Our 5 yr old daughter learned more in a half year at Chaminade University Montessori Lab School…read morethan she has in her previous 4.5 years of life! OK, I may be exaggerating a bit, but I really wanted to sing the praises of the incredible staff at CUMLS. My daughter comes home and asks when she can go to school next. She's constantly amazing us with her vocabulary. She actually taught me the definition of an archipelligo. Maybe she can teach me how to spell it too? What's truly important too is that this year's current crew of teachers are so loving to our kids. I can feel how much they care for the kids as if they are all Ohana. They grow herbs in their garden and my daughter brings home kalo chips, hummus, and other wonderful things that were from the things grown on campus. Extra Kudos to Kristie Sakai who provided a safe space for our keiki and gave us the flexibility to stay distanced during Covid and welcoming us when we were ready to go back to in-person learning. The logistics and coordination are not taken for granted. I'm especially emotional about this fine school since this is our daughter's last day and she'll be moving on to a different school. Our many, many thanks to Ms. Claire, Ms. Megan, Ms. Veronica, and Ms. Kristie for their love and care of our most valued treasures. We will miss CUMLS!

Our third son just finished his last year of preschool at Chaminade University Montessori Lab…read moreSchool and our fourth son is going to be starting this upcoming school year for 2019. All four of our sons will have attended preschool here - which shows clearly how much we have appreciated everything about the school, including the teachers, the program, the campus, the fun night events where parents are invited to visit the school and see students' projects, the security, the shaded and safe playground, convenient school hours, ample parking, and the beautiful view from the classroom and school grounds. The classroom is well organized, clean, and full of amazing educational materials. As other reviewers have noted, the curriculum is Montessori, so no complaints there. We think methods used to teach learning and skills to the young children really works and it's easy to see the progress each month. Some of the other specific things I really liked about the curriculum and how this school instructs the children, is the teaching of practical skills and shared responsibilities like cleaning up and preparing food together, or taking care of the younger children in the classroom. During this past year, our third son looked after a couple of younger children and in turn, was befriend by an older boy that took him under his wing. He couldn't wait to go to school each day! Other things my wife and I appreciated about the school, included all the educational field trips to a variety of places around the island, including historical sites, organic farms, and holiday events. While the teachers and the head staff have changed since we enrolled our oldest son five years ago, the ratio of teachers to students has always been high. We have also liked all the teachers and thought they were caring and attentive and did a great job of communicating about our sons and their progress, including providing us with photos of them learning and doing projects at school. At the end of each year, the students work hard to put on a graduation show that includes music and singing, and a potluck lunch. It's always been a little sad to leave at the end of the school year, which means I highly recommend Chaminade University Montessori Lab School!

Love love this place . My 2 year old son goes here . Also 2 of my nephews and my niece . They love…read moreit here . Teachers are so amazing and caring .communication is excellent . I have nothing bad to say . They really do take care . I'm so glad I chose this place for my son . I was very nervous taking my son to a preschool especially with all these stories now days about day cares and preschool but this school proved me wrong. Highly recommend this place .. && the prices for the tuition is reasonable as well. They accept assistance for child care .

Jikoen Hongwanji Lumbini is an amazing preschool that greatly cares for their students! My…read moredaughter has learned patience, perseverance, and is completely potty trained after attending for a few short months! I am amazed by how warm and welcoming the teachers are and how well they care for my daughter. I despise the yelp review which states her child was mishandled as I feel like it casts a negative view on Jikoen Hongwanji Lumbini. Please look past the review bellow, as I myself had my doubts initially due to this review; however my daughter has excelled in her ability to speak and initiate conversations most children do not even comprehend at her age. I can't thank this preschool enough for how much they have taught my daughter in such a brief amount of time. Not to mention the flexibility of the school which offers early drop off at 6:45AM and late pick up at 5:30pm. Unlike most preschools Jikoen offers 2 snacks, an AM and afternoon, as well as lunch prepared on site- All included in the tuition! For a working mother like myself, the ease of knowing my daughter is being taken care of and not worrying about what to make the night before is amazing! They offer summer school and minimal school breaks which allows for me to go to work and not have to use my leave for senseless days off. I can save my leave days for family vacations, yay! Lastly, I would like to say for all the mothers and fathers looking through these reviews and trying to figure out the best fit for their child, you won't be disappointed! If you want a preschool that gets to know your child's interests, talents, and specific needs then go with Jikoen Hongwanji Lumbini preschool!

