Our kids were homeschooled up until January this year, when we decided to put them into Ho'ala School in Wahiawa, HI. They are a private school (only K-8th), but I have found that their tuition is lower compared to others on the island. They also give a military discount. As someone who has worked in education, I was very skeptical about the school. But our kids have been happy- they want to be in school, and that means everything to me. They are a microschool, so they combine classes (which is what I was mainly skeptical of). But I have seen that the kids all work well together, and the teachers are super organized in helping students at their level. So, if you are considering transitioning from homeschool to a traditional school (or just wanting a school that focuses on the whole child) - consider Ho'ala. read more

Adorable little school that has been amazing for our girls! Though Hoala doesn't look like much on the outside, the inside is full of color and character! The teachers truly care about their students, and our daughters have flourished! I'm SO happy we decided to try Hoala when we PCSed here! read more

Hoʻala School is a profoundly special place that combines both thoughtful and complete curriculum with community heart. The school is built on a philosophy informed by psychology, which centers the childʻs sense of belonging. It is truly remarkable what such a small school has to offer in addition to a customized academic program, students receive weekly lessons in music, art, drama and have options for additional programs like robotics and hula. If you canʻt afford tuition, the school does absolutely everything it can to work with you, and the school day itself is considerate of working families offering extended day from early morning to evening, with meal options. The school is directed by Chris Campisano, who is equal parts highly educated, compassionate, and down to earth. Hoʻala School lives up to itʻs name! read more

This school is a law suit waiting to happen... if I could leave 0 stars; I would. Most of the teachers are not certified/licensed & if they are qualified , from what I've seen, are very combative to actual professional development. Carolyn, the kindergarten teacher, has turned away students with disabilities on more than one occasion ( for example, she said " she wasn't willing to service" a 5 year old student because of his Autism. This was in year 2022-2023 which is so sad because there are so many schools with inclusion for students with disabilities), she borders a fine line of verbally abusing her students & other faculty members/parents ( For example, another parent whose student attended actually recalled being yelled at by Carolyn during a school event, which led her to not bringing her son back to the school the following year), Carolyn was very unprofessional to me personally ( For example, I picked up my child in athletic wear & heard her comment on my appearance to another staff member. It felt so unprofessional & rude. When all I'm trying to do is have my child be educated & I'm paying for this as well), and I have heard her make uncomfortable comments about people in the Polynesian culture (specifically about low income & weight management, which I found highly offensive). I would stay far away from this school. I would hate for anyone to put thousands of dollars into this school. Almost all of their students are behind because of poor instruction & a head of school that doesn't prioritize the needs of the students/clients. It is so sad to me. This used to be a beautiful school when Linda & Jeff were still there ensuring the needs of the students. Sadly, I think the first step to progress would be to get a new kindergarten teacher asap and to not have any teacher teaching more than two grade levels (they have teachers teaching up to 3 or 4 grade levels). There are so many bright, actually qualified, people out there who like children and want to serve them for the right reasons. read more

We had a great experience at Hoala. My child attended Kindergarten there with Ms. Carolyn, prior to our move off island. Carolyn prepared my child to excel inside and outside of school. At his new school, his teacher comments on his problem-solving ability, his capacity to think more deeply about a topic, and his emotional intelligence in the way he interacts with his peers. The methods used for reading at Hoala have enabled my child to read above his reading level, and there is a noticeable difference in his reading abilities compared to his peers. I was actively involved in communicating with teachers and staff at Hoala, and it was a positive experience. read more

Truly a unique little enclave of hands-on, participative education for a fairly low price. We sent our daughter there for kindergarten after she just barely missed the cutoff for kindergarten at public school. We couldn't be happier with the results. By the time she left she was reading at the mid-1st grade level and was a considerable amount ahead of where her sister was at the same level in public schools! Very military friendly and offer considerable discounts for service members. If you're PCSing to Hawaii and looking to avoid everything you've heard about the public schools here (all true), please consider Ho`ala as an alternative. The teachers care for the students and the students care for one another. read more

