When it was time for me to return to work at 8 weeks, we struggled to find a daycare for my sons…read moreage that had an opening. By some miracle, stepping stones had an opening! Everyone was so friendly and knew my child's name and he loved them back. He smiled and got excited to spend his day with them and even saying goodbye, which to me was a good sign. This place was ALWAYS clean, never had any funky odors, and even the other parents where so friendly in passing. Toys, high chairs, counters, etc were always clean - I'm honestly not sure how they do it! Entry is gated with an access code and parking is located a short walk away. Teachers plan fun art activities with the children that get sent home for you to keep. Teachers update you throughout the day with diaper changes, feedings, and my favorite - photos - to see how their day is going, through Pro Care app. The ONLY reason we are no longer here, is because we couldn't afford it. We don't qualify for any kind of assistance and the cost was starting to add up for us. To the entire team at Stepping Stones Waipahu - we greatly appreciate the care you took of our miracle baby!

Im August it would have been a year and I wish my son could have stayed here longer but we had to…read moremove. The staff was amazing, caring and so attentive towards him, they have set the bar for what I expect from all other daycares in the future. They do everything to keep the parents involved from daily check-ins, giving curriculum updates, and sending daily updates of your baby. As a first-time mom, they put all my worries at ease and I always recommend this place to anyone who asks. I honestly don't know how they don't have a 5-star rating because the whole staff truly cares about their kids and provides an environment for them to grow safe and confident.

This USED to be a great school! Back in 2022 under Director Syreeta. My kids were only 2 and 3 y/o…read moreat the time and we were so happy we got to enroll both our boys at the same time. From entering the school to taking our boys to their class it was all smiles and good morning always filled with aloha. We knew our kids were not only being taken care of but loved. Every single staff would know/call our boys by their name. The director was always approachable, addressed us by our names and was always present in my kid's life until last December 2025 when while on our vacation we heard she was no longer there. To our surprise the entire front staff was gone. Keypads were installed, no colorful office , no aloha, no smiles ... felt like going to a business building ? Cold, quiet ... sad. Luckily my oldest left last year but my young is still a student there. Needless to say from January 2026 it's been terrible. Director Monica haven't emailed us back since January , horrible communication, changes in tuition and overcharges ... I wish I could've pulled my kid back in January ... so if you haven't : DO NOT ENROLL YOUR CHILD AT COLE ACADEMY!!! I heard seagull in Ko'olina is accepting new students 12 months and older ! Find a place that your child will be treated with love and you as a parent with aloha and respect. I'm writing as a parent but let me tell the stories I heard from teachers make it even worse . Loyal and caring teachers that left because they can't deal with management anymore. Feel free to reach out if you need more info!

Overall, the quality of care was okay, but for the amount we paid in tuition, I expected much more…read more My biggest concern was the administration, particularly with Monica, the lack of clear communication. The billing was confusing. Although we were on a monthly payment plan, the amount due changed from month to month because it was based on the number of school days. I asked for clarification but never received a clear explanation. There were also changes to tuition-related charges that we weren't notified about, which made the billing even more confusing. If you're considering Cole Academy, I'd encourage you to ask detailed questions about their billing and withdrawal policies and make sure you receive important information in writing. In my experience, it took several weeks to receive a response or get clarification regarding billing. I had a bad experience with billing and withdrawal because I didn't get a timely response when I reached out to Monica.