Love the staff at Kama'aina Kids St. Mark's. The director is very responsive and caring. My son…read moreloves going here and he is always happy and singing songs in the car that he learned in daycare on the way home. Of course daycare costs an arm and a leg but we are glad that our son is in good hands while we are at work. The kids all look happy at drop off and pick up and the teachers know all the kids names even if they are in a different age group. If you're looking for a daycare option then I would recommend this location.

I am not only very thankful to all teachers but also leaned a lot to be a good parent at this…read moreschool. My son went to this school from 3 to 5 years old. We checked out many schools in town and tried couple for few weeks but this school was most fun, loving and caring as well as had good discipline and academics. Ms. Tammy quickly realized my son was behind in writing. She told me not to pick him up till 4pm so she could work with him more personally. A couple of months later, I realized that my son and his classmates were lot ahead in academics from other kids in their age. She said she wanted kids to be confident by being ahead so they would always do well in school. Now my son is in kindergarten and has been always the top of the class in all subjects. In fact, people often asked me which preschool he went to. Ms. Tammy was also very fun and planned many activities even on weekends. She brought a whole class closer and many of us had quality time and memory together. When she taught dodgeball to kids, not only parents but also teachers jumped in to play. We got scoldings for being so loud by too much laughter :) We had so much fun. Another difference I noticed was teachers are more realistic and sustainable. Unlike other schools that focus on fancy wooden toys and recycle papers, they use the back of used papers and make many things from cardboard, fabrics and plants. I was very impressed how creative they were. What I love most about this school was all teachers were very loving, caring and fun at the same time they give good disciplines to kids. They were very nurturing and experienced mothers, they know names of all kids in school and what's going with them each day. As soon as I walked in to pick up my son, the first teacher I saw always told me how my son was. The office lady even the director were often helping kids in the classroom. They are not only sweet but strict in a good way too, and children have good understandings and behaviors. Watching how they deal with kids, I learned how to be fair to kids. Lastly, the director and teachers were very understanding and lenient with our complicated family situation. They were always there to listen and give me good advices, and I felt very supported. I referred many of my friends to this school and they are all happy. The school helped my son to be kind, strong and smart and me to be a good mom. I highly recommend this school!

It's hard to simply describe how much we loved Strode Montessori. Our daughter attended from 5…read moremonths - 18 months old in the infant class, 18 months - 3-years old in the toddler class, then the preschool until she was 5. We interviewed 4 other daycare facilities and Strode was the only one where we left with no doubts or concerns whatsoever, and we knew it was the best choice. We are so lucky we got a spot! Pam, the owner, has always been very responsive and became a trusted advisor as we navigated parenthood. We relied on her for advice and guidance almost as often as we did our pediatrician. The infant room ratio was 1 teacher to 3 infants, but all of the teachers are backups and very involved as needed. You could tell our primary teacher loved our daughter, and our daughter loved her. It was like a family member was taking care of her - the love and care was evident, and the teachers were not simply babysitters. Pam let me store frozen breastmilk there. She had much more freezer space than I had at home. If you have limited freezer space, I know you understand what a welcome offer this is. The toddler room ratio is also low, about 1 teacher to 5 toddlers. Preschool is a little higher. Lunch and snacks are provided. In all three rooms, our daughter thrived. They teach practical lessons, encouraging independence and self-confidence. This is not simply a daycare - they teach and nurture. Our daughter would come home and tell us about the continents, the difference between a moth and a butterfly, how much she loves her teachers, and more. I know this sounds crazy but if you are pregnant and are considering Strode, take a tour and get on the waitlist NOW. You won't regret it.

Strode Montessori was my child's first school/daycare, and it was an amazing experience! They are…read moretechnologically sound, using the bright wheel app to send updates to parents throughout the day with pictures to notes to reassure you of your child's safety and happiness. I appreciated the opportunity to freely communicate with the teachers and administrators at any time throughout the week. The teachers are sweet and kind, and the classroom is pleasant and aesthetic with educational wooden toys in the Montessori style. They also have a lovely outdoor play area that is semi-shaded. Parking is validated at a nearby lot and coded entry required for drop-off and pick-up. Lunch was included in tuition at the time when we attended! Would have loved to stay with them, but the commute was just a bit far for us! If there is a spot open and it is a convenient location, don't hesitate to jump on the opportunity!

