The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Children’s Center was established by the UH Board of Regents on April 24, 1987 under the Office of Student Success. 75% of our spaces are reserved for UH parenting students to support their on-time graduation through the University system. 25% of our spaces are reserved to UH faculty and staff.

From 1987 to 2026, the Mānoa Children’s Center was located in Castle Memorial Hall, a building originally designed as the UH Teacher’s College in 1941. In the 1970’s, a section of the building was adapted for use as a Head Start and Early Head Start program, supporting the College of Education’s teacher training program. The Center took over this space in 1987, and The Early School administered the program for its first three years, leading the program through its first NAEYC accreditation in 1990.  We have continuously maintained that accreditation through the present time.

On July 20, 2026, the Mānoa Childrenʻs Center officially opened in the newly built Hale Haukani complex on the site of the former NOAA Fisheries building. This new facility was specifically designed for children from 1-year to 5-years of age, adding more classrooms, and bringing all childcare functions under one roof.  The innovative design puts childcare where people live, in student housing and very near faculty housing.