We love the Growing Patch!…read more So we initially found the Growing Patch on Patch Hawaii where they list all certified childcare providers on the island. I only used 2 months of maternity leave so I needed to find a daycare that would take my baby as young as she was. We were lucky to find the Growing Patch since they take babies as young as 3 weeks old. We also learned that the owner was prior military and we were proud to go with them since we are military ourselves. We live on the west side and work closer to town so they were right in the middle and convenient for dropping off and picking up baby. Their location is a bit hidden in the back parking lot of Aiea Square area, near Queen Street Cafe but it's easy to get to since it's at the cutoff for Aiea if you're coming from either direction. This makes getting back on the freeway just as easy if you're heading town side. If you're going west, you'll either have to back track to Halawa or drive further down towards Pearl City. To start off, although this facility is a bit hidden, the front doors art covered in bright red posters showing that it's a daycare that provides 24-hour service. Yes! They will watch your child overnight if you need it. We visited the place for the first time during family tour day which was scheduled in advanced for those interested in learning about the facility, their staff and how they do things at the Growing Patch. We were the 1st ones to sign up after the orientation was completed and they offered an "observation day" before my baby officially started daycare with them. This was where they watched her for a few hours to see how she does around the care givers, being in a new place and around other children. She did great her 1st time there and the longer she went, the more she would learn to love being there. They provide you a list with the items they'll need to take care of your baby and anything else you would recommend to keep them comfortable when they're away from you. Each child has a storage cubby for their belongings. At the front door, you have to ring the doorbell to be let in and you check in on the tablet at the front desk. The facility itself is organized and separated into areas for different age groups since they take infants and up to pre-k age. My baby was enrolled into the infants area and they have a lot of things to keep the children busy from walkers, toys, beds and more! They do art work too like a regular school would and send it home with the parents. I love my baby's footprint art! The place smells clean every time I walk in and they sanitize everything at the end of each day. They have a calendar at the front that you can view to see what your child is scheduled to do that day. You can ask the front desk assistants for a curriculum to take home with you too. They even have scheduled field trips for the kids and notify parents via email and the app for permission. Their last field trip was to the Pumpkin Patch back in October 2024. They use an app called Child Pilot to help you keep track of what you're child is doing during the day and to contact you if needed. If you don't bring lunch for your child, they provide meals specially made by the Queen Street Cafe but this is for the toddler ages. The staff here if so friendly and they love the kids very because it shows. When I drop my baby off in the morning, she already knows where she is and loves to smile at all the caregivers. She's even excited to see all the other children and does not cry when I leave. After only a couple months here, my baby is the most friendliest and social child and I love how her smile can brighten up anyone's day when they see her. They hold parent teacher conference to talk about your child's progress here at the Growing Patch. They even ask about the milestones you expect your baby to reach and they'll help them work on that. These meetings are nice and as a first time parent, it's funny to see things from this aspect because I remember my parent teacher conferences with my parents and most of them weren't good since I was naughty lol. I love the relationships they build here otherwise and I haven't had any bad experiences with the Growing Patch so far. We recommend their services to all parents with toddlers or younger and we hope they open more facilities on island in the future. I also wanted to mention that they have a Facebook and Instagram page to see updates and events on your social media. Please see the photos I posted for more info. Thank you to the Growing Patch Ohana and their owner, Mrs. Dominica for all you do!

This rating is based on the customer service received before care was given…read more Domonica, founder of this establishment, called my family to offer us a spot. Over the phone, she specified when the soonest date available is and we gladly accepted. From then, we took the next steps and made an appointment to tour the day care. After touring, Domonica proceeds to tell us that the soonest available date is now 2 months later than the original date she offered and confirmed with us. We were very upset as we already confirmed that we wanted this spot over the phone. She apologized and said she talks to many families and assumed that we were going to back out. She offered the same spot that we accepted to MANY families even after we confirmed. This alone is very unprofessional, especially coming from the founder of this operation. She then offered a hug to cure all of her mistakes. The extreme lack of professionalism and customer service that came directly from the founder is just unacceptable. I do not feel comfortable and would not recommend bringing your family to a place that does not truly care for your family as they only seek to secure the money bag. Please take your child to a place where you know they will be valued.

