I was looking for a driving instructor for my teen and saw all the positive Yelp reviews for Hawaii Driving Academy. Jay was a wonderful teacher! He has a "can do" positive attitude. He was extremely responsive and answered all my questions over the phone before the first lesson. He is very patient, always came on time and had a face mask on for every lesson. After each lesson, he would message me on my teens progress. Jay was very easy to work with and I felt he and I were able to work together to achieve our goals. It was also very easy and convenient to pay for our lessons via payment app. Our teen passed on the first try!!! read more

Jay is an amazing instructor for both beginners and experienced drivers I had to take the drivers road test after having a drivers license in the US for 26 yrs in 3 States (NJ HI CA ) , during COVID my CA license expired so the quickest way to get a HI license was to retake both written and practical tests all over again I was shocked I failed the 1st time I took the driving test in Kapolei . Since I was desperate to get a drivers license ASAP since I needed a 2nd form of govt issued ID for passport renewal so I was referred to to Jay and only spent 1 (90min) session with him to give me tips on how to pass and took me to the exact route where I was testing in Sheridan (2021) and passed ! I actually learned a lot from him despite being a licensed driver since I was 16yo (took HI drivers test at age 49) My daughter recently passed her drivers test as well and Jay made her drive confidently having had a PTSD/ fear of driving due to a car accident we had years ago when she was in 3rd grade which stopped her from wanting to learn how to drive and Jay was very patient in teaching her and now drives safely, confidently and very courteous driver on the road ! Awesome job Jay! You're very good and patient instructor ! I have highly recommended you to all my friends! read more

Jay helped me pass my drivers test on the first try in Kapahulu! Before him, I had very little experience driving in Hawai'i. I've tried learning a couple times in the Philippines but the experience made me so stressed out and scared that I didn't want to drive after that. I did around 6 lessons total (including 1 lesson right before the test) so it was pretty expensive ($180 for 90 minutes) but I would say it was worth it. We were planning to do just 5 but I felt like I needed the extra lesson. I did 2 lessons a week with just him (no outside practice) so it took less than a month for me to get my license. You can pay to use his car for the exam and schedule the test for you, or you can use your own car/schedule it on your own. (I tried looking on the test website to see any availability and I could not find any so it was easier for him to just book the test for me guaranteed) Again, it is expensive for him to just do everything for you, but if you feel at least 80 percent confident that you're gonna pass and you have the funds, it's definitely less hassle for you to have him do it. Despite passing, I still have much to improve on but that takes time and experience. But overall, Jay helped me make safer driving decisions. I also want to note that he has a very professional, pleasant, and supportive personality which i really appreciated as a woman in her mid twenties. He never talks your ear or makes you feel uncomfortable. Thanks jay! See you on the road read more

Consummate professional. Would highly recommend for either refresher or new drivers.

Jay is a great teacher. I know I made a lot of mistakes during my driving practice with him, but he was always calm, patient and kind. Thanks! read more

I wanted to wait until I got my license before writing any reviews on driving schools. I got my license recently and I couldn't be happier! Jay is the best driving instructor I've ever had! I have learned so much and a lot faster than other instructors I've had. I had some driving experience prior to learning with him. But it was literally only turning because that's all my first instructor taught me for 2 months! Wasted a lot of money on that first instructor. I basically had to learn everything from scratch again. Jay gave me so many amazing tips in just 1-2 sessions that I already felt a lot more confident in driving! I had a lot of anxiety driving for a while because my first instructor would yell at me whenever I did something wrong! But Jay not once yelled at me and very calmly explained to me what I needed to improve on. One of my favorite tips that I've learned was the thumbs on the steering wheel and not inside the wheel. It made driving so much easier! I don't know why I was never taught this before! Such a game changer. After a few sessions when he felt like I was ready, he took me to the Sheridan route. Before that, he showed me the road test sheet. It showed exactly what the examiners look for and explained the importance of each and how many points it costs when you make the mistake. I struggled the first couple times I practiced the route. But I quickly became more confident with the route thanks to his guidance. I made lots of mistakes during the practice but Jay took the time to explain what I did wrong and how to fix it. I loved that he did mock tests! He gives you a feel of how the actual test will be like. It helped so much and made me a lot less nervous on the day of the test. I took the test twice. I failed the first time only because of delayed reaction of an emergency vehicle. (I would've passed the first time) I didn't have prep for that because there's no way to prep for that kind of situation. You just have to react fast. But I passed the second time! I kept in mind of everything that Jay has taught me. I am forever grateful having Jay as my driving instructor! He is definitely worth learning from! read more

