How many women's programs resources are in Hawaii?

Women's Corner tracks 16 women's programs resources for women in Hawaii.

Are women's programs resources in Hawaii free?

16 of the 16 listed women's programs resources in Hawaii are explicitly free or low-cost.

Which cities in Hawaii have women's programs resources?

Listings span cities including Honolulu.

What are some examples of women's programs resources in Hawaii?

Featured entries include Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, YWCA of Oahu, Hawaii Women's Business Center, Dress for Success — Honolulu, Girl Scouts of Hawaii.

Do these listings include phone numbers?

8 of 16 Hawaii women's programs listings include phone numbers.

What do women's empowerment programs actually offer?

Most combine peer support groups, financial literacy and credit-building classes, job training, GED prep, leadership development, and help navigating benefits and legal systems. Many include free childcare during sessions. Programs like Dress for Success, Bottomless Closet, and YWCA chapters serve women rebuilding after divorce, abuse, or job loss.

Are there programs for single moms specifically?

Yes. The Life of a Single Mom (TLSM) operates in 30+ states with peer groups and crisis grants. Helping Hands for Single Moms funds college for single mothers. Modest Needs gives short-term emergency grants. Many United Way 211 calls connect single mothers to local single-mom funds for rent, car repair, or childcare.

Do these programs cost money?

Almost all empowerment programs are free for income-qualifying women, often funded through HHS Office of Family Assistance, state TANF dollars, or private foundations. Many include free meals, transportation stipends, and childcare. Bring ID, proof of income, and any benefits letters when you enroll.

Can I get help starting a business as a woman?

Yes. The SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership funds 140+ Women's Business Centers nationwide offering free training, mentorship, and loan readiness. SCORE provides free women-mentor pairings. Grants like the Amber Grant ($10,000/month) and Cartier Women's Initiative target women founders. Many states have additional women-owned business certifications that unlock contracts.

Best Women's Programs in Hawaii — 16 resources

About Women's Programs for Women

Women's empowerment programs in the US are funded through a mix of federal grants (Office on Women's Health, Women's Bureau at the Department of Labor, WANTO grants for nontraditional trades) and nonprofit networks like the YWCA, AAUW, and the National Council of Women's Organizations. Services typically include leadership development, financial literacy, entrepreneurship through SBA Women's Business Centers (WBCs), and peer support groups. Dress for Success outfits women re-entering the workforce, and Bottomless Closet and Step Up Network mentor low-income women. State-level women's commissions advocate on policy and refer to local providers. This directory aggregates WBCs, YWCAs, women's commissions, and empowerment nonprofits.

Women's Programs in Hawaii

Hawaii's Family Court is a division of the Circuit Court and operates in each of its four judicial circuits (Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island, Kauai). The Child Support Enforcement Agency operates under the Attorney General. Honolulu is the largest population center. Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, and the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence serve women.

16 Resources

1. Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women — Free

The Commission on the Status of Women sits within DHS and advocates statewide on pay equity, sexual harassment, reproductive rights, and women's representation in policy. The Beretania Street office at 808-586-5757 publishes the annual Status of Women report, runs the Hawaii Imagine Project, and refers individual women to the right state resource. Open weekdays 7:45am to 4:30pm.

808-586-5757 · 235 S Beretania St Suite 407, Honolulu, HI 96813 · Mon-Fri 7:45am-4:30pm · Visit Website

2. YWCA of Oahu — Free

YWCA Oahu's Richards Street headquarters operates the Fernhurst residence for working women, the Patsy T. Mink Center for Business & Leadership, and a portfolio of girls' leadership programs. Many services are sliding scale and several are entirely free for low-income women. Call 808-538-7061 weekdays 8am to 5pm to ask which program fits — staff can warm-transfer to the right intake.

808-538-7061 · 1040 Richards St, Honolulu, HI 96813 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

3. Hawaii Women's Business Center — Free

Operated under the Pacific International Development Foundation, the Hawaii WBC is the SBA-funded center for women entrepreneurs in the state. Free one-on-one business advising, capital readiness workshops, and access to the SBA Lender Match are available statewide. Call 808-526-1001 weekdays 9am to 5pm to book an advisor session — open to women at any stage of business planning or growth.

808-526-1001 · Honolulu, HI · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

4. Dress for Success — Honolulu — Free

Dress for Success Honolulu provides interview-ready professional clothing and a longer-term Going Places Network for career follow-through, free to women referred by partner agencies including Goodwill, YWCA, and Catholic Charities. The boutique runs by appointment only — call 808-533-4630 to schedule. Each client also gets career-coaching sessions and access to the alumni network.

808-533-4630 · Honolulu, HI 96813 · By appointment · Visit Website

5. Girl Scouts of Hawaii — Free

Girl Scouts of Hawaii's Wyllie Street council office serves troops on all the islands from kindergarten through 12th grade, with financial-need scholarships ensuring no girl is excluded from membership or summer programming due to cost. Call 808-595-8400 weekdays 8:30am to 5pm to find a troop near your child's school or to volunteer as a leader. Outdoor and STEM programming are signature strengths.

808-595-8400 · 420 Wyllie St, Honolulu, HI 96817 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website

6. Hawaii Women in Technology — Free

Hawaii Women in Technology is a Honolulu-based professional network for women in software, cybersecurity, data, and related STEM fields — a growing sector in the islands tied to defense contractors, UH research, and remote work. Events include mentorship circles and skills workshops. Call 808-791-1802 or visit hawaiiwomenintech.org weekdays 9am to 5pm.

