ABA Therapy Centers in Hawaii

Compare ABA providers on Oahu, including Mililani and Kapolei, and learn which QUEST Integration plan or insurer approves hours, and who to call for Early Intervention.

Free Matching

Need ABA therapy options near Hawaii?

Share your child's age, timeline, and session preference. We'll help you compare nearby ABA therapy centers that fit.

Free for families

Working in ABA?

Browse current ABA therapy jobs on Special Needs Jobs, our job board for RBTs, BCBAs, and behavior technicians.

ABA therapy jobs

ABA therapy and autism supports in Hawaii

Most Hawaii children on Medicaid get ABA through one of five QUEST Integration health plans, which must cover medically necessary ABA for members under 21. Private insurance follows a separate state law that stops at age 14 and caps ABA at $25,000 a year. Developmental Disabilities Division waiver supports sit apart from both and do not pay for ABA treatment. Pick the payer first, because each one has its own approval steps.

Special Needs Care Network lists 3 ABA providers serving 2 cities in Hawaii.

Children under 21 with Hawaii Medicaid can get ABA through EPSDT when the state finds it medically necessary, but each clinic has to accept your child's specific plan. Our guide to finding ABA therapy that accepts your Medicaid plan covers what to ask before you book an intake.

Medicaid ABA: Covered under Med-QUEST for members under 21; your QUEST Integration health plan issues the prior authorization.
Autism insurance law: HRS 431:10A-133 covers children under 14, with ABA capped at $25,000 per year.
Waiver: The Medicaid I/DD Waiver runs through the Developmental Disabilities Division and does not cover ABA treatment.
Early Intervention: Birth to age three; call 808-594-0066 on Oahu or 1-800-235-5477 on the Neighbor Islands.
Behavior analyst license: The state licenses behavior analysts under HRS chapter 465D through the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Med-QUEST and QUEST Integration ABA

Med-QUEST, Hawaii's Medicaid program, requires QUEST Integration plans to cover medically necessary ABA for members under 21. A licensed practitioner such as a pediatrician, psychologist or psychiatrist diagnoses autism, then a licensed behavior analyst writes the assessment and treatment plan. The plan issues the prior authorization before treatment starts and reviews progress at least every 26 weeks.

Five plans: AlohaCare, HMSA, Kaiser Permanente, 'Ohana Health Plan and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan.
A diagnostic evaluation needs no prior authorization, though your plan may ask for a referral from your primary care provider.
Each plan offers Health Coordination to families who ask for help finding a diagnosing or treating provider.

HRS 431:10A-133 and private insurance

HRS 431:10A-133 requires individual and group accident and health policies issued or renewed in Hawaii to cover autism diagnosis and treatment for individuals under 14. ABA carries a flat maximum of $25,000 per year for children 13 and under. The cap is written into the statute, so it does not index to inflation. Self-funded employer plans follow federal rules instead, so ask HR whether your plan is fully insured in Hawaii.

Developmental Disabilities Division and the Medicaid I/DD Waiver

The Department of Health's Developmental Disabilities Division (DDD) runs the Medicaid 1915(c) waiver for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. You apply to DDD for intake and eligibility first, and DDD eligibility does not guarantee a waiver slot. The waiver also needs an ICF-IID level of care approval and Medicaid with the Long Term Care benefit. Med-QUEST states that ABA is not a long-term service and support or home and community-based service, so waiver supports run alongside ABA, not in place of it.

Early Intervention Section, birth to three

The Department of Health's Early Intervention Section (EIS) is Hawaii's Part C program for infants and toddlers from birth to three. A child qualifies with a developmental delay or risk of one, and there is no cost to families and no income limit. Call 808-594-0066 on Oahu or 1-800-235-5477 from the Neighbor Islands. At age three, EIS helps families move to Department of Education special education preschool, Head Start or another community preschool.

Licensed behavior analysts under HRS chapter 465D

Hawaii requires a license to practice behavior analysis or use the title behavior analyst. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs runs the behavior analyst program under HRS chapter 465D. Med-QUEST also requires that BCBA, BCBA-D, BCaBA and RBT providers hold current BACB credentials, and that the licensed behavior analyst supervise assistants and technicians. Ask any provider for the supervising analyst's Hawaii license and Medicaid enrollment.

Where Hawaii families find ABA

Our live city pages cover Mililani and Kapolei on Oahu. Med-QUEST allows ABA in a clinic, at home or in community settings, so ask each provider which of those it offers and whether it serves your island. Telehealth follows the Med-QUEST telehealth policy for QUEST Integration members. Early Intervention is available on all islands, with a separate toll-free line for the Neighbor Islands.

