Mahalo Punahou School for hosting tonight's ILH cheer competition…read more Congratulations to all the participating schools, cheer squads, and supporters. Excellent win for Iolani taking all 3 divisions in first place: intermediate, JV and varsity. Love the comraderie of the audience sitting side by side with families of competing schools. The coolest thing was while waiting for the tallying of each school's points, the cheerleaders were in good spirits dancing on the floor to the music. So much aloha encompassed the gym. Smiles, hugs, leis of all kinds and roses being handed out to teammates and friends. A wonderful spectacle to witness and enjoy.

Disclaimer: this is a review of the tennis facility. I have played and coached many matches at this…read moreschool and it has a very impressive tennis complex. In the years since I was competing, they renovated the office/viewing area to include an upper deck. There are 6 courts with lights on the lower side and up a steep road there are 3 more courts. There is also a bleacher area to watch some of the matches from. Parking can be tricky and the one-way setup of the lot is difficult. If you pass an area, you have to go all the way out of the campus and back around the hill to get back on property. If you see a spot, even if it's not that close, take it! Weather is also an issue since it's in Manoa so we sometimes have rain delays/cancelled matches. Yesterday we almost had to postpone but luckily the weather held up enough to finish the match!

My Godson scored (11) eleven goals for his teams waterpolo victory…read more Parking lot Water fountains

5-21-23 Dance Showcase was held in the upper gym. We left home 2-1/2 hours before showtime and…read morethe parking structure was already so full. We got one small stall on the top level in the sun. Fortunately they had a bake sale plus snack goodies and bottled water that I so desperately needed. Not even June but it's definitely very hot. The gym was packed with guests even sitting on the gym floor on one side of the perimeter. So cute to see the little ones just mastering tumbling to the 3 honored seniors. The instructors were decked with leis. Costumes ranged from ballet tutus, grass skirts, cute activewear, risqué almost bondage type get ups and lots more. Dances included breakdance by a crew which was surprising to see. Of course you come to see your dear to your heart performer but also enjoy many other groups and varied selections. Save the best for last, just like graduation, the flowers, leis, tributes from family and friends.

Great school and environment. The students and faculty made our family feel very welcomed.read more

Damien Memorial High School is named in honor of the recent canonized saint, Father Damien better…read moreknown as Father Damien of Molokai, SS.CC. or Father Damien de Veuster of Belgium. He was best known for his work in living and working with the people on the Hawaiian island of Molokai. There are many memorials, statues, and places honoring St. Damien de Veuster of Belgium and Molokai. Damien Memorial High School is one of these places honoring this brave priest. This was an all boys high school when I paid a personal visit at the time, I understand Damien Memorial High School has since gone co-ed. Some are happy about it, some are not as it changes the dynamic of the school. About twenty so years ago, I met a member of the alumni who graduated, oh about 35 or more years ago. He went on to perform in opera and musical theatre. I met him when he was in one of the national tours of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. He was portraying the title role, he was filling in for the principal actor who was on holiday. When he came out of the stage door, he was very surprised to see so many people who wanted a piece of him--translation: an autograph and a picture with him. When I saw him, I thought to myself, "Hello!" Oh yes, I developed quite an immediate crush on him. Right there on the spot! He was tall, dark, and oh so very handsome. I was not the only one. I was with a friend who was old enough to be his mother. She was swooning over him. And I am sure the other women in the crowd were too. While he was signing autographs, we were discussing his Anglo/Hawaiian name. He did not look at me during the conversation as he was signing autographs, he was surprised somebody in this crowd knew the meaning of his name. When we did see each other, it was one of those foggy slow motion moments where it was just him and me, everyone and everything else was fog. Out of respect for this man, I am not going to say his name. He is quite private for one and two, I got to meet him again some time after that first meeting. Awkward. It was quite an awkward and embarrassing moment seeing him again. It is never as good as the first time, to paraphrase the 1985 Sade song. C'est la vie, as Robbie Nevill sang in 1986. I had quite the textbook crush on this guy though. I was surprised to learn we kind of grew up in similar circumstances. I graduated from a Catholic all-girls school while he graduated from a Catholic all boys school. I wanted to visit his high school alma mater since I was in the area. Damien Memorial High School reminded me of the schools in the Philippine Islands: cement fences surrounding a cement building with iron metal fences and gates in-between. Sliding gates and doors with regular hinged doors. It was quite airy walking around the premises. What caught my eye was a little blue eggshell chapel in the courtyard. It was quite lovely and quaint. I thought to myself, "Wow! I would love to get married in a chapel like that." Wow, what a strange thought that crossed my mind. I bet many alumni married their brides in the blue eggshell chapel though. I stopped by the library and told them why I was here. I wanted to see this guy's high school yearbook and picture. They did not have the yearbooks in the library. The librarian knew where they were: in the principal's office. So she escorted me to the principal's office. The principal was in the process of packing up his office as he was being transferred to another assignment. And it turned out the principal was once this guy's guidance counselor back in the day. Wow. I got to see the picture as I wanted. And that was that, I thanked him for his time and understanding; the librarian and I left his office so he could carry on and she helped me find my way out. I thanked her her for her time, patience, and understanding with me as well. My one regret was not visiting the blue eggshell chapel to say a prayer for him during my visit at Damien Memorial High School . . . oh well. I would like to believe St. Damien is proud of this particular alumni member of his namesake high school. Fresh Yelp Review #64 for 2013