808-791-1802 · Honolulu, HI · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

7. Junior League of Honolulu — Free

The Junior League of Honolulu is a women's civic organization focused on community improvement projects across Oahu, including programs that support survivors, mothers, and at-risk youth. Membership offers structured leadership training that translates directly into nonprofit board service. Call 808-536-7026 weekdays 9am to 5pm to ask about membership or current community projects.

808-536-7026 · Honolulu, HI · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

8. Parents And Children Together — Women's Programs — Free

PACT operates statewide from its Linapuni Street headquarters in Kalihi, running Healthy Start home-visiting, early Head Start, and the Ka Lokahi family violence prevention program. Many services are free for income-eligible mothers; some operate on sliding scale. Call 808-847-3285 weekdays 8am to 5pm — programs run on multiple islands and intake routes vary by location.

808-847-3285 · 1485 Linapuni St Suite 105, Honolulu, HI 96819 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

9. AAUW — American Association of University Women — Free

AAUW has active branches on Oahu and Hawaii Island that host salary negotiation workshops, college scholarships for nontraditional students, and the Start Smart program for graduating women. The national fellowship and grant portfolio is one of the largest for women pursuing graduate or post-doctoral work. Free workshops; competitive fellowships.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

10. National Organization for Women (NOW) — Free

Hawaii NOW chapters organize around reproductive rights, equal pay, and ending violence against women, plugging into the larger national policy work of NOW. Local meetings on Oahu rotate through Honolulu venues; check now.org for the current chapter contact. Membership-based with a sliding scale.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. League of Women Voters — Free

The League of Women Voters of Hawaii runs nonpartisan voter guides for state and county elections, monitors the State Legislature, and hosts candidate forums on Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island, and Kauai. A mother who wants to influence Hawaii policy on childcare, education, or family courts will find LWV's local committees a useful entry point. Open to anyone 16+.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. YWCA USA — Free

YWCA USA is the national umbrella above YWCA Oahu and YWCA Kauai, both of which run domestic violence shelters, childcare, and job training in Hawaii. The national site is useful for women relocating between Hawaii and the mainland who want to identify their next local YWCA before they move.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. Women's Funding Network — Free

WFN is the umbrella for women's foundations including the Hawaii Women's Fund, which makes grants to local nonprofits serving women and girls in the islands. A mother whose nonprofit serves Hawaii women can use WFN to identify the right foundation for a funding ask; an individual seeking services can use the directory to find local programs.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. Junior League — Free

The Association of Junior Leagues International is the national body above the Junior League of Honolulu, providing the leadership training curriculum and Done in a Day volunteer model that Hawaii members use. The site is the right place to find a local chapter when relocating off-island.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

15. Soroptimist International — Free

Soroptimist clubs across Hawaii — including Honolulu, Hilo, and Kahului — fund the Live Your Dream Awards for women who are the primary breadwinner for their families and pursuing education or training. Local clubs also organize mentoring and community service projects. Visit soroptimist.org for the Hawaii region's current contact.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

16. Zonta International — Free

Zonta clubs in Honolulu and on the neighbor islands fund education scholarships for women and girls and advocate on issues including human trafficking — particularly relevant in Hawaii given the islands' position as a regional transit point. Visit zonta.org for Hawaii District 5 chapter contacts.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many women's programs resources are in Hawaii?: Women's Corner tracks 16 women's programs resources for women in Hawaii.
Are women's programs resources in Hawaii free?: 16 of the 16 listed women's programs resources in Hawaii are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Hawaii have women's programs resources?: Listings span cities including Honolulu.
What are some examples of women's programs resources in Hawaii?: Featured entries include Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, YWCA of Oahu, Hawaii Women's Business Center, Dress for Success — Honolulu, Girl Scouts of Hawaii.
Do these listings include phone numbers?: 8 of 16 Hawaii women's programs listings include phone numbers.
What do women's empowerment programs actually offer?: Most combine peer support groups, financial literacy and credit-building classes, job training, GED prep, leadership development, and help navigating benefits and legal systems. Many include free childcare during sessions. Programs like Dress for Success, Bottomless Closet, and YWCA chapters serve women rebuilding after divorce, abuse, or job loss.
Are there programs for single moms specifically?: Yes. The Life of a Single Mom (TLSM) operates in 30+ states with peer groups and crisis grants. Helping Hands for Single Moms funds college for single mothers. Modest Needs gives short-term emergency grants. Many United Way 211 calls connect single mothers to local single-mom funds for rent, car repair, or childcare.
Do these programs cost money?: Almost all empowerment programs are free for income-qualifying women, often funded through HHS Office of Family Assistance, state TANF dollars, or private foundations. Many include free meals, transportation stipends, and childcare. Bring ID, proof of income, and any benefits letters when you enroll.
Can I get help starting a business as a woman?: Yes. The SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership funds 140+ Women's Business Centers nationwide offering free training, mentorship, and loan readiness. SCORE provides free women-mentor pairings. Grants like the Amber Grant (
0,000/month) and Cartier Women's Initiative target women founders. Many states have additional women-owned business certifications that unlock contracts.