My 90 minute lesson with Jay helped me pass my Sheridan Park road test on my first attempt. We did three takes along the actual Sheridan Park test routes. He is quite encouraging, but more importantly, gave me feedback during every action where the examiner could fault me. There were six feedback points, including when I should go after a pedestrian crosses along the crosswalk (after they cross the half line), more obvious shoulder checks, and watching the mirrors instead of my backup camera during parallel parking. This preparation made me much more familiar with the route and aware of what habits to watch out for. If you're looking for a detail-oriented coach to fix your driving habits before the test, I recommend Jay. read more

Jay is an excellent instructor! Communicates well and helped our son get his license in a month. It's like VIP drivers Ed! read more

I have nothing but the upmost respect and gratitude for Jay! HE IS THE BEST, simply AMAZING!!! I passed my test today, on the first try at the Koolau location. I had taken 1.5 classes with another popular company (yes, I took 1 lesson and walked off on the second lesson due to the rudeness of the instructor and his condescending comments). I am so glad to come across Jay's company. He is absolutely patient, explains himself really well from top to bottom, from parking to road etiquette, and will arm you with the knowledge, tips and tricks that you need to know to get the road. I was licensed previously, but it's been 8ish years since I drove. Jay gave me the confidence to drive and take ownership of my driving skills again. Needless to say, I am forever grateful to Jay and his expertise. Look no more, he is the best in the industry!! read more

Passed my driver's license test today!!! I highly recommend Hawaii driving academy with Jay. I had just moved to the island and was uncertain how to start my driving journey. I am in my mid 20's but never had the chance to learn earlier. So I looked up on Yelp, and reached out to Jay due to his good reviews. Jay got back to me very fast and helped me get started! Needless to say, I am more than impressed and extremely grateful for all his help, mentorship, and guidance. After passing the written test, I got on the road. Jay helped me ease my anxiety on the road, and explained things very clearly to me. He is very patient, knowledgeable, and professional. He kindly let me know my mistakes to help me improve, and provided good feedback to me. He made me feel very supported and believed in me so much! I liked that he did mock tests with me and went over all the test routes together. I also appreciate that I was able to use his car for practice, and he picks up and drops off at your place, a huge plus. I was able to get my license in 5 months, practicing once a week. I am SO grateful that I got Jay as my first and only instructor. Thank you so much for everything Jay! read more

My son worked with Jay and was able to pass his driving test on his first attempt at Kapahulu. Jay is both very patient and courteous when giving his instructions. read more

Jay is absolutely amazing. If I could give more stars I would. I've been scared to drive forever but recently got over my fear and decided I wanted to get my license. After reading previous Yelp reviews I texted Jay and was able to make an appointment with him within a week. He is very patient, kind and, informative. You will go to the Kahala area first so he can he where you are with your driving skills. Once he thinks your able to go onto the road he will direct you to do so. The whole time your behind the wheel he will give you pointers and teach you the correct way to drive. He was the first person I ever felt so calm and comfortable driving with. Once he feels you are ready to go on the road he will direct you to Sheridan Park where you will taking your road test. He will have you practice the actual route so you become comfortable. I took TWO sessions with him and then took my road test at Sheridan Park. I passed on my first try! He let me use his car as I was already comfortable driving it. He also will pick you up a little before your road test appointment so you can practice the route before the test. I highly recommend using Jay as your instructor! Thank you Jay for giving me my freedom. You may not know it but you were a major role in such a profound moment in my life! read more

I took about 5 lessons with Jay. Every session I had with him gave me more confidence in my driving. He's very attentive, patient, and let's you know when you're doing something correctly to reinforce it. He has his own car that he'll teach you to drive with. It has breaks on the passenger side so you'll be safe if you're about to make a mistake (which he spots pretty fast). I would definitely recommend you give him a try because I ended up passing drivers test on the first try! read more