We're not even sure how we first discovered PBA, but we're so grateful we did. From the moment we…read morejoined, it's been an incredible experience. The small class sizes mean our child gets individualized attention, and we've seen such growth both academically and personally. Josh, the headmaster, is outstanding--he's approachable, caring, and truly passionate about the school. He brings a sense of fun and warmth to the entire campus while maintaining a strong leadership presence. The entire staff is equally wonderful--dedicated, nurturing, and always willing to go the extra mile for the kids. We feel incredibly fortunate to be part of the PBA community. It's a hidden gem.

Pacific Buddhist Academy is the best kept secret in Honolulu! PBA has small class sizes that allow…read morefor a lot of individualized attention. They're college-prep, project-based and have a unique schedule where students only have 2 core classes along with electives per 6 week cycle. The teachers are well qualified and have a great relationship with the students. They also participate with PAC5 sports and have a partnership with other schools for volleyball and basketball. All of this has been a great benefit for both my kids. They're more focused, confident and driven, and they truly LOVE school. You don't need to be Buddhist (we're Catholic) to attend school at PBA. It's not their mission to convert anyone to Buddhism. But they do practice the Buddhist principles of peace, compassion, understanding and interdependence. This provides a great foundation of virtue that is apparent in the student body. PBA encourages and celebrates the individual character of every student. Both my kids have very different personalities with totally different needs. PBA embraces their diversities and supports their unique learning styles. They truly honor the individual qualities of every student.

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!

Our kids were homeschooled up until January this year, when we decided to put them into Ho'ala…read moreSchool in Wahiawa, HI. They are a private school (only K-8th), but I have found that their tuition is lower compared to others on the island. They also give a military discount. As someone who has worked in education, I was very skeptical about the school. But our kids have been happy- they want to be in school, and that means everything to me. They are a microschool, so they combine classes (which is what I was mainly skeptical of). But I have seen that the kids all work well together, and the teachers are super organized in helping students at their level. So, if you are considering transitioning from homeschool to a traditional school (or just wanting a school that focuses on the whole child) - consider Ho'ala.

Adorable little school that has been amazing for our girls!…read more Though Hoala doesn't look like much on the outside, the inside is full of color and character! The teachers truly care about their students, and our daughters have flourished! I'm SO happy we decided to try Hoala when we PCSed here!

Awesome facility and the great King Warrior MANA & Spirit resonate throughout these impressive well…read moregroomed grounds! Large gym and enthusiastic post pandemic crowds have brought the excitement of Wrestling competition back for both the Interscholastic boys and girls! Feels great to be back on the mat and around a fan base that loves this epic sport! Pin to win! Salute to SPORTSMANSHIP!