Ho'ala is the best thing that has happened to our family! My son has been going there for two years, 1st and 2nd grade, and his transition from public school to private has been amazing. He had sensory issues with how loud his previous schools classroom was. He could not concentrate and was generally sad and low energy after coming home from school. We are a military family living in Pearl city, so I searched the Facebook pages for recommendations. A few people mentioned Ho'Ala so we booked a tour amongst others. Ho'ala and their philosophies blew every other school we had seen out of the water. The small class sizes, the belief that teachers and parents should work together, and that emotional development is practiced just as much as academic development set them apart. My son is now so excited to go to school everyday and to stay for his after school programs, STEAM, Robotics, and tutoring! Getting to school in the morning from Pearl city takes me about 20 minutes since the traffic going north isn't bad! We are very sad for when we will have to leave but I know my son is learning an important foundation to guide the rest of his life! read more

Loving this school so far ! My son just started kindergarten and I just love how much the teachers care and how the school just keeps the kids innocent a little longer :) read more

I attended Hoala from the 1st - 12th grade. It has absolutely helped shape my life, career and the person that I am today. Not only did it give me a healthy educational foundation for my time at Boston University, it also gave me an unparalleled character education. This is what makes Hoala unique. In a world where children and adults are becoming more and more disconnected. It is important to create a foundation where students learn to take responsibility for their actions and have the emotional IQ to work through conflicts that will inevitably arise. I think that the best testament to the positive impact of the school is when I see the kids of former teachers that are attending Hoala. Even though, the teacher themselves may no longer be at the school. They recognize the importance of the unique education that Hoala provides. This school helps to create citizens and stewarts for Hawaii and the rest of the world. Mahalo Hoala for what you do. There needs to be more school's like this. read more

I chose Ho'ala School for my son in Kindergarten based on the family feel of the admissions process and faculty interactions. I was looking for a school that was near the community where our family had lived for generations. It was important to me that he make friends within the surrounding neighborhoods. The small class sizes at Ho'ala allow for the education to be tailored to individual students' needs. No two students learn in exactly the same way and the team of elementary teachers is flexible, accommodating, and able work with families to provide learning strategies and experiences that best fit each child. In addition to the academic learning, my child has had countless opportunities to be a leader and important contributor to the class and school. He understands that his voice and opinion matters, he values being helpful and supporting teachers and other students, and he has developed a sense of belonging, knowing he is important within the school community. The students also get to participate in the larger community in ways that other schools may not be able to. This includes weekly trips to the farmers' market to purchase produce for their families, visiting and renting books from the public library, participating in community parades, and taking a serious approach to providing service to community organizations and neighboring businesses. What is most important for me and what keeps us choosing Ho'ala school every year is how excited he is to go to school everyday. He enthusiastically shares his day when he comes home reporting on what he did that day in class, how much enjoyed playing with the young kindergartners, or what cool thing the older kids shared with him. When I see him at school he is calm, relaxed, and self-assured. The mutual respect between adults, the principal, teachers, and students is observable. Over the years he's attended, he has made wonderful friends and has had heartwarming experiences that are exactly what I envisioned for his childhood. The school may not have everything that other schools have to offer and it is not trying to be something that it is not. But what it does offer is rare and hard to find, a unique experience, a caring and understanding community, a team of respectful teachers and staff that are excellent role models, and a place that can provide him cherished childhood memories. Ultimately the program and staff are providing experiences that will prepare him to be an adult that can effectively collaborate and communicate with others and confidently navigate the future world and environment. As for the poor reviews on this Yelp site, I feel they are misrepresenting the school and are the experiences of a few. I suspect they had difficult experiences in many situations and other schools. Most seem to be generated from older students and Ho'ala school will soon only be grades K-8. read more

Hoala School is the greatest gift we could have given our daughter. As a military family, we got relocated from Virginia to Hawaii. On a short note, as the School opening date was coming up, the staff was walking us through the process every step that feels like getting a warm welcome hug. Our child is cared for, respected, listened to, encouraged, and challenged. She experiences joy in every aspect of her education. She feels connected to the community and supported in a way to learn in meaningful and memorable ways. The incredibly warm and talented staff creates an ideal environment for academic, social, and emotional growth. She grows to be a confident learner. Hoala School takes the matter of COVID-19 and social distancing seriously and with precautions to ensure all children are safe at all times. For almost 2 years, I am grateful every day for the amazing experience that is Hoala School. I wish every child could have the opportunity to attend this very special School. read more

