Back when I was a young lad, there was this weird rivalry between the two private schools of…read moreWaimea; between Parker and HPA. I don't know if they ever got over this, but the fact still remains: Parker is the better school. You could even say its just "real." The teachers are supportive and qualified, the students are pleasant, the curriculum is constantly improving, and the administration is known for its lack of stifling bureaucracy. AND its cheap as far as private school tuition goes.. I spent my last year at Parker, but I wish I could have started earlier! Stay tuned for Parkers up-and-coming "Thomas Center for Young Entrepreneurs Who Want to Learn About Business and How To Do Other Things Well Too" opening fall 2043. What up Doc Sturges! http://www.parkerschool.net/welcome.html

From the owner: Parker School is a small, independent, co-educational day school for students in grades K-12…read morelocated in Kamuela, HI. At Parker School, every student is known, valued and nurtured. Our small-school setting and dynamic program foster confident, compassionate individuals who are thoroughly prepared for college, who enthusiastically engage in life and who positively contribute to an ever-changing global community. Excellence, integrity and compassion are the cornerstones of our mission. Small class sizes, 'ohana (family-like) atmosphere, and a diverse, caring and talented faculty combine to produce a well-rounded educational environment and experience for our more than 300 students. This unique environment cultivates the qualities necessary to succeed in an interconnected world: creativity, curiosity, resilience, constructive risk-taking and teamwork. Student interests are stimulated, building skills and knowledge in all areas of life, including: the physical, intellectual, musical, artistic and altruistic. In addition, students enjoy a rigorous academic program; hands-on experiential learning; an excellent arts program; leadership opportunities; exciting extra-curricular activities such as debate, athletics, drama and dance; opportunities for hands-on community service; a nurturing atmosphere; and a true sense of 'ohana, extended family. Fully accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), Par

Took the Lei Po'o workshop with my adult daughter and her friend with Kalia and thoroughly enjoyed…read moreit. Kalia made it easy, fun and informative and everyone left with not only a beautiful headdress but other goodies too, including a ti tree cutting to plant, and ti leaves and other necessities to continue weaving at home. Kalia is such a lovely gal, full of fun, happy to help out at any point, full of interesting info about Hawaiian culture and enthusiastic about sharing her skills with others. She is an excellent teacher and so friendly. Everyone enjoyed talking to one another, sharing ideas, and advice about other classes we had taken an Hui No'eau previously. The gardens, gallery and gift store are all lovely to walk though so make sure you don't miss out. Plus it is the perfect place to take a post class picnic in the shade and relax.

I love coming here. We come here for field trips and so on. The staff are friendly and nice. This…read moreplace is beautiful. It sometimes rains here so be prepared it she's get a little cold.

Make sure you don't miss the Old Jail Gallery at the Lahaina Arts Society. Its downstairs and a…read moremust see. Really nice art and Artists to meet and talk story with. Just being in the space is a fun history lesson as well.

Also called the Banyan Tree Gallery is spread over 2 floors of the Old Lahaina Courthouse. We stuck…read moreour heads around the door for a quick peek and stayed nearly 2 hours. There are some stunning pieces and all made by local artists who fund this gallery through a co-operative. It was a tough choice but I went home with 2 plates by Bob Hoenig and a pendant by Kai Pua. Andre, the Art Consultant, was very knowledgeable and generous with his time. Downstairs, in the jail house gallery, Amanda welcomed us and we left as friends. You must also check out Johanna's lei's - meticulously crafted out of ribbon. This is a dangerous place for your wallet, but you'll leave with a warm glow and great memories as well as a little piece of authentic Maui.

Jessica was fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed my 90 minute deep muscle massage. Highly…read morerecommend...ask for Jessica!

Butter fingers! We arrived yesterday and we each got a…read moretaster massage of 30 minutes each. We each got 1 hour massage today. Mine was just on neck and shoulders. Wow so awesome best massage ever! Reasonable pricing. Highly recommended!

I came here as a volunteer in March of 2012 knowing nothing about Hawaii or the Big Island. I…read moreintended to stay for only 2 weeks, but ended up living here for about 6 months. This place was the most amazing experience of my life. This is where I met lifelong friends, travelers and business contacts. Hedonisia attracts eccentric, interesting, talented hippie types and the like who all have something to contribute to the "community of individuals" that comprises Hedonisia. At Hedo, I learned how to do yoga, cook curry, tend tropical gardens, build structure from re-used and re-purposed materials, build trails, hula hoop, among many other fascinating hobbies that I would have ordinarily never have tried, all in one place, none the less! The most amazing aspect of this place is the people. Without them, Hedonisia would not be as enriching of an experience. Hedonisia is on roughly 4 acres of tropical rainforest and it's built in a whimsical play land sort of way. There are fun funky nooks and crannies to explore, lots of colorful art, cooky but functional structures, a converted hippie school bus, the works. One of my friends I met here described it perfectly once: This place feels like adult hippie summer camp. You work hard, you make friends, and most of all you have so much fun! In addition to all the property has to offer including fresh fruit, beautiful flowers, vegetables, it is located in an amazing spot in Lower Puna which is rich with folklore and culture, as it is in the wake of Kilauea (active volcano's) path. There are geothermal warm ponds just up the street, black sand beaches, amazing camping, cool farmer's markets and night markets and overall the most interesting mix of people you'd ever hope to meet. This place is somewhere to go if you have an open mind and an open heart, if you are eager and hungry to learn, explore, adventure and have fun. The owners are open, honest, fun, youthful and amazing people who I have become lifelong friends and business contacts with. They have an open door policy and often get their hands dirty themselves doing work, weeding around the property, getting to know all their volunteers, all their guests, and generally opening their little slice of paradise up for everyone to share and enjoy. Do yourself a favor and volunteer here. Now.

