Central Union Church Preschool
Hawaiʻi School Guide ｜ Written by: Academia Tutor School Editorial Team / Supervised by: Yamahi
- Christian-based preschool of Central Union Church in Honolulu — the ʻOhana Toddler program for 2-year-olds and a Preschool for ages 3 to 5 in eight classrooms. Its first class opened in 1928; nearly 200 families attend each year.
- Two entry points: Preschool (3 years old by December 1 of the school year, fully toilet trained) and ʻOhana Toddler (2 years old by August 31, toilet training not required).
- Next deadline: Preschool applications for 2027–28 close Monday, November 30, 2026. Toddler applications run Jan. 5 – Feb. 28, 2027.
- Tuition 2026–27: Preschool $18,865 a year (7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.); Toddler $12,444 (mornings) or $21,771 (full day).
Basic information
Which program can you apply for?
- Preschool (ages 3–5): children must be 3 years old by December 1 of the school year and fully toilet trained by the start of school. For 2027–28, that means born on or before Dec. 1, 2024.
- ʻOhana Toddler (age 2): children must be 2 years old by August 31 of the school year and do not need to be toilet trained. For 2027–28, that means born on or before Aug. 31, 2025.
- The school says age is only one factor; developmental readiness is also considered.
- Priority goes to (1) active members of Central Union Church, (2) siblings of current students and (3) children of CUPS alumni.
2027–28 admissions timeline
ApplicationFinancial aidTours & observationDecision
The preschool deadline is Nov. 30 — about five weeks away — and any application completed after that is placed straight on the waitlist. Check the age cutoff carefully: it is 3 by December 1, not by the end of the year. Second, when an offer arrives, families have only 10 days to accept and pay the $425 enrollment fee, so plan ahead if you are applying to other schools too.
Tuition and financial aid
- Tuition for 2026–27 (Monday – Friday): Preschool 7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. $18,865; Toddler mornings 7:30 – 11:30 a.m. $12,444; Toddler full day 7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. $21,771.
- Extended care (Preschool only): before-school care 7:00 – 7:30 a.m. $991 (availability to be determined); after-school care 2:30 – 5:00 p.m. $4,772.
- Fees: application $55 (non-refundable, paid online); enrollment fee $425. Tuition can be paid in 1 payment (by July 1), 2 payments (July 1 and Dec. 1) or 10 monthly payments starting July 1.
- Financial aid is need-based and assessed through SSS (school code 2240). The deadline is February 15; awards are mailed by June 15. The page also points families to outside help: Kamehameha Schools’ Pauahi Keiki Scholars (PKS) and Preschool Open Doors (POD).
Applying from outside Hawaiʻi
- The preschool’s website does not mention international families, visas or English requirements — ask admissions at (808) 946-4025 or admissions@centralunionpreschool.org.
- Tours are for parents only and are booked by phone; preschool tours run on Tuesdays and Thursdays in October and November.
How Academia Tutor School can help
Central Union’s preschool process includes a January observation and assessment, and many families later move on to private kindergarten and elementary admissions. Our Private School Entrance Exam Prep program prepares children for the parts that are hard to practice at home: small-group activities, following a teacher’s directions, and the vocabulary and listening skills used in assessments. Lessons run Monday to Friday after school, private or in groups of up to five. In 2026, our students were admitted to 23 schools.
No tutoring program can promise admission, and we do not. Our goal is for your child to walk in calm and ready to show who they are.
Related: Hawaii private school application deadlines for 2027–28 · Hawaiʻi School Guide
Sources
Central Union Church Preschool, “Home,” “About Us,” “Admissions” (including the Tuition and Financial Aid sections) and “Apply” (centralunionpreschool.org); Central Union Church website (address). Information as of October 24, 2026. Details change every year — always confirm with the school. Academia Tutor School is not affiliated with Central Union Church or Central Union Church Preschool.
