The most effective strategy is to complete every document requirement and upload everything to Binti before your first home visit is even scheduled. When the worker's schedule opens up, you want to be ready to move immediately.

Molokai and Lanai residents coordinate through the same Maui County office. Travel to Wailuku may be required for certain in-person steps, though workers make arrangements for island-specific logistics on a case-by-case basis.

Foster Care on the Big Island

Hawaii County (the Big Island) has CWS offices in both Hilo and Kona, serving the east and west sides of the island respectively.

East Hawaii (Hilo): Central Hilo Unit 1990 Kinoole Street, Suite 109, Hilo, HI 96720 (808) 981-7290

West Hawaii (Kona): North Kona 2 Unit 75-5722 Hanama Place, Suite 1105, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 (808) 327-4755

Which office to contact: Use the Hilo office if you live in Hilo, Puna, Ka'u, or the east side generally. Use the Kona office if you live in Kailua-Kona, North Kona, South Kona, Kohala, or Waimea.

H.A.N.A.I. training on the Big Island: Similar to Maui, in-person training sessions are less frequent, and live webinars are the primary option for many applicants. The Big Island's geographic size adds another layer of complexity — a caregiver in rural Puna and a caregiver in Kona face very different logistics for anything requiring a physical office visit.

What to know about Big Island applications: The Big Island has had persistent challenges with CWS staffing and caseload levels, which can extend home study scheduling times. If you are on the west side, the Kona office is your primary contact — do not route everything through Hilo if you are physically closer to Kona. Be proactive: upload documents to Binti early, follow up on outstanding items, and stay in regular contact with your licensing worker.

Foster Care on Kauai

Kauai County has one CWS office, located in Lihue.

Kauai CWS: South Unit 4473 Pahee Street, Suite G, Lihue, HI 96766 (808) 241-3660

H.A.N.A.I. training on Kauai: Kauai has the smallest population of the main islands and the fewest in-person training opportunities. Live webinar training is typically the realistic option for most Kauai applicants. The six-hour self-study component can be completed online from anywhere, which helps.

What to know about Kauai applications: Kauai's CWS office serves a relatively small population but with limited resources. Staffing and caseload dynamics mean that response times and home study scheduling may be slower than on Oahu. Building a direct working relationship with your licensing worker — being known as organized and responsive — goes a long way on a smaller island where the office handles everything personally.

There is also a particular need for resource caregivers on Kauai. The island consistently has fewer licensed homes relative to the number of children entering care, which means motivated applicants are genuinely needed and generally welcomed.

What Is the Same Across All Islands

Regardless of which island you apply on, the legal requirements, financial support, and licensing standards are identical. The same board rates, the same H.A.N.A.I. training curriculum, the same background checks, the same home study standards. Hawaii's system is statewide and administered uniformly under HAR 17-1625.

What varies is the delivery: in-person training is more available on Oahu, webinars serve the Neighbor Islands, and staffing levels affect how quickly the bureaucratic steps move.

The Binti portal is the same regardless of island — it is the central platform for document submission and progress tracking. Getting comfortable with it early is the most universally useful thing any applicant on any island can do.

For island-specific contact information, current training schedules, and a step-by-step guide to the licensing process, the Hawaii Foster Care Licensing Guide covers each island's office contacts and the practical logistics that differ by location.

The State's Emergency Reporting Line

Regardless of island, the Child Abuse and Neglect (CAN) reporting hotline is:

• Oahu: (808) 832-5300
• Neighbor Islands: 1-888-380-3088 (toll-free)

These numbers are also used for after-hours inquiries and emergencies for licensed caregivers.

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