Even if you think you're ready for the test, work with Jay anyway. I felt comfortable on the road and still failed my first time. That's when I decided to find an instructor! Jay isn't just a good road instructor, he is specialized in everything that the Hawaii DMVs are going to look for and potentially count against you. when I first went to the Sheridan DMV, my partner noticed that not a single person passed in the hour that we were there. On my second try, I passed anyway. You really do have to know how to play by their rules in addition to being a good driver. Jay helps you to do both! Can't recommend enough. read more

Just noticed this place has 77 fake/blocked reviews and many of the 5-stars are from accounts with 1-3 reviews! Price is $100 per hour which is just insane. read more

I had recently obtained my license as of October 22, 2024 and it is all hands-down to Jay's teachings. I've tried taking the road test at least five times prior to learning from Jay and was nearly ready to give up. What is great about Jay's teaching methods and approach is that it doesn't matter where you start as a student in driving. Before learning from Jay, I was self-taught and would watch videos on certain areas where I felt needed to improve, which wasn't quite enough to pass the road test still. Upon taking lessons from Jay, he evaluated where I was and helped me to improve in those areas. On top of everything else, his calm demeanor and professionalism is what sets him apart from other schools. His teachings and demeanor sets his students foward and builds their confidence on the road. If you are looking for a suitable teacher to obtain your license or helping a new driver obtain theirs, this is my absolute recommendation. Thank you, Jay! read more

I got my driver's license in Korea and transferred to Hawaii's driver's license. But I haven't been driving for so long.. I didn't really know how to drive until I met him!!! He gives you all the useful tips for parking and driving. I wouldn't be able to drive on the road if I didn't take the lessons. read more

Jay is the first and only instructor that I contacted, due to his reviews. I am so happy that I did contact him and continued to work with him. I had tried to drive when I was younger, but was too afraid to practice out of the parking lot because I was hit by a car when I was in middle school (I am currently 25). I completed 5 lessons with Jay before I took my road test. I took my road test on Sept. 3 and passed on my first try. Jay is extremely helpful, professional, kind, and patient when he is teaching a person. He helped to ease my anxiety when I was driving. Thank you again Jay! Also, best wishes to those trying to get their license! read more

He is truly a miracle worker!!! My 18 year old daughter had failed 3 road tests with 2 instructors in over one year. She was scared to death to take another test. She had very low confidence in her driving skills. I was desperate, wanting her not to give up before she went away for college. I called Jay for help. He had two lessons with her, and he told her that she was ready. She insisted on having one more lesson because she didn't believe in herself. After the third lesson, he arranged within a few days for her to take the test. She not only passed, but only missed five points. She bragged that you fail after missing twenty points. Since getting her license, her "I will never be able to drive" attitude shifted immediately. We've never been so pleased!! read more

I AM SO INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR JAY! I have been tease for a long time now since i was the only one out of my friends that hasn't gotten their license. I was really struggling because at the time my parents did not have the time or want to teach me how to drive because they were honestly nervous that i would reck their car LOL and i was too shy to ask my friends for help and didn't have confidence in myself. It was actually one of my mom's friends who connected me with Jay and i took a couple of lessons with him a maybe about a year ago and I was able to learn the fundamentals and get the jist of driving. I unfortunately had to stop because my job at the time wasn't providing me with the funds i needed so in turn i wasn't able to get my license since i didn't feel i was ready. FAST FORWARD TO THIS WEEKEND, i contacted Jay again now that i have a new job and he was super understanding about my situation and was willing to teach me again. He let me drive from the get go although i wasn't confident since i haven't drove in MONTHS. He kept encouraging me and showed me all the routes the examiners may take me on and i was able to gain so much confidence because of him just within 2 hours! After this 1 lesson (after a year of not driving) he said i was ready and scheduled my test 2 days later. I was super nervous but he picked me up early and let me practice on a few things before i took my test and BAM I PASSED ON MY FIRST TRY EVER! Another good thing about Jay is that he picks you up and drops you off after you lesson and you have the option of using his car for the test, it was a little pricey but SO WORTH IT and i don't regret any of the money i spent. He is so patient and kind and he teaches you exactly what you need to know for the driving exam. I'm so grateful for Jay that even a unconfident, nervous wreck like me is able to get her license because of him! if you're reading this, Thank you so much Jay! read more

