Our family has had a very positive experience at this private Catholic school. My child is currently in middle school and is genuinely excited to continue on to the high school next year, which speaks volumes about how supported and comfortable he feels in this community. One of the school's greatest strengths is its size. The student-to-teacher ratio feels just right--small enough for individualized attention, but large enough to offer a well-rounded experience. I've seen my child both supported when he needs help and challenged to grow academically, which is exactly what we hoped for. Equally important has been the social environment. He has built a strong, close-knit group of friends who I truly believe will remain an important part of his life well beyond school. That sense of belonging and community was something we deeply valued when choosing a school, and it's a big reason he never felt the need to look elsewhere. Like any school, it's not perfect. At times, administrative decisions can take longer than expected. However, I've come to see this as a reflection of the school's thoughtful and compassionate approach--they take the time to carefully consider situations and prioritize what's best for their students rather than rushing to judgment. Overall, we're grateful to be part of a school community that nurtures both academic growth and meaningful relationships. It has been a great fit for our child, and we look forward to the years ahead. read more

Tonight they had their Fall Festival. Nadine invited me to go with her. It was fun. They were doing a movie night and played the Super Mario Bros. movie. That must have been the theme as some of the students had on the costumes. They had a lot of food vendors. Chick-Fil-A was there selling their chicken sandwiches. They were the main sponsor. Other booths were selling popcorn, baked goods, pizza, hot dogs, chicken strip, fries, hamburger curry and lumpia. One booth was doing free airbrushed tattoos. The students must really like this as the line was so long. Another booth was selling Maryknoll merchandise such as T-shirts, hoodies and sunglasses. read more

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Homecoming 2023... As a returning Alumnus, I see the many changes and improvements to the campus. Back in the day, we had asphalt instead of the lawn... and no elevators nor air conditioning. Auwe! Thank goodness for modernization! There are new buildings now: 1. The Knoll Building has a snack bar 2. The Administration Building basically houses the IT Department and Alumni Office 3. The Community Center has an NBA sized basketball court downstairs and the Weight Room, PT Room, and Alumni Room upstairs! We have a new Director of Alumni Relations with fresh ideas such as the recent SPARcuterie and Mocktails Event for Homecoming 2023. It was wonderful to meet alumni from other classes! We cheered for our Boys' and Girls' Varsity Basketball Teams .... Go Spartans! I'm really happy that my nieces are participating in things such as Yearbook, Track & Field, Math Team, Cheerleading, Speech Competition, and Paddling. They're carrying on the family tradition that my sisters and I started. I think we turned out alright! Thanks to Maryknoll Schools for the excellent learning environment! read more

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I am coming up on a milestone. 10 years since graduation from Maryknoll High. Not sure how much my experience differs from those of the current class other than that they have a new gym which was a long time in the making. The school itself is small. Enrollment is about 600 which is comparatively small. The school itself is situated next to a freeway and dwarfs in comparison to the size of public high schools and main rival, Punahou up the street. The curriculum here is college prep and on a trimester schedule. This was a change from middle school in which you had courses daily for about an hour and it was a semester schedule. I actually found the trimester schedule to be good and bad. I do think this can be a little bit of an information overload at times. Especially found this to be the case for foreign language. At times this meant about four hours a day of one subject. Tuition is a bit pricey here, but comparatively lower than private schools on the Mainland US. Maryknoll has been and is still overshadowed by the big three schools, Iolani, Kamehameha and Punahou (aka President Obama's alma mater) academically and fiscally. I think those schools provide a good deal more resources for learning. However, what Maryknoll does offer is a decent education with a good emphasis on ethics and what is right. You know, the Catholic way. Given that I am not a Catholic, it was a little uncomfortable I must say to attend the occasional church service during school hours or the Monday morning assemblies. But I guess this went with the education. Given how good my classmates have turned out, I think Maryknoll has a lot to do with this. I think a school's most notable alumnus sums up my thoughts on a school. While Punahou has Obama, arguably Maryknoll's most recognizable alum is Jasmine Trias of American Idol. That is only to say that we may not be as noticeable in the public eye. Maryknoll may not be the best or most elite school in Hawaii, but it churns out good citizens of the world. read more

Love this place. Great place to work, great place to send your kid. As a product of a really great public school in California (high rankings even with private schools) and working in the private sector majority of my life, I didn't know being so caring was so cool - from a professional and educational stand point. My son now attends school here and I'm just blown away at the LOVE and care all the teachers and staff have for every student. Some people/students gripe about the "Catholic" traditions and rituals but honestly, it's the foundation of the love of God that makes this place so caring. My first year of employment here, I was so impressed that the principals and teachers could say the name every kid who crossed their path regardless of age/grade! I've never been at any school where that happened before! As an employee, they are supportive of your whole welfare. Yes of course there's going to be some "conflicts" as personalities are all different in this world, but I've worked in the cut through world of corporate America where I've seen bosses make employees choose a sales call over their children. Here....nope, family always first. Your well being always first. As a parent who's child attends the Grade School....I'm excited at quality and well roundedness of education they're getting here. Really blows away a lot of the private schools I know of in Northern California. And the level of personal attention the teachers give to both our son and us as parents, wonderful. Open door, helpful, collaborative, guided. Could be coz I work here so they're biased but oh well! lol! It's unfortunate that some people did not have the same great experience as I did/am, as I can only attest to for the here and now. One thing is for sure, no one business, school, time, era, etc is perfect....or perfect for all the people. All I do know is that regardless of its a public school or private school one thing remains the same: Your school experience is as good as your parents involvement. Period. Parents must be involved for their student to get the most our of their elementary/high school life. Again, no one school is right for everyone but if you are looking at quality, caring, 'boutique', intimate and forward thinking education environment (we now have one of the only STEM/Civil Air Patrol/Aeronautics programs in HI for HS students!) at a not break your pocket price, this is the place! read more