From the first moment I got to Hedonisia I felt at home. I came as a volunteer with no return date…read morein mind so far from home I was so glad to feel comfortable as soon as I arrived. Everything is rainbow colored and mostly open air, even the kitchen which was one of my favorite parts! The property has multiple levels and its own volcanic crater! I stayed in the Avocado Tent which to my surprise was a large tent with carpeting and a real bed inside! Over my time as a volunteer I got to meet lots of really great and interesting people. This is a great place to spend some time at getting to know people. You wouldn't really get a chance to appreciate this place if you only stay for a couple of nights. If you are looking for something truly unique I would highly recommend checking this place out!

I waited nine months after withdrawing both of my daughters from St. Joseph before writing this…read morereview. I am more confident than ever that we made the right decision. My older daughter entered St. Joseph academically at or above grade level. While there, she fell significantly behind, particularly in math, while her teacher consistently blamed her. After transferring to public school, she caught back up remarkably quickly with proper instruction and support. We also had serious concerns about the way one of her teachers treated her, including inappropriate comments and interactions. When we brought those concerns to the administration, we felt the focus became defending the teacher rather than seriously addressing what our daughter had experienced. Two days after we escalated our concerns to the Diocese, our daughter was the only child in her class not given lunch, and we were never notified. I cannot say whether the timing was intentional, but given everything happening at the time, it was deeply concerning. That was her last day. We withdrew our younger daughter as well. During a field trip, a teacher transported her in a personal vehicle. Despite being of an age and size requiring a child restraint, she was placed in the front passenger seat without one. That raised serious concerns for us about basic student safety and oversight. Parents should also understand that St. Joseph does not require its teachers to hold Hawaiʻi state teacher licenses. Going above the administration accomplished virtually nothing. Despite being informed of our complaints and concerns, the parish and school pastor never responded to us. Not once. Zero response. We found no meaningful accountability from the Diocese either. Our experience was academic decline, serious concerns about a teacher's treatment of our child, questionable student-safety practices, and a lack of accountability from the school, Diocese, and parish leadership. Both of our daughters are now out of St. Joseph. Our only regret is that we didn't withdraw them sooner.

Wow, I can't believe that I am the first to Yelp about 'St. Joseph's, our Dear Alma Mater...'…read more Words any alumni would know by Heart. What to say about St. Joseph? The first would be that I think it is a bit misunderstood. While I didn't always like it, (what High Schooler really loves being in school?), St. Joe's was a special place. As I have gotten older, I have grown to appreciate that more and more. In the years since leaving its halls, at this point, nearing 15 years since I graduated, I have run into a great many other alum and it has a very family feel. My class was stacked at 54 students, the largest in years at the time, so for those of us who make it through St. Joe, we do become family, it was more than just a number. The best part of St. Joseph, believe it or not, are the teachers. As you grow older, you realize that those people were really caring and did have a love because teachers in general are underpaid, especially teachers in small Catholic schools. Anyhow, I recommend this spot. There will be those who hate any school you send them to but at least you will know your kids are among a special group.

Lanai Art Center, its current name, is a local co-op in which local artists can display and sell…read moretheir art. This includes paintings, handbags, totes, and clutches, handmade jewelry, weaving, ceramics, etc. Take your time to browse because every corner holds something surprising and unique. You'll probably find your forever treasure there! Woo hoo!

This is more than just an art center . This cute shop is stocked with tons of arts and crafts from…read morelocal artist and children for sale. If you're looking for some local souvenirs, this is the place to go. Many booths with everything from textiles postcards, and very nice crafts and jewelry. Be sure to check out the beautiful murals painted on the back of the building.

These pictures don't lie. This is what $15,000 will buy you from this gallery. I have an extensive…read morecollection, and here are 4 examples, of artists proofs that I spent close to $50,000 on and most of them look like this. The gallery has not taken any responsibility and I have no choice but to turn it over to an attorney. So disappointing!

I love this artist however the varnish is defective rendering my glicee worthless as it is cracked…read morebeyond repair. Calls or emails to the Maui gallery are ignored regarding this problem. After contacting an art restoration company I found out this has been a common issue due to the varnish that was used. Beautiful art yet not worth the aggravation. I can't even look at it without getting angry. I've actually considered throwing it straight it the trash but I hold onto the hope someone can restore it to the point where I won't be embarrassed to display it.