I always hesitated to take the Sheridan route because town driving has more traffic, pedestrians and the parking are so narrow. But with a quick course from Jay, I took my road test and I finally passed after my 2 failed attempts at the 2 easiest routes here in Oahu (Kapolei and Koolau). If you are new to Hawaii driving, I would highly recommend this academy. Jay will guide you to city driving and give you confidence with your driving skills. He is straight forward with your missed opportunities and correct them on the spot. Also, he is very responsive with inquiries and accommodates with your schedule. Again, thanks to Hawaii Driving Academy. read more

I am thankful I found Jay! I know every review says that but let me explain why I'm thankful I found him and you can be the judge of that after your first session with him. 1. He offers to pick you up from where you are and afterwards he lets you drive home (if he thinks you're ready to do so). 2. He makes sure you have the proper basics down before hitting the road. On our first session, he took me to a good neighborhood without much traffic and on the side he taught me the car gears, how they function, how to handle the steering wheel, how to control my foot on the gas and break. 3. He is very kind, professional, and knowledgeable. He was very polite throughout our session, made some jokes too and reassured me to be confident with myself, and all the questions I had he had answers for them. He teaches great driving adequate as well! Like, he taught me when turning right at a stop sign stay to your far right so other cars can go straight or left. (I didn't know that! The more you know lol) 4. He's not my dad and he doesn't yell at me. I found Jay because I got tired of getting yelled at for my driving mistakes (lol sorry dad) on our first session I made A LOT of mistakes and Jay was professional and corrected me kindly and he applauded me and gave me praises when I did really well! :3 5. You want to get your drivers license? Jay also wants you to get your drivers license! He's got tips that are helpful. 6. I genuinely believe you will NOT find someone like Jay to teach you how to drive. Sure you can find PLENTY of schools/programs/people to teach you how to drive but let me tell you, Jay has ALOHA. You won't find anyone like him out there. 7. On the first session he hands you a sheet that the DMV people will be testing you on. He not only will teach you how to drive he will teach you how to pass your road test fam Side note: I'm a huge Samoan so for those nervous if they're gonna fit in his car don't worry. I could lmao Anything to take away from this review? - Jay is worth it! - Ask him ALL the questions - Relax and don't be too anxious, you'll get it (: read more

I was referred by my cousin to take his lessons just because I have had my permit for around 12 years and I had no one to teach me properly and take the road test. My first lesson was yesterday, in that 90 minutes I was able to learn so much! I learned how to parallel park in my second try and he brought me the route of Sheridan park where I would take my road test. He showed me what the dmv is looking for, the stop signs and intersections,etc. at the end of our lesson he told me I was ready and that he would want me to take the road test literally the next day. I was terrified and nervous but he told me I drove good and I'm ready. Before the road test I added an hour of extra lesson so that I would be more calm and not nervous during my road test, everything he taught me was exactly like it. And as I kept driving I was more confident that I would pass because I knew the route so well already. At the end, my dmv instructor told me I passed and I cried because after all these years I finally have my license! If you're scared or nervous bout driving or don't know where to start, I recommend jay! He's the best driving instructor out there! read more

I can't thank enough Jay for helping me get my drivers license. I was driving for a little while to get practice but due to covid I had to wait to do my road test. I was very anxious but he was really good. I took 2 classes and he said we will do the road test lol and I said what? He told me he wouldn't push me to do it if I wasn't ready so story short I took the test he was there the whole time of course except when I'm doing the road test. I used his car because I was very comfortable driving it. The test literally took 5 minutes and I passed. He looked at my scores and he said it's perfect score :) I was very happy I got my driver's license before we move to the mainland. read more

I am a person with terrible hand-eye coordination -- I always, most certainly, 100% come last in Mario Tart races with my friends. But after taking just a few lessons with Jay, I passed my road test on my first attempt today!!! Jay is a very patient instructor. He gives very clear instructions on the proper manner and good habits of driving for beginners like me. He identified all my weaknesses and helped me rectify them before my road test. My examiner even complimented on my driving after my test. Highly recommend Jay for anyone who want a hassle-free driving test preparation course! read more

