Love this gem of a school! My child is now finishing our second year of school at Honolulu Waldorf School, and will be starting 2nd grade next year. It was very important for our family to attend a progressive school, and in this case "developmentally progressive" in terms of educating the whole child. Our child is very active and talkative, and we didn't want to go the traditional route of public school - especially when on our first tour of a public school they pointed out a "wiggle chair" in a corner that kids would go sit in if they couldn't sit still for long periods of time, and that particular teacher indicating our child might not do well there. For kindergarten, and where our child was developmentally - this was not going to work and we could visualize a year of phone calls about inability to sit still. In Waldorf education (and many other countries) children don't start classroom lessons at desks until they are in 1st grade and 6-7 rather than 5-6. And for us, that felt like the right fit. The teacher we had in kindergarten in the early childhood program (EC) was phenomenal, and I loved that the kindergarteners are in a mixed age class ranging from age 3-6 with various stages of development acknowledged (star children age 3-4, moon children age 4-5, and sun children aka kindergarteners age 5-6). When my child was a "sun child" they were the oldest in the class and became leaders in many opportunities. They have a very structured day which leads to a lot of centeredness and calmness as they move through play time, reading circle, snack time (provided by school and quite nutritious!), arts, more play time, nap time, music - lots of singing - and each activity meeting the child where they are and building on that. My child was very resistant to arts at the start of kindergarten, and by the end was weaving, sewing (!), painting, and drawing. Being restless was not an issue throughout the year, and going without a nap during nap time was also something that could be worked around. After finishing kindergarten, the children move into 1st grade with a beautiful crossing of a symbolic bridge leaving the grounds of the early childhood area and entering the grounds of the grades area / classrooms. In 1st grade, a the class size was 16 children which was a great size for us, and subjects of reading/writing, math, Spanish, Japanese, Hawaiian studies, handwork, movement, music are covered throughout the week. If a child needs more attention in an area, they are quick to spot it and suggest additional support of needed. Our teacher was incredible at holding the class, and attentive to all of each child's progress and needs. What's also amazing is that the same teacher continues into 2nd, 3rd and beyond as is part of the Waldorf pedagogy. Sometimes life changes happen (pregnancy / moving etc), but at this school the same teacher can be expected to continue on for many grades, building a beautiful bond between teacher and student. Also for the community; the school fosters a great sense of community with a strong Parent Hui group (parent volunteers) that work to make each of the many Waldorf traditions come alive. The school participates in Waldorf events of Michaelmas, Saint Nicholas Day, the Winter Spiral, Lantern Walk, and also brings in via its Spanish program a celebration of Dia del los Muertos, Salsa Night, and through its Japanese program Girls Day, Children's Day, Hawaiian - La Mei (May Day) and more. When thinking about all of the events throughout the year it's a magical, welcoming and educational experience for the children and families alike. Not knowing a lot about Waldorf education at the start of our attendance, I have gained a whole new perspective on childhood development as this school also educates parents on how children learn. The reading and literacy is on a different timeline than public school for valid developmental reasons and by 3/4th grade many students are avid readers reading and comprehending books well above their public school peers. Overall, I believe the children become excellent learners through and can tackle any topic with the curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. Last, the school is screen free up to a grade (6th?) This is a huge incentive for our family, as we do not want our child to be exposed to screens more than necessary - as we learn how it is negatively affecting brain development in young children. Eventually, the concept of appropriate screen use is introduced in Cyber Civics classes in middle school - as it is unrealistic for screens to be completely avoided in life, and an awesome opportunity to teach children about how to have an online presence, be responsible and respectful online, and to have personal boundaries around its use with social media, and length of time. Big fan of the school, the caring teachers and admin, and the awesome and strong parent community that goes above and beyond to be involved in their children's learning and environment. read more

Our experience with Honolulu Waldorf was extremely disappointing and felt unprofessional from start to finish. We applied for a preschool spot after being told there were openings, only to later learn that there were no available spots at all. The application process was expensive -- especially considering the admissions fee -- yet nothing meaningful happened after we submitted everything. There was also a very strange "visit day" where our child was invited along with a group of babies who were not even old enough to be admitted. It was clear many of those parents were simply trying to get on a waitlist, and the entire event felt disorganized and like a complete waste of time. We were never given any information about next steps, timelines, or what to expect. We had to follow up multiple times just to get basic updates, and only then were we told that we were not being offered a spot. When we asked about the possibility of a waitlist, our inquiry was essentially ignored. To make matters worse, the school recently experienced a cyberattack, which only reinforced our impression that the overall operations and communication practices are not being handled professionally. On a positive note, we have since found a wonderful Montessori‑inspired school that has been everything we hoped for -- warm, organized, communicative, and genuinely invested in the children. The contrast has been night and day, and we are very happy with where we ended up. Based on our experience, I would strongly recommend that families proceed with caution and ask very clear questions before investing time and money into the application process. read more

