Our Story

Easterseals Hawaii provides exceptional services to ensure that all people with intellectual or developmental disabilities and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities.

Easterseals Hawaii has been serving children, youth and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities for over 75 years. We provide more than 200,000 hours of direct service annually to individuals and families across the state.

All funds raised by Easterseals Hawaii remain in Hawaii and help us carry on our tradition of creating solutions and changing lives.

In 1946, Edward and Olga Sultan founded the Sultan Foundation Nursery School. With the further support of a group of business leaders and parents committed to helping children with disabilities, the vision of the Sultans was expanded, and The Easter Seal Society for Crippled Children was founded. Charter members included Dorothy Devereux, Olga Sultan, Governor John Burns and Judge Chuck Mau. After expanding its mission to include serving adults with disabilities, the organization’s name changed to Easterseals Hawaii. Duke Kahanamoku and Hilo Hattie were also an important part of the Easterseals Hawaii family.

The Sultan School offered the first Early Intervention program of its kind in the United States and has since served as an Early Intervention model at the national level. The Sultan Early Intervention program continues to be the cornerstone of Easterseals Hawaii.