Upon moving to Waianae, one would've thought we had just moved to Baghdad from what Townies had to say and they couldn't have been more wrong on every front, including schools!
Kamaile Academy is a Hawaiian immersion Charter school from PreK-12 (as of last year for the latter) and one of the best schools our child has attended thus far. We previously were at Waikele Elementary which we loved but the transition to Kamaile Academy didn't leave us feeling blue long.
We requested a tour this past summer before school started and they were happy to take us around and introduce us to everyone we ran into: teachers, admin staff, grounds keeper, lunch lady, you name it, they made sure we knew who was supposed to be there and would be caring for our keiki. The teachers all seemed very young and most of the ones we met had come from the mainland, both of which are advantages in our book. They aren't burned out or jaded but rather eager to find that one success story and have contributed to it in what is considered a "no good" part of the island. These aren't the teachers who are in it for the vacation days but genuinely because they love their vocation and want to contribute to the future generations' success.
The challenge is definitely present in Waianae but the rewards shall be much greater indeed for success stories aren't the norm here and are therefore a bigger deal and a greater influence than they can be anywhere else for the other kids.
After trying out private schools, int'l schools, STEM schools, public schools and charter schools, we are more than pleased with the staff, the curriculum (a challenging one!), the setting, and the opportunities our child is offered to not only feed her brain but also her soul.
Likewise, after-school activities are aplenty, most are free, and centered around the Hawaiian culture, including hula, paddling, sustainability, language, music, etc.
There is something very special about this place I highly recommend to any prospective parent interested in being involved and not just merely looking for daycare. read more