Hawaii state guide
ABA Programs in Hawaii (2026): UH Manoa, Online Pathways, and the Pacific Island Model
Hawaii's BCBA market is shaped by Pacific island geography. Honolulu (Oahu) anchors the urban employer base; Maui, Hawaii (Big Island), Kauai, and Molokai depend on inter-island travel plus telehealth ABA covered by Med-QUEST. UH Manoa runs the state's only in-state ABA program (an online MEd track that admits cohorts periodically), so most HI residents also use online programs. Hawaii DOE plus the legacy of the Felix Consent Decree drive a substantial school-district BCBA employer base.
Key Takeaways
- 01Hawaii's BCBA market is shaped by Pacific island geography. Honolulu (Oahu) anchors the urban employer base. Maui, Hawaii (Big Island), Kauai, and Molokai have small but real BCBA workforces, with substantial inter-island travel and telehealth delivery.
- 02Shriners Hospital for Children (Honolulu) plus Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children anchor pediatric specialty work.
- 03Hawaii licenses behavior analysts through the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division.
- 04The University of Hawaii at Manoa runs the state's only in-state ABA program, an online MEd in Special Education with an ABA track that admits cohorts periodically (next intake Summer 2027). Hawaii Pacific University and Chaminade do not offer a confirmed ABA/BCBA master's, so most HI residents also use online programs.
- 05Hawaii Med-QUEST (Medicaid) plus state autism insurance mandate cover ABA for eligible children. Felix Consent Decree special-education obligations have historically driven school-district BCBA hiring.
- 06For new BCBAs, Hawaii Department of Education, Shriners Hawaii, Kapiolani, plus growing private agencies are the most consistent hiring sources.
Pacific Island Geography and ABA Delivery
Hawaii's BCBA workforce concentrates on Oahu, with smaller pockets on Maui (Wailuku, Lahaina), Hawaii (Hilo, Kona), Kauai (Lihue), and Molokai. Inter-island ABA delivery combines in-person caseloads with telehealth. Many neighbor-island families work with BCBAs based on Oahu who travel periodically. Hawaii Med-QUEST and commercial insurance plans cover telehealth ABA, which is critical for neighbor-island service coverage.
The 1994 Felix v. Waihee federal consent decree obligated Hawaii to provide special-education and mental-health services to qualifying students. The case was formally closed in 2005, but the resulting infrastructure continues to shape Hawaii DOE special-education programs and remains a meaningful driver of BCBA hiring in HI public schools.
How to Become a BCBA in Hawaii
- Earn a master's degree from a BACB-aligned program.
- Complete 1,500 to 2,000 supervised fieldwork hours at a Hawaii-based site.
- Pass the BCBA exam.
- Apply for the Hawaii behavior analyst license.
- Maintain renewal and complete required continuing education.
Hawaii Behavior Analyst License
HI Insurance and Med-QUEST
Hawaii requires state-regulated insurance plans to cover ABA. Med-QUEST (HI Medicaid) covers ABA for eligible children, including telehealth delivery to neighbor islands.
In-State ABA and BCBA Programs in Hawaii
| Program | Metro | Credits | In-State Total | Out-of-State Total | Pathway |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Hawaii at Manoa, M.Ed. in Special Education, ABA Track | Honolulu | 35-43 | $650/credit hour | $650/credit hour | BACB Coursework |
Hawaii's only in-state ABA program. The MEd Special Education ABA track is a '3-for-1' (degree, BCBA coursework, supervision) delivered fully online with synchronous evening classes. It admits cohorts periodically; the next intake is Summer 2027, with applications opening Nov. 1, 2026. Hawaii Pacific University and Chaminade do not offer a confirmed ABA/BCBA master's.
Visit program website →Online Programs Accessible from Hawaii
Many Hawaii residents combine BACB-aligned online coursework with HI-based fieldwork. Online programs are especially useful for neighbor-island residents who can't relocate to Oahu. Confirm a program's current status in the ABAI accredited programs directory before enrolling.
Indiana public-university fully online ABA master's with affordable per-credit tuition.
Visit program website →Florida public-university online M.S. Smaller cohorts than larger national online programs.
Visit program website →FlexPath competency-based pacing for working professionals.
Visit program website →ASU Online M.A. with structured cohorts and national name recognition.
Visit program website →Where Hawaii BCBAs Work
HI BCBA employers concentrate on Oahu with inter-island coverage through DOE, telehealth agencies, and traveling clinicians.
- Hawaii Department of Education (statewide). Hawaii is a single statewide school district. DOE special-education BCBA hiring is shaped by the legacy of the Felix Consent Decree. One of HI's largest single BCBA employers.
- Shriners Hospital for Children (Honolulu). Pediatric specialty hospital serving Hawaii and the broader Pacific region.
- Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children (Honolulu). Pediatric specialty hospital. Developmental and behavioral pediatrics.
- Tripler Army Medical Center + Pacific Regional Medical Command (Honolulu). Federal military health system serving Pacific-region service members and dependents.
- Veterans Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System. Federal-pay-band positions in Honolulu and neighbor-island clinics.
- Hawaii Department of Health, Developmental Disabilities Division. Statewide community services.
- Easter Seals Hawaii. Statewide nonprofit serving children and adults with developmental disabilities.
- Private ABA agencies. A growing set serving Oahu plus telehealth and traveling-clinician delivery to neighbor islands.
BCBA Salary in Hawaii by Metro
BLS does not publish a standalone behavior-analyst occupation. Most BCBA work in HI codes under SOC 21-1018. For national BCBA pay context see the BCBA salary guide. Across HI for 2026:
- Honolulu (Oahu) BCBA: approximately $72,000 to $88,000.
- Maui / Big Island / Kauai BCBA: approximately $66,000 to $82,000, with neighbor-island differentials available at some employers.
- HI RBT (statewide): approximately $38,000 to $50,000.
Hawaii has among the highest cost of living in the country, especially housing on Oahu. A $80,000 Hawaii BCBA salary has materially lower take-home purchasing power than a comparable nominal salary in lower-cost states once housing is netted out.
Workforce, Shortages, and Loan Repayment
- HRSA HPSA designations: Many neighbor-island and rural Hawaii areas carry mental-health HPSA designations. HRSA HPSA data.
- PSLF: BCBAs at Hawaii DOE, UH affiliated hospitals, Tripler, Shriners, VA, and qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofits can pursue federal loan forgiveness.
- NHSC Loan Repayment: NHSC covers eligible clinicians in HPSA areas including neighbor-island sites.
- Hawaii State Loan Repayment Program (HSLRP): State-administered loan repayment supplementing NHSC for clinicians in HI workforce-shortage areas.
For broader context see our ABA programs by state directory.
Common questions