Hawaii daycare ratios by age
Hawaii's child care center rule (Haw. Code R. §17-895.1-36; Haw. Code R. §17-892.2-36) sets the staff-to-child ratios below: one adult for every 12 three-year-olds, in groups of no more than 24. Read on 2026-10-31; your licensing consultant has the last word.
Hawaii child care center ratios and group sizes
| Age | Children per adult | Largest group |
|---|---|---|
| Infants (under 12 months) | 1 to 4 | 8 |
| Toddlers (12 to 24 months) | 1 to 5 | 10 |
| Two-year-olds | 1 to 8 | 16 |
| Three-year-olds | 1 to 12 | 24 |
| Four-year-olds | 1 to 16 | 32 |
| Five-year-olds (not yet in school) | 1 to 20 | 40 |
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What the rule says
Infant/toddler centers (HAR 17-895.1-36(f), eff 11/3/2023): 6 wk-12 mo 1:3 group 6 or 1:4 group 8; 12-24 mo 1:3/6, 1:4/8 or 1:5/10; 18-36 mo 1:4/12, 1:5/10 or 1:6/12 (table lists permitted ratio/group pairs; mapped to the least strict pair allowed). Group child care centers (HAR 17-892.2-36 Chart I, ages 2+, under 24 mo not permitted): 2 yr olds 1:8 group 16; 3 yr olds 1:12 group 24; 4 yr olds 1:16 group 32; 5 and older 1:20 group 40 (mapped: twos = group-center 2-year-old row; an infant/toddler center may serve 18-36 mo at 1:6/12). Chapter 17-892.2 text read from DHS's 2020 adoption PDF; its effective date is blank in that copy.
Rule: Haw. Code R. §17-895.1-36; Haw. Code R. §17-892.2-36. Read on 2026-10-31 at law.cornell.edu. Where the rule's ages split one of ours, the younger, stricter figure is shown. This is the rule for licensed centers; family child care homes, school-age care and mixed-age groups have their own rules. A reading of public regulations, not licensing advice.
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