It is my pleasure to write a testimonial for Ho'ala School located in Wahiawa, HI. As you may know, children must be five years old by July 31st in order to be eligible for kindergarten entry in the Hawaii Public School System. Unfortunately for us, our daughter was ineligible because she was born in September. My husband and I had to decide whether to keep her at home, or enroll her into preschool because we thought that the July 31st cut off date applied to all schools in Hawaii. Fortunately, this was not the case at Ho'ala School which has extended their cut off date to December 31st.  Ho'ala provides a safe and stimulating environment where children can make mistakes without judgment, develop confidence and a sense of belonging. Ho'ala also encourages parents and teachers to complete a 5-week Parenting Workshop to ensure that what is taught in the classroom is duplicated at home. At first, my husband and I were skeptical with the thought of attending a parenting class. However, we have learned how to effectively communicate with our daughter while at the same time, making her feel significant and taken seriously. We owe quite a bit of gratitude to Ho'ala School. Ho'ala has been such a blessing to our family. Our daughter was such a timid little girl who lacked self-confidence at the beginning of the school year. Thanks to her kindergarten teacher, Ms. Carolyn Brown and the supportive staff at Ho'ala, she has become a lot more trusting, outspoken, and confident. We would like to thank Ms. Carolyn for her love, patience, and understanding. Our daughter has grown so much as an individual and we are confident that she will continue to thrive no matter where she goes. read more

An amazing school. Our daughter Mila loved it there and still talks of how she wishes she could go back. It truly is a family experience. The teachers were amazing. Mrs. Carolyn did such a great job with her. The staff truly cares and helps to not only teach education but social interactions and community. If we ever move back to Hawaii I can't think of any other school I would want my kids in read more

This school will fail to educate your children, if you send them here they will struggle in any other learning environment. It will take extensive tutoring to fix the damage this school will do. My children and I have experienced this personally. Several math teachers have quit mid year and most recently, for the first semester of school this past year, my son didn't have a math teacher, when one was finally hired he hardly showed up and eventually quit on the spot. Same goes for the English class that two teachers quit on the spot as well (in the same year). Not only is this a horrible environment for children but adults as well, blatantly shown by their inability to keep their staff around. Not to mention their CONSTANT pandering for money, they charge 10k in tuition yet there is not a single moment where a "fundraiser" is not taking place, not a single month gone by where I haven't been spammed with emails telling me to donate money or buy my kids Panda Express for the school. You call yourself a school yet can't even afford a graduation ceremony for your seniors? And no, it's not to teach students valuable life lessons. The school literally cannot afford anything. Teachers are paying money out of their own pocket to make up for what the kids are unable to raise. And don't worry, they are guilt tripped for that too. The kindergarten teacher is nothing short of despicable, bordering on abuse. read more

As soon as we heard about Ho`ala School we set up a tour for our daughter who was going to begin Kindergarten. By the time the tour was over, I knew it was the right place for us. Our daughter's Kindergarten year was full of emotional, social, and academic growth. Ms. Carolyn created a wonderful classroom environment with both fun and structure. My daughter looked forward to going to school each day and seeing her teachers and friends in all grades. All of her teachers were very dedicated, it was clear they wanted our daughter to grow and flourish. Even as a Kindergartener, my daughter was able to attend and gladly participate in art, music and drama classes. After her kindergarten year, we moved to a different state. I am happy to say that our daughter is thriving in a northern Virginia Public School that rates 9/10. My family always felt so welcomed at Ho`ala School. We were so appreciative of the support of guidance and love. These aspects of Ho`ala were not only shown to my daughter, but to myself as well. Ho`ala School is more than just educators and administrators. It is a home away from home. It is a thoughtful group of people who continue to strive for excellence as they keep each student at the heart of all their decisions. We are so thankful we found Ho`ala School! read more

I love Hoala Schools. In our first three years in Hawaii, my daughter attended 3 different schools before we finally found Ho'ala. Oh how I wish we had found this school that first year! When they say they are focused on Character Development, they really have concrete evidence in the behavior of their students to back this up. Before my daughter could even begin to excel in an educational environment, she needed help overcoming shyness, anxiety, low self-confidence and self-esteem. The teachers friended her, worked on these issues with her and now she is learning above grade average. This school does not teach religion but is very value based. The values are in place and practiced better than the Christian school she attended prior to Hoala. Despite being located next to a Buddhist temple, it is not a Buddhist school. It's biggest assets are the small class sizes, the one-on-one attention your child receives, and the very dedicated teachers and administration. read more