The MonkeyPod Mākeke at Honolulu Waldorf School is a cozy shop open for 45 minutes after school on Fridays. Created and run by parents, it has beautiful Waldorf art supplies: beeswax molding clay, watercolors, colored pencils, and coloring blocks - alongside small treasures children love to choose for themselves or friends: journals, necklaces, and other thoughtful trinkets under $3. You'll also find handcrafted gifts like felt leis made with care by parents and teachers. I purchased one for Mother's Day! It is a warm, intentional space that brings joy to the children and community alike. read more

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I just love Honolulu Waldorf. My son has been here since early childhood and now he's in first grade it's honestly been a dream. The teachers really see him for who he is. They care about his rhythm, his creativity, his whole being not just trying to make him sit still and memorize. What I love most is how they nurture problem-solving, emotional regulation, innovation, and kindness. I've even read studies that say universities and tech companies actually look for Waldorf kids because they're the ones who know how to think outside the box, be creative, and keep going no matter what. And I can see that in my son he's grounded, kind, curious, and confident in who he is. There was a time when my son was growing through some things, and the support we received from Waldorf was incredible. The teachers and staff spent so much time with me talking through ideas, offering guidance, and truly caring about his confidence and wellbeing. They weren't just supporting him, they were supporting me as a parent too. The level of thought, compassion, and care they put into everything made me feel held, and I'm forever grateful. Now I see my son standing so much more grounded in his truth and confidence because of it and he's only 6. One of the things that amazes me most is the emotional tools he's learned. When he's having a hard moment at home, I'll watch him stop, take a breath, and use what his teachers taught him to calm himself down before going back to what he was doing. For a 6 yr old to already have that awareness and self-regulation is incredible. The community also feels like an extension of our family. Since our kids spend most of their week and their waking hours at school, it means everything to me that Waldorf invites parents to be part of it. We get to volunteer, spend time in the classroom, and really see our children learning and growing. It's not just a drop-off where you're disconnected from half your child's life it's a true community where families support each other and everyone wants the children to thrive. In a world where memorization is becoming obsolete with AI, Waldorf is giving our kids what really matters: resilience, creativity, and the inner knowing that they can do anything. They get to be kids, spend time in nature, build relationships, and learn in ways that light them up. I'm forever grateful we found this school and wish every child could experience this kind of education and community. read more

I have two children attending HWS and our experience has been life changing. Our kindergartner and 5th grader both love their teachers and school. We love the community and the beauty HWS brings to our family daily. Our kids radiate confidence and have a love for learning. The teachers are nurturing, intentional and genuinely care for each child. It's not just a school but our family. read more

Honolulu Waldorf School - Elementary Schools Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

My son attended Waldorf from preschool through 7th grade. Dear atmosphere and teachers were wonderful. It actually made him love school. He's currently finishing his college degree and plans to go onto graduate school. read more

Thanks to Yelp and the Honolulu Star Advertiser for pointing me to the Waldorfaire today, 10/27/2012. The Waldorfaire is a throwback to the more simple pleasures of youth that I just simply would have loved back when I was a kid. Maybe I am soaking it all in now and reliving the childhood that I never really got growing up. In either case, coming here was great and it just made me smile. It's one of those nostalgia things that gives life some perspective - like how nature seems to do too. Waldorfaire was neat. It was definitely kid centric, but it also had the parents and other adults busy too. I must've spent about 3 hours there before hitting up Starbucks and Subway for lunch, then eventually, Haunama Bay for some relaxation and stress relief. Boy did I need it! The faire itself was great and I wish that they could hold them more often. Loved the lack of admission fee, which was just super awesome. Plenty activities for the kids and I just immersed myself and found my inner child and it was great. Never in my life did I have as much fun as I did today - apart from traveling and running marathons - of course. :-) Waldorf School has 3 campuses on Oahu that I know of. Kahala, Aina Haina, and their flagship campus in Niu Valley. They are a small private school that focuses on early childhood development. I probably would have gone to this school way back in the 1980's if my parents did know about this school and not send me to public school. The campus here at Waldorf is quite nice and you can tell it's very well maintained. I do love the Niu Valley campus and how it is laid out and can co-exist with the community. Its very peaceful here. I enjoyed my time here. I wondered if things could have been different for me if I came from a private school. Who knows. #Thoughtoftheday. Support local! A+ read more