I researched different driving schools and programs before I found the Hawaii Driving Schools. I immediately called and requested for Jay. He's very accommodating where he will find time that fits both yours and his schedule. He will also come and meet you at your place (instead of you meeting there) and he provided the car. Lessons are $40 an hour and 2 hours for 1 session. (Please note this part of the review will solely be about my experience) I had my driver's permit in high school (5/6 years ago) and took drivers ed. Minors are required to complete 50 hours of driving in order to receive a certificate of completion; I was not able to complete the hours and receive the certification due to unforeseen circumstances. I live in town and only travel to and from school. I recently graduated and realized that many job applications note a drivers license as a requirement. I approached Jay with a direct intent to receive my license within a month. He replied "no problem." After 3 weeks of lessons with Jay (one lesson a week, three in total), I took my road test and passed on my first try! Jay's such a great instructor because 1. He's not freaking out or yelling at you like family members do when they teach you to drive and 2. He teaches you all sorts of neat tricks for things like parallel parking. I was extremely nervous before my test, but Jay reassured me that I would do fine and surely I did! I definitely recommend him with two thumbs up! read more

Jay helped my son pass his test after multiple previous attempts! I wish I found Jay sooner! Jay was so accommodating and supportive! I highly recommend and will definitely use him when my 2nd son needs to take lessons. read more

Jay is the BEST! These reviews don't lie! I originally found him on YELP & it was the best decision I could've made to get my driver's license. With no prior experience I was able to get my license on the first time at the Dillingham DMV after 5 lessons (1 month). It was a good investment. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND if you would like to learn from a professional. Jay knew all the tips & tricks to driving. He also makes sure your a safe driver. Thanks Jay! read more

My daughter did one session with Jay before her road test, he was able to teach her DMV's expectations . She gained confidence after her lesson with Jay. She passed with flying colors! We highly recommend Jay. read more

Jay is an excellent instructor with lots of experience! I highly recommend to older and young drivers alike.

Seriously, do not look any further for a driving instructor. It was only last week I was desperately searching for a driving instructor here on Yelp with a time crunch, butterflies in my stomach at the mere thought of driving and a fear of never getting my license. Now here I am, a newly licensed driver and so happy with my experience with Hawaii Driving Academy! Jay is just the BEST - 10/10 in every way. He is extremely professional, competent and kind. He teaches you EVERYTHING you need to know to pass your test and really just how to drive competently. He had all the answers to any of my questions, was always on time and always very courteous. A major concern of mine was that I would freak out my driving instructor and we would just both freak out together while I made life threatening turns and maneuvers. This did not happen at all with Jay. He was extremely patient and calm, which in turn calmed me down from the very beginning. He never makes you feel bad, he gives a lot of praise and really just puts you at ease. I had only driven with family and friends before (very unconfidently I might add) and after only one lesson with Jay, I felt I could actually drive. I had contacted a couple other driving schools and Jay was the first to get back to me. Initially, I was a bit hesitant to start with him as his pricing is a bit high, but I can honestly say it was just SO worth it. Not gonna lie, I had serious concern that I would never be able to drive and that I would take Ubers my whole life. All thanks to him, I passed my first road test with 100% score. Thank you thank you thank you Jay! :) :) read more

Ever since I got into an accident when I was a child, I always had a phobia for driving a car. Until I turned 23, I never even wanted to sit in the driver's seat. However, I was in an urgent need to learn driving since I planned to move to mainland after completing my degree. I started looking around for someone to give me lessons, but I wanted to get a trainer that is competent as well as compassionate. I'm telling you, if you are not sure if you could ever drive a car or if you are afraid to, Jay will be perfect for you. He was the sweetest, nicest and politest instructor ever and I never felt intimidated or belittled by him. He was so understanding but also trained me well with tips, skills and techniques. It was helpful that he took me through Kapālama route for in prep of the road test. He was also accommodating in meeting me at Kahala mall, that's close to where I live. His rate was $80/hr, but honestly was worth more than that. I always paid him in checks. Today...I passed my driver's road test on my first try at Kapālama, thanks to Jay!! I'm very thankful as I would have never gotten here without him. read more

