In Hawaii, 835 children under the age of three are served by Early Head Start, and 9 percent of 3-year-olds and 13 percent of 4-year-olds are served through federal Head Start and special education preschool. However, until this year’s legislative session, the state did not fund a state-run pre-K program. Additionally, the average annual cost of center-based infant care in the state is $12,473. Governor Neil Abercrombie has been a vocal advocate for better preparing children in Hawaii for kindergarten by funding a pre-K program and making kindergarten mandatory for the first time.