ABA therapy in Mililani
Central Oahu; Mililani families on Med-QUEST use one of the five QUEST Integration plans and call the Oahu Early Intervention line.
ABA therapy in Kapolei
Leeward Oahu; the Early Intervention Section lists a Leeward Early Childhood Services Program among its providers.

Where to start in Hawaii

If your child is on Medicaid, call your QUEST Integration plan and ask for Health Coordination and for in-network providers who offer ABA.
If you have private insurance, ask your plan for its written autism benefit and whether it is fully insured in Hawaii, since HRS 431:10A-133 stops at age 14 and caps ABA at $25,000.
For a child under three, call the Early Intervention Section at 808-594-0066 (Oahu) or 1-800-235-5477 (Neighbor Islands) while you wait for a clinic intake.
Ask each provider which island it serves and whether it delivers ABA in clinic, at home, by telehealth or all three.

Hawaii ABA therapy questions

How do you get ABA therapy through Med-QUEST in Hawaii?

Start with a diagnosis of autism from a licensed practitioner such as a pediatrician, psychologist, psychiatrist or neurologist. A licensed behavior analyst then completes an assessment and treatment plan. Your QUEST Integration health plan reviews the plan and issues a prior authorization before ABA begins. The provider must be licensed in Hawaii and enrolled in Medicaid. Call the member services line for AlohaCare, HMSA, Kaiser, 'Ohana or UnitedHealthcare Community Plan if you need help finding one.

Can a Hawaii child start ABA before a final autism diagnosis?

Sometimes, yes. If the diagnosing provider suspects autism but needs more evaluation, Med-QUEST guidance lets the child qualify for up to a 26-week trial of ABA before diagnosis. The diagnosing provider submits documentation of delays in communication, interaction and behavior to the QUEST Integration plan. The plan can approve extensions or additional trial periods, so ask the plan how it handles requests.

Does Hawaii's autism insurance law cover a 15-year-old?

Not under HRS 431:10A-133, which covers diagnosis and treatment of autism for individuals under 14. The statute caps ABA at $25,000 per year for children 13 and under. A teenager on Medicaid is different: Med-QUEST covers medically necessary ABA through age 20. For a teenager with private insurance, ask the plan whether it covers ABA under its general medical necessity rules.

Does the Medicaid I/DD Waiver pay for ABA in Hawaii?

No. Med-QUEST states that ABA is not a long-term service and support or home and community-based service, so ABA runs through your QUEST Integration plan. The I/DD Waiver is a separate program run by the Developmental Disabilities Division. Apply for DDD intake and eligibility first, then ask your case manager about the waiver admission steps and the level of care assessment.

Who do I call for Early Intervention on Oahu or the Neighbor Islands?

Call the Early Intervention Section at 808-594-0066 on Oahu or 1-800-235-5477 from the Neighbor Islands. Anyone worried about a child's development can call or send a referral by fax using the form on the EIS website. Services are available on all islands, cost families nothing and have no income limit.

Does Hawaii license behavior analysts?

Yes. HRS 465D-4 bars anyone from practicing behavior analysis or using the title licensed behavior analyst without a license, and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs runs the program. Med-QUEST also lets only licensed analysts who are enrolled in Hawaii Medicaid write treatment plans and supervise staff, so ask for the license and Medicaid enrollment before intake.

Planning resources

In-home vs center-based ABA

Compare the settings Med-QUEST allows for ABA.

Early intervention family costs

What families pay for Part C services across states.

Choose an autism therapy center

Questions to use when comparing clinical fit, staffing, and services.

ABA intake checklist

Bring the right coverage and clinical questions to an intake call.

ABA insurance appeal templates

Templates for requesting a clear coverage decision or review.

ABA therapy cost by state

Compare cost context and coverage questions for Hawaii.

Early intervention guide

How IDEA Part C services differ from clinic treatment and school services.

ABA first 30 days checklist

A practical record-keeping and communication checklist.

Primary sources

Last reviewed against the linked primary sources on October 18, 2026. Medicaid, CHIP, commercial insurance, self-funded employer plans, military coverage, waiver programs, and school services follow different rules. This page is general information, not legal, medical, or benefits advice.

Looking for Special Needs Schools?

Explore specialized schools and educational programs in Hawaii.

Browse Schools in Hawaii