Early Childhood Service Directory Debbi Amaral Retires
Head Start and Kahi Kamali`i staff, MEO board members, family, friends and mentors celebrated the retirement of Early Childhood Services (ECS) Director Debbi Amaral on May 29 in the MEO Classrooms. It was her last day of a 31-year career at MEO, the last 26 as...
MEO Early Childhood Services Director Debbi Amaral retiring after 30-year career
Thousands of Maui County residents from low income families can thank Maui Economic Opportunity Director of Early Childhood Services Debbi Amaral ‒ who will be retiring later this month ‒ for getting a “head start” with subsidized preschool. For the last 30 years,...
MEO Head Start preschool accepting applications for 2026-27 school year
Maui Economic Opportunity’s Head Start preschool program will be accepting applications beginning February 2026 for the 2026-2027 school year. Head Start is a federally funded program that provides comprehensive early childhood education services at no cost to...
Head Start’s Ashley Caris named MEO Employee of the Month
Head Start Health Manager Ashley Caris was named Maui Economic Opportunity Employee of the Month with her nominator praising her for “empowering and inspiring” her team. “Flexible to shift in between transitions from the office to the (Head Start) centers as needed,...
MEO Head Start preschool remains open
Maui Economic Opportunity’s Head Start preschool classrooms on Maui and Moloka`i are not currently impacted by the federal government shutdown and will remain open. While some of our Head Start partners have had to close due to funding issues, MEO’s Head Start...
Early childcare teacher Tiana Hema named MEO Employee of the Month
Kahi Kamali`i Infant Toddler Center teacher Tiana Hema, whose patience soothes meltdowns and energy ignites creativity and play, was named Maui Economic Opportunity Employee of the Month. “Working in the early childhood field can be extremely challenging at times,”...
Mural with flowers, butterflies greets visitors to MEO Head Start Lahaina
A mural inspired by nearby Kauaʻula Valley with flowers and butterflies by local artist Noble Richardson greets children, their families, staff and other visitors at Maui Economic Opportunity’s Head Start Lahaina Center, the only preschool in town to survive the...
Valley Isle Community FCU holds school supply drive for MEO Head Start
Valley Isle Community Federal Credit Union currently is holding its annual preschool supply drive for the children of Maui Economic Opportunity’s Head Start. The drive runs through July 7. Supplies may be dropped off at the credit union’s branches in Kahului (160...
MEO Head Start receives federal notification of funding for 2025-26 year
Maui Economic Opportunity’s Head Start preschool program was notified this week that federal funding has been secured for the 2025-26 school year. Head Start is a national program that provides preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds at no cost to income-qualifying families....
Stupski Foundation awards $450,000 to MEO early childhood programs
The Stupski Foundation recently awarded Maui Economic Opportunity a $450,000 grant to support programs and services for prenatal to 5-year-old children, their parents and caregivers. Based in San Francisco, the Foundation supports “the foods we grow and eat, the...