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Our son attends Waldorf and our daughter will be joining him in the fall. My husband and I absolutely love everything about Waldorf (well, maybe not the price, but we figured investing in our kids education is worth any price). Both kids attended the Parent-Child class from a very young age (once a week), so they are familiar w/the setting and teachers. Take a tour and ask questions - they will tell you far more than I can here. All I can say is, the whole energy of the school and the teachers make us feel confident our children are spending such a large percentage of their time here. We especially love that the teachers follow the class from 1st-6th grade, so they truly get to know each student and their learning styles, and that in high school they don't learn from textbooks, they basically create their own textbooks, which are AMAZING. Seriously, just take the tour. If it's not your cup of tea, you'll know. But if it is, you'll feel like me and my husband, who said to me during the tour "WOW! I feel like I was cheated! I wish I had gone to Waldorf!" read more

It's a blessing we found this school and became a part of its community. If you are looking for a school that encompasses the entire child spiritually, physically and educationally this is the school for you. read more

Honolulu Waldorf School - Beautiful campus trees that shade and protect our children - Elementary Schools Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Many years ago, I heard about Waldorf and felt it would be a great match for my unconventional child. Logistically, it was too far at the time and I was excited to finally apply my son to Waldorf when we moved to town. Part of the application process was for my son to attend 3 days of classes. He attended the first couple of days and then was sick on the third day, but he made up the last day the following week. Soon after, we were told the teacher could not get "a clear picture of his abilities" since his days were broken up (are you kidding me?) - and he requested that my son attend another 3 consecutive days! My son was at Mid-Pac at the time, and the days he took off initially set him way back in his studies. Another 3 days during the last few weeks of school would be difficult to say the least, with finals coming up and projects due. I told Waldorf that it would be difficult for him to attend additional days, and then I never heard from them again, no follow up whatsoever. A couple of months later, I inquired about his application status and was told that since he could not attend additional days, they "mistakenly assumed" that we "were withdrawing his application." They then spoke with the teacher whose class he attended and he "did not feel we can meet his needs at this time" and that they "have limited support services." Goodness, my concern was that my child has ADD (attention deficit disorder, without the hyper) - this is one of the areas I thought Waldorf would be able to help him, because of their unconventional way of teaching. Really? Is ADD such a big thing that they cannot accommodate him? One of the other Waldorf teachers I spoke with said two of her children that attended the school had ADHD. I did not tell Waldorf this, but my 12-year-old is a member of Mensa! He now attends Assets School for the Gifted. read more

The Honolulu Waldorf School has been entrusted with the education of my daughter since mid 2007. We found the school through having an interest in Waldorf/Steiner education. From the outset the school has impressed us with it's communication with families, its warm and welcoming feel when you enter the school (most mornings there is a Teacher there welcoming parents and Students saying hello in another language), it's amazing teachers and most importantly the incredibly positive effect the school has had on our young 4 year old. What has impressed me is the way the school completely embraces the philosophy and works hard to also engender the interest and education of the parents as well. We will miss the school dearly when we return to Australia in Jan 2009 but it will be forever in our hearts. Thankyou. read more

I'm reviewing the Parent/Child program and the faculty at the Honolulu Waldorf School. I've been involved in the program for about 6 weeks to date, and I've absolutely fallen in love with everything about it. The teacher (Auntie Sacha) is amazing, the curriculum is very nurturing, the school itself and the grounds are beautiful and serene. The staff, especially Joyce, has gone above and beyond with helpfulness. My children and I reap so many benefits from this wonderful program. I truly consider my family blessed to have come across this gem of a school. Our life has been forever changed thanks to HWS! read more

I am absolutely disgusted with this facility. The entire thing is corrupt and the teachers seem to have next to no qualifications for what they are trying to teach. There is an immense amount of favoritism shown by many of the teachers, and there is seemingly no structure. My son did extremely well at midpac academically, but received poor marks at Waldorf due to the fact that they do not grade based on skill, but benchmarks much like those used in a preschool. I would rather homeschool than send another child to this establishment. read more

Have you toured this school? Have you ever walked into a classroom here? There is no place like it. The Honolulu Waldorf School has exceeded my expectations for education and having high academic standards. The school and the teachers are also exceptional in the Arts and Music which is rare to have it all. I enjoy walking through the school and listening to the children learning Music, Mathematics, Language Arts, Movement, Sciences and so much more. I am especially appreciative of their student support group and teachers who meet each individual child. Thank you Honolulu Waldorf School for educating students who are free thinkers and are so confident in who they are! The whole school hums happiness! read more

I am so grateful for the Honolulu Waldorf School. My child has been in the early childhood program for 2 years. Mrs. Sydow is so caring and smart. She will always make time to speak to parents, no matter how small of a concern they have. I find the school to be extremely clean and my child very rarely has gotten sick. I also love that they feed the children ultra-healthy food for snack time. They also make bread and vegetable soup once a week. I like that the children are not allowed to wear clothing or have back packs that have media related images on them. My child is learning so much and is growing up to be a smart and caring individual. My child loves this school and so do I! read more