Kamehameha has a beautiful campus and once a year they have their Hoolaulea. Thousands flock to the…read morecampus for a day of food, fun and family. Well, Ohana which means family. Alumni, Ohana and current students partake in the various food items that come from the islands from Pickled dishes and produce from the island of Hawaii, Molokai bread, Kauai kulolo and the infamous Kamehameha brownies. This was my first ever Kamehameha Hoolaulea I was amazed at the amount of people there, the items to purchase and the entertainment was awesome. The students of Kamehameha are so talented students many performed from the heart and showed the love for their heritage and for the many people that have supported them. First off I want to acknowledge the people that organized the event. It takes many to pull this off from setting up tents at the various location, preparing items to sell and the parking and shuttle transportation. We found parking in one of the parking structures and were shuttled to the upper campus where the festivities were held. We had a mission stand in line for the brownies before they run out on our way we passed by the Kulolo line which wrapped around the booth and headed to the country store. The line was long but I noticed the express line for only the brownies so we left the country store line and headed to the brownie line. Everyone patiently waited for their turn and in the end you got what you wanted. There were various booths for food Hawaiian Plate, smoke meat plate, fried noodles, hamburger, hot dogs, Korean plate to name a few. It was heavenly to smell the barbecue and different types of cooking in the area. I needed up in the Healthy Haven with a Strawberry Banana smoothie and Haupia fruit salad. The kids were able play carnival type games and ride kiddie type rides. I even got to watch some students and their kumo (teacher) make fresh poi from fresh taro. The journey back to you car didn't take long time. I enjoyed myself hope you make it out there next year. Take care and God bless!

I was recommended this place by Sakura Psychological services to assist in helping my son with his…read moredyslexia and ADHD. Long story short I would save your money and for another place. They recommended my son go to a 11 week tutoring session before going into their reading and writing program during the summer. They said he would have a hard time if he just went to their summer program . Half way into the tutoring session they said my son was done with his sessions and didn't need any more tutoring. That left me with only 5 sessions and no refund for the other 5. When picking him up and dropping him off during the tutoring session I noticed that their facility was uncomfortably hot and there was a lot of construction going on. With this place being a Multi-sensory center I can't imagine being able to help a child with ADHD with people coming in and out, loud construction noises, and unbearable heat. Their summer program is also a joke, there is only one teacher for numerous kids of different ages. I signed my son up for only for reading and writing, but they taught him math instead. Once the summer program was completed they tried to sell me more sessions saying he needed more help! This place is just a business to make money rather than helping children with learning disorders.

Kosasa Academy was an indescribable help for our family! My daughter spent three summers and two…read moreyears at Kosasa Academy and went from being a discouraged and frustrated kid who couldn't read or spell despite our best efforts, into a confident reader, speller and public speaker! She loved her teachers and loved getting ready for school every day. What more could you ask for? I feel indebted to Mrs. Kosasa and the other teachers for what they invested into my daughter. She learned in leaps and bounds under their care. They really care so much for their students, meet them where they are at, encourage them, and give them the tools to succeed. I highly recommend Kosasa Academy!

The Christmas spectacular is a fun event for all and the family. Starts at five and they have a…read morelist of things that happen all the way through 9 o'clock. Last year we went to the play and came out just in time for the light show and snow. This year we went way early got to do all the activities. Pictures with Santa, Make s'mores, get cotton candy, gingerbread houses, and watch the Christmas Carol. Special note, if you just wanna do the activities go early there wasn't any line but at 7 o'clock that's when everybody was piling in and the lines were around the corner. If you wanna watch the movie, make sure you bring a blanket pillows and things like that it is on the grass. This event is free, and so special. Everyone's super friendly there is an MC and live music. The Christmas play is adorable and is a messy that is not free. You have to buy tickets for that. this event is dog friendly

Safe and positive learning environment for ages 3-18, excellent opportunities in STEM especially…read morerobotics (science, tech, engineering, and math), tons of notable athletics programs, music/art/PE/tech/research classes plus Japanese/Spanish starting In elementary, beautiful facilities especially the new Innovation Center, and dedicated to providing the best in PreK3-12 girls' education!