Ho'ala is a diamond in the rough! Located in central O'ahu, it is the only character education school on island. Students are given an opportunity to learn and grow in a safe and stimulating environment, where they feel a sense of significance and belonging. Fully committing to the philosophy and program are essential to success! So if you are willing and ready to embrace the Ho'āla way, you and your family will find happiness and success! read more

Testimonial from grandparents of a former student Our granddaughter attended Ho'ala School for her kindergarten year 2013-2014. She has since relocated to the East Coast where she excels at the very competitive private schools that she is enrolled in. We know that the Ho'ala School experience has played a key role as it gave her a solid foundation to expand upon to which we are very grateful. First, Ho'ala School's philosophy and the dedicated, team-oriented efforts by the teachers and front office staff made for a healthy, fun, and well-organized environment. Second, the many class walks to the neighborhood library to encourage reading, and learning how to check out/return books taught her the personal responsibility of book care and returning them on time. Third, notable school excursions included places such as Haleiwa town to board the legendary Hokule'a voyaging canoe docked in the harbor, visiting the ancient Hawaiian fish ponds, agricultural gardens and swimming at the nearby beach. The excursion to the Dole Pineapple Plantation and participating at a gymnastics club for children were also very enjoyable. Fourth, our granddaughter learned the basic skills of hula dancing, piano playing, and Spanish language lessons. Fifth, they celebrated our national holidays and cultural events with skits, dress-ups, singing, etc. Finally, her kindergarten teacher, Ms. Carolyn Brown, provided a loving, healthy, and positive learning environment. She also emphasized the importance of reading, numbers, artistic creativity, physical health along with having good character, proper personal expression and child safety. We definitely recommend that Ho'ala School be considered for anyone looking for a good private school. Randy & Flora Thank you very much, read more

I learned absolutely nothing from this school. Work did not prepare me whatsoever for standardized tests or public school work. Do not bring your kids here, for the sake of education. read more

Both of our children have attended Hoala school for many years, beginning with Kindergarten. Our son is now in 6th grade and daughter in 9th grade at Hoala, and we continue to be happy with our decision to send our children to this gem of a school. Our kids are motivated to excel in their studies, take responsibility for their own educational progress, and have developed self confidence in their abilities. These are all qualities that have been nurtured by the Hoala community (teachers and admin. staff). read more

The school is a joke! When you have three grade levels in one class and allow the students to control the class and not the teacher which causes unruly and disruptive behavior. Just stop by and take the time to watch them during lunch, they run around with their food in their hands, no tables to eat lunch on. They have no structure or guidance. Ask them how many children have left after their first year, worst mistake I ever did was take my child to this school. read more

There is something very special going on at this learning institution. My granddaughter started Kindergarten in the middle of the first semester when all the other students were familiar with the rules and routine. Her classmates volunteered to be her "helper" to assist her. An older student from another class offered to be her big sister also to help. It is really endearing to watch the older students help the younger ones. All of the faculty and staff knows each and every child and is always available for them. They are all 100% committed to the Hoala philosophy of respect, responsibility resourcefulness. They also offer a Lego Club, Chess Club, Hula, Piano, Taiko Drum right on campus. Spanish is required K -12! Tina the fine arts teacher is amazing. She introduces all mediums of art while teaching Art History! They have gymnastics as part of their PhysEd There isn't a need for the school to have the expense of their own library. The kids visit the public library which is right across the street. It's a good opportunity to get out and walk and get some fresh air! If you believe that it takes a village to raise a child. Hoala is that and so much more! read more

Ho'ala School far exceeded our expectations. My daughter attended Ho'ala School from K-4th grade. We recently underwent a military move to the mainland and my daughter started 5th grade, middle school, in a premier school district. We received her first progress report at her new school and she received all A's and a B. I then went to a parent/teacher conference and was told by the teachers that they don't know why I came in for a conference- "She's doing GREAT!" I explained our recent move and one teacher stated "How can she possibly be doing so well?" I explained that this is why I chose to send her to Ho'ala School. Hoala's investment in each child's development and well-being has allowed my daughter to thrive at her new school! She was definitely well prepared and ahead of the curve for this huge middle school transition due to Hoala's emphasis on respect, responsibility, responsiveness and resourcefulness. Ho'ala's emphasis on character education enriches the WHOLE child! She was not only prepared academically but given life skills through their character education program that are tools she will take with her forever. read more