One of the best things about moving to Hawaii Kai is finding this gem of a preschool! We send both…read morekids here and have been so happy with their learning and development. Why we love it: Curriculum - kids learn phonics, a lot of song based learning, have supplemental workbooks and activities to learn numeracy and Sight Words to help facilitate reading. Classrooms - teachers are always super positive and welcoming and the school is incredibly clean (kids have indoor and outdoor shoes). Kids also have outside play built into their schedule in a super nice fenced in playground. Potty training is also very supportive, there's not a hard deadline and teachers work with parents to help support the kids. Happy Bento delivers to the school to help take one thing off the parents plate (Home lunch is welcome too). Lillio App has also been great to see pictures and videos throughout the day and for communicating with teachers.

We have been so grateful to find Kinder Kids International after our unexpected move to Hawaii. The…read moreschool is small, clean and beautiful. The director, Ms. Mandy always makes herself available and knows every parent and child personally. Our teacher, Ms. Dawn has built such a great connection with my daughter, and knows how to redirect her in a fun and loving way. My daughter comes home with such amazing crafts, singing new songs and learning all her shapes, colors, numbers and letters. The curriculum is learning based, and not play based, which I think is great for her personality which minimizes the usual behavioral issues when there's no structure. They do yoga, sensory activities, nature walks, gym playtime, circle time, crafts, music, potty breaks, lunch, nap time and more. They use an online app to keep you informed on their day with pictures of them playing. It updates throughout the day with the amount they ate at lunch, potty breaks taken, etc. They even have a special day when you can come and see your child at school without them knowing and see how well they behave when you're not around! :) The value that Kinder Kids provides is amazing. I am very pleased to have my daughter be a part of this amazing school that is growing to be a big part of her formative years.

No other preschool on the island compares to the level of quality and care the Learn School is…read moreproviding for my child. The teachers are so invested in providing great age appropriate education and meeting the needs of the children with a holistic approach. I never have to question my daughter's safety while she is in the care of her teachers, classroom management is on point, the families and students at Learn are wonderful people and so welcoming. Dr. Karla has done an amazing job developing the curriculum for the school and provides great educational opportunities for parents/adults as well.

We absolutely love the holistic and child-oriented approach of the LEARN school and truly…read moreappreciate Karla and her team who are so caring and absolutely wonderful with all the kids. Our daughter loves the environment feeling safe and happy, which is the most important aspect for us parents. We really enjoy all the fun activities incorporating sustainability, cultural aspects and education in a playful and engaging manner.

I heard many good things about this school and so when minor issues/concerns came up here and…read morethere, I just let it slide because I figured that's how all preschools are. My daughter was always tired and not very happy when coming home from school, but I thought that too was normal. But when I had a safety concern and the director did not take it seriously, and was more than a month unresponsive, I decided to switch my daughter to a different preschool after being at Queen Emma for 2 years. When I switched my daughter to a new school, she came home SO much happier! I didn't realize what a difference a good school can make! Unfortunately, Queen Emma wasn't the right fit for my daughter. I think the teachers there do a great great job! And there are many teachers that my daughter loved! However, I think the classes are so big and the teachers are overworked...and so my daughter thrived much better in a different and more family/small school environment.

Great preschool. My daughter has been there for the last two years. Teachers are happy and there is…read morevery little turnover. The kids are very happy. Strong emphasis on social emotional development. Ms Susan is the director and hands on always subbing in herself if a teacher is sick etc so she really gets to know the kids. Lots of available instruction on parenting skills from potty training workshops (before admission--as kids must be potty trained to start) to play based learning workshops. Also lots of extra curricular activities available during school hours like music, piano, soccer, hula and tumble bus. We love Queen Emma Preschool.

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.

The MonkeyPod Mākeke at Honolulu Waldorf School is a cozy shop open for 45 minutes after school on…read moreFridays. 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.