This school is AMAZING! This school opened when Hokule'a began her voyage around the Globe sharing…read morethe message of MALAMA HONUA. This schools mission was founded on that simple purpose. My son attends MHPCS, one of the first 41 to attend when it opened. It was very "grassroots"for lack of a better word in the beginning. But turned out sooooo awesome!!! There was so much love from the student family's and the community -we all wanted to see it grow! Not to forget the dedicated & fearless faculty , it was definitely due to their hard work n late nights. Here's our review: . My sons class only had 10kids in his whole GRADE!! So the attention he received truly helped him excel! They push the academic curriculum, so he was in kindergarten, but learning 1-2nd grade applications. I was surprised he could actually do it. Small classroom n attention is really the key. Also, they take what they learn in the classroom & in the second half of their day do "outdoor" or "hands on" activities to show how it applies to LIFE. They also do Huakai(field trips) like every week! Compared to My daughter who is in public school in kailua went on TWO field trips during her whole school year, lol. MHPCS takes keiki to regularly work in kalo, beach clean ups,horticulture, and farms. PARENTS will also have to volunteer a couple of hours during the year. Sometimes on the weekend. -They offer free/reduced lunch. -Nut Free school -Do not send child with unhealthy snacks, kumu will send it home.lol -offer A+ -if ur a family in dire need, don't be afraid to ask for help with school supply's etc. Sometimes it happens with big family's -just ask. If can can. -be prepared to volunteer. Bc u will. -morning starts with piko,so get there by 730am -THEY HAVE AIR CONDITION!!!! Woohoo! This keeps my son and our family engaged and to really apply these things in our own life.

I have an extremely biased view, but let me quickly and sweetly explain why: EVERYONE CARES…read more The staff has been stacked with teachers that are not only qualified but also extremely dedicated and creative. The current principal, Mr. No, is also an intelligent man that has taken the helm and leading the school towards an even brighter future. On top of the wonderful staff, the community is also driven to make sure that the school, and each other, support one another to help each other grow. A school that takes pride in their activities, and pushes students to excel and grow individually. Parents, your search is over. This is the school to put your children in.

Both of our girls went here, K thru 6. What an experience! An absolutely fantastic school. Cannot…read morecount the number times we were blown away with teachers taking as much time as child needed. We loved the whole staff there. I mean that, principal on down to the lunch folks. Our girls entered middle school ahead of their peers. I'd like to call out every teacher who was special to our kids (and us!), but it is literally the entire staff!! Simply the best elementary school, public OR private on Oahu!!

I visited this school as a volunteer and thought that the student were very polite and helpful. I…read moreloved the school's atmosphere. The world map painting on the ground and the flags of different countries on the building wall really brought an international feeling to this local school.

HonuPride! For sure. Second (possible 3rd/4th) generation Kailua 'ohana who absolutely loves and…read moreappreciates our neighborhood school. With very few principals over the years KES has been under some great leadership and care. It has shown with the amazing students that come through as well as the teachers who are so passionate about their students, school, and teaching. The students have the best of what is available to them and the administration makes sure they are plugged in where ever necessary. KES is a big campus but small group with about 250-300 students in all and a total 'ohana environment. They really care for the children like their own and know how to make visiting families feel like they've been there forever. The teachers set goals for themselves and for the students with the principal and make sure they are on track with meeting them throughout the year. Their focus is definitely on developing the whole child. From academics to social (with friends or in clubs) and beyond the children are able to get a well rounded education, positive influences, and make lifelong memories! Once a Honu always a Honu.

First year for our son and we have been very impressed with the teachers and administrators. They…read morepractice what they preach when it comes to righteous behavior and accountability. Ms. Wood is great!

Heeia has been a good school for us. We are in their preschool program. You have to pay for lunch…read moreand breakfast but it's not expensive in my opinion. Majority of the staff is friendly, happy and hospitable. My sons teachers are very very nice and make an honest effort to teach the kids and give us the opportunity to get involved. They have a program once a month you can come read to your child's class. They send home a composition book with notes and information on what your child did this week. They even send home pictures!!! impressed with their dedication. I strongly believe if I didn't work full time my son would be excelling much quicker..Welcome to paradise. Ty heeia we appreciate you

Our family has had a very positive experience at this private Catholic school. My child is…read morecurrently in middle school and is genuinely excited to continue on to the high school next year, which speaks volumes about how supported and comfortable he feels in this community. One of the school's greatest strengths is its size. The student-to-teacher ratio feels just right--small enough for individualized attention, but large enough to offer a well-rounded experience. I've seen my child both supported when he needs help and challenged to grow academically, which is exactly what we hoped for. Equally important has been the social environment. He has built a strong, close-knit group of friends who I truly believe will remain an important part of his life well beyond school. That sense of belonging and community was something we deeply valued when choosing a school, and it's a big reason he never felt the need to look elsewhere. Like any school, it's not perfect. At times, administrative decisions can take longer than expected. However, I've come to see this as a reflection of the school's thoughtful and compassionate approach--they take the time to carefully consider situations and prioritize what's best for their students rather than rushing to judgment. Overall, we're grateful to be part of a school community that nurtures both academic growth and meaningful relationships. It has been a great fit for our child, and we look forward to the years ahead.

Tonight they had their Fall Festival. Nadine invited me to go with her. It was fun. They were doing…read morea movie night and played the Super Mario Bros. movie. That must have been the theme as some of the students had on the costumes. They had a lot of food vendors. Chick-Fil-A was there selling their chicken sandwiches. They were the main sponsor. Other booths were selling popcorn, baked goods, pizza, hot dogs, chicken strip, fries, hamburger curry and lumpia. One booth was doing free airbrushed tattoos. The students must really like this as the line was so long. Another booth was selling Maryknoll merchandise such as T-shirts, hoodies and sunglasses.

Ive attened both hba and public schools throughout my life and from my personal experience hba is…read morejust a public school with a punahou/iolani price tag. There is clearly no selection process when admitting students as seen throughout their behavior's and actions. Teachers bombard you with homework everyday that doesnt help learning especially when it takes away from your sleep. Finally Christianity is pushed in your face constantly when its clear over 75% of the student base dont have any of the basic "morals" supposedly a Christian would follow. I could go on and on about favoritism towards certain students from the staff and administration, neglect towards issues between students, and more the list goes on and on. There is a lot that needs to be fixed at Hawaii Baptist Academy and its showing with the enrollment rates being at a all time low.

I have two kids in the elementary school, so I have seen the JK-5 grades. I can't say enough about…read morethe school. They both love their teachers and I have been amazed at the types of projects and activities the teachers create. I have a master's in education, and I see cutting edge best practices frequently. At the same time, I see HBA's commitment to the whole child--building character and social-emotional skills. Several of my daughters' classmates have parents who went to HBA K-12, and after their own experience, they wouldn't send their kids anywhere else. Now I see why. It has been a game changer for our girls, and it is truly a God-send to our family.

Love this gem of a school!…read more 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.

Our experience with Honolulu Waldorf was extremely disappointing and felt unprofessional from start…read moreto 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.