OMG. I just got my driver's license on my first try! and I was not in good situations. 1. I was born and raised in Korea, never, ever, drove before. 2. I have no families or friends to teach me how to drive. Jay taught me how to drive, from the very BASICS. I took 6 lessons(12hours). He made an appointment for my test. And I just got my license on my FIRST TRY. Don't get me wrong, I was lucky to have lenient test instructor, too. Over all, It was pricy, but I don't have other options, and I don't care, as long as I got my driver's license!! Thank you, Jay! ~ read more

Jay is AMAZING!! I tried road test 2 time at kapalama and once at Kaneohe. I even had a license here before and was driving no problem but I after my license expired and I let that go realize it's not easy as last time.. no matter how much I practice they dropped me so now after I research here yelp I took a chance with Jay! And it was a best decision I ever made, he gave me a lesson. It was very easy to understand and he made me relax. He is on point teach me all I needed know to pass. Right after I took test... yeah! I passed!!!! I couldn't stop smiling and can't thank you enough! He is the best if you going through what I went through It's worth it pay the price. Thank you Jay!!!! read more

I owe Jay a lot in my driving lesson, he help me gain confidence in driving again. He is very attentive and eager to teach me from my mistake and correct them. I highly recommend him to all the new drivers. Thank you so much Jay. read more

These reviews do not lie!! I never thought I would get my license and I was frightened by the horror stories of the Kapalama DMV so I never tried to get my license. But with just 2 lessons with Jay I was able to get my license on the first try! Granted I have practiced driving before meeting Jay. What I appreciate most about Jay is that he's honest! He's making money off of my time and could easily have charged me for more lessons. But he said I was ready before I even thought I was! And he was right! You can use his car for the exam, he'll schedule the appointment for you, wait with you, and let you practice 1 hour before the exam. This in total costs about $270 excluding the price for the actual license. But it was 10000% worth it!! Mahalo Jay! read more

A couple of hours ago, I have taken my appointed road test at Dilingham's DMV (new location) on June 23, 2017. Thank goodness that I passed closely with my first try. I must say this though: Mr. Hwang is a very dedicated, patient, and understanding instructor. This is because he listens closely and helps a learning person while teaching to make sure that he/she fully *absorbs (understands) the content of driving basics. For me, Mr. Hwang is one of the most rare driving instructors whom I met that demonstrates those positive characteristics. Furthermore, I taken about 5 lessons (2 hours per lesson) and have already prior scheduled a road test at the appointed time and location. Additionally, he allows you to borrow his car(used for teaching) for the road test as well. In conclusion, from my opinion about price rate, it was somewhat pricy but the result of attending the lessons is worth it. I like to express my sincere thanks to Mr. Hwang for being my first driving instructor here in Hawai'i. :D read more

Absolutely thee best driving instructor!! Super accommodating, really honest and trustworthy. He made my lesson comfortable, super informative. ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS THOUGH. He took me to 2 out of the 3 routes the kapalama dmv would take you on. Learned parallel parking from Jay, it was a breeze the second time around. I just took my road test today and I passed! Thank you so much, Jay. read more

It is my first time to write review on Yelp, but Hawaii Driving School and the driving instructor, Jay are valuable writing about. I took my road test in dillingham DMV back in Mid-September. I passed on the first try with high score!!!!! Thank you Jay!!! I was so scare and confused because it was my first time ever to drive in my life. He is an EXPERT and a great instructor who is calm, friendly, and supportive. He was really specific and detail and good at explaining when he taught how to drive and complex traffic regulations. I learned A LOT from Jay. Finally, I can drive in Hawaii with my official Hawaii driver license. I highly recommend taking Jay as your driving instructor!!! He is SUPER helpful and he won't NEVER let you down!!! read more

It's rated 5/5 for a reason. Jay, the driving instructor, is a superb teacher. He is INCREDIBLY friendly and helpful. Heck, I'll admit that I always looked forward to driving with him. Jay did not leave a single detail out when it came to dealing with navigating through the DMV road test routes. Whenever I had any questions pertaining to the road, he answered them in a way where I had full understanding of the concept on the first try of explanation. He will explicitly tell you when you are doing something wrong, what you are doing wrong, and why it's wrong. All in a very easy-to-follow manner so that you're able to really remember and retain the rules and concepts. I passed my road test at the Kapalama DMV on the first try because of Jay. You get more than what you pay for when driving with him. Thanks again. read more