After celebrating 20 yrs at Maryknoll School, I get to follow many graduates living out our school motto Noblesse Oblige. Our students where given the tools to become good civic members of our society. We are blessed to have selected Maryknoll School to help educate our children. I'd like to recognize my gown daughter, Kanani '01, who is now working at NOAA, to share the knowledge of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, and world heritage site, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystems Reserve. And I wish to bring recognitiom to her classmate, Kelsie '01, who works at the Japan America Society, and coordinates the itinerary for the Rainbow Children from Japan. These children were most affected by the devastating tsunami which hit the coastal villages of Japan. Most of these chlldren were left orphaned without any family members. I encourage every parent to apply their children to attend Maryknoll School, for there is truth and value in a good Catholic Education! read more

My daughter has been going to Maryknoll School for the past 6 yrs and is now in the 11th grade. She really enjoys the faculty and students there. The Principal, Mr. John Madriaga is awesome! He handles situations in a professional and caring manor. Thank you Maryknoll School for everything you do for my daughter's education and to help mold her in to a successful young woman. read more

Maryknoll School has always been one of the top Catholic schools on the island, but as a student I can say that Maryknoll is the best school on the island. I am currently a junior and have been going to Maryknoll since kindergarten and have seen Maryknoll go through its ups and downs. One thing has not changed; Maryknoll still has the goal of providing the best education and instilling social responsibility in their students. Ever since kindergarten, Maryknoll has just improved in many ways. When I was in the first grade, I remember having to leave the classroom doors open because there was no air conditioning. When I entered the second grade every classroom had air conditioning. I thought this was a huge improvement since previously only the library, office, and kindergarten classrooms had air conditioning. Maryknoll continued to make improvements. The most exciting news was when we started our campaign to raise one million dollars for our gym. In eighth grade Maryknoll finally started construction on the Maryknoll Community Center. A year later, when I was a freshman, Maryknoll held its grand opening for the gym. The new gym gave Maryknoll the opportunity to have school-wide gatherings; it was our new home. In high school, the block schedule is something that set this school apart from all the others. With trimesters, we take four classes per trimester, three classes per day. Two core classes are taken every day and two electives alternate every other day. I think having fewer classes lets us focus more on that particular class rather than worrying about seven like in most schools. The teachers and faculty at Maryknoll are some of the best people I have ever met. They are very supportive, friendly, and dedicated. There are two individuals, which I appreciate the most for being there for me whenever I needed them. The first person is a faculty member who told me "I am here for you." I can talk to her about anything and she will guide me in the right direction. Even though she is very busy, she will make time to talk to me. She is like my second mother. Next, is a teacher that goes above a beyond what is required. Prior to teaching at Maryknoll, he was recognized by State and National organizations for his excellence in his particular subject of specialization. I think this has helped him to develop a unique teaching style and a personality that students can relate to. Not only is he an excellent teacher, but an even better tutor. He has tutored me for countless hours after school in subjects that I never had him in. Something that he once wrote about peer tutoring was, "Students become more than tutees; they become friends." I believe that he has become one of my 'Teacher Friends.' I also think that he is the definition of a teacher; he is someone who not only teaches and tutors, but also involves himself in school life. He devotes many hours of his own time to attending school events and also advising several clubs. He is one of those teachers of which you can see his passion and excitement for teaching every day. Maryknoll has instilled many values in me, the most important of which is to always give back. As a lifer, Maryknoll School's Motto Noblesse Oblige, "To whom much is given much is expected," along with an emphasis in scouting helped me understand to never to take anything for granted and give back what you can, whenever you can, even though it may not seem that big. Maryknoll has given me an opportunity to grow and strive to be better. As a Junior, I have decided that it is my time to give back and decided to be a part of the Maryknoll Majuro Mission this summer. Six juniors will be flying to the Marshall Islands where we will develop a curriculum in helping the incoming freshmen students get situated to high school life. Overall, I believe that Maryknoll's Catholic education and values is what makes Maryknoll, Maryknoll. I heart Maryknoll. read more

Maryknoll High School does the best job of delivering a personalized education than any other school in the state. I have watched students excel in, not just learning about subject matter, but taking the subject to the next level and actually applying it to real world situations. The kids at this school actually use their knowledge the way most college seniors are preparing for the real world. What about the mentoring program...and the theater program...and the Naviance Program...and the faculty and staff...and the list goes on and on of excellent programs! The faculty knows the kids names at Maryknoll, you can't say that happens in very many other schools. No one falls through the cracks at this Catholic School. Thank you to all the faculty and staff for working so hard to make it the best. Awesome. read more