I'm not a regular mom. I'm a cool mom. And this is what cool moms do now: write very detailed…read morereviews about childcare. My youngest has been at the Mililani Cole Academy for over a year now, in both the Toddler and Preschool classrooms. My oldest also attended Cole until she transitioned to kindergarten in 2019, so we experienced the school at two different points in time. For this review, I'll focus on our experience over the past year to give parents a better sense of what the school is like today. We were there through last year's administration change, which was bittersweet because the previous directors were so loved. But after the transition, the new director and assistant director have found their stride. Anytime I stop by the office, they are available, and respond quickly to emails. We have not had any billing issues, and they helped with my subsidy applications. The teachers genuinely know and care about the children. Even teachers from other classrooms greet my daughter by name, offer a compliment, or give her a high five. It makes her feel so special! And when she runs into the classroom with a huge smile, I know she feels safe and happy there. She mentions teachers joining in their games or pointing out interesting things like different vehicles or birds from the playground. I appreciate the teachers actively engaging with the children, encouraging their curiosity and imaginations. Her teachers have also handled the many moods of toddlerhood with patience, understanding, and open communication. Potty training was one area where I especially felt like we were a team. They worked with us to keep our approach consistent between home and school. In the last year, we experienced very little turnover among the teachers we regularly interacted with, even in adjacent classrooms. One was a planned move when husband's job moved them off island, while another transitioned to the classroom next door. There are new faces from time to time. These are "float" teachers who cover breaks or step in when a teacher is on vacation. They are paired with a permanent classroom staff member, which keep the classroom's routine. We see many of the same float teachers, and my daughter knows them by name. There is a set curriculum for each week. Each month, parents receive a syllabus outlining the topics for the upcoming weeks, including the books, songs, activities, learning goals and how they support the children's development. I am impressed by how much my daughter has learned. She isn't even 3 yet and can count to 30, recognize all of her letters and numbers 1-10, and tell me the letter sounds for A-F. Every week she has new vocabulary related to what they're learning. For example, recognizing "a shooting star" in a book following their space unit. To me, that's exactly what learning at this age should look like. The learning is intentional, but enjoyable. Optional worksheets that reinforce the week's classroom topics are also sent home for families who want to continue the learning at home. Over the past year, I can recall a field trip to a local park for a nature walk, along with visits from the police and fire departments, dragon dancers, and a Sea Life Park naturalist. For parents thinking ahead to kindergarten, and even those considering private school in the future, I can offer a little perspective. My husband and I are both proud public school kids, but we navigated the admissions process for one of Oʻahu's more selective private schools with our older child. Several children from her small Pre-K class at the Millilani Cole Academy are classmates at that school today. Cole had a reputation for preparing children well then, and from what I see today, that hasn't changed. If that's the path our younger daughter takes, I'm confident Cole is giving her the academic foundation, confidence, independence, and social skills to be well prepared for the process. Every family's experience is their own, but ours has been very positive. I encourage parents considering The Cole Academy to tour the school for themselves and talk with families who have chosen to keep their children there year after year. When it was time to find care for our younger daughter, we thought highly enough of our first experience with Cole that we chose to wait for a spot rather than enroll her elsewhere. Having now trusted Cole with two of our children years apart, I'm very happy we chose it again.

Apparently TCA used to be THEE school. Well that is no longer the case. Save your money because the…read morequality is no better than the cheapest childcare option on island. They are under new leadership as of December and this place is now nothing more than a money grab. $2600 a month with roughly 88 kids in the school, and they no longer go on field trips, print materials, or fund classroom learning items (the teachers do). The teachers used to smile and love their work and now they aren't welcoming, they all are clearly miserable and they are quitting by the week. They don't follow required state teacher to student ratios nor cleanliness standards. It's become just another daycare with sick notices weekly to parents. This is the most expensive school on the island and they can't assure standards in cleanliness, consistency, or continuity- all things that are important during these foundational years of school. There is actually no communication with parents and the teachers that are quitting are only citing moral and ethical reasons, but honestly that's enough for me. When I emailed to have my daughter removed immediately, they didn't even ask why. Our children deserve better.

My kids loved going to Ewa Plains Preschool, while we were on O'ahu. The kids that go there learn…read morehow to read by the age of 2. Every year they do a christmas play and learn about Jesus Christ. The children also learn about sustainable living. Miss Jessica and her staff are amazing! The children love going to school there.

I have no words to describe what this school has meant for our little ohana. Our child attended…read morefor two years and was provided with exceptional care and compassion, patience, and everything you could ask for in a preschool. Every teacher there felt like they were born to be a pre-school teacher! We feel incredibly grateful to have found Ewa Plains Enrichment in Ewa Beach for our son. From the very beginning, it felt personal. We were not just enrolling in a school but becoming part of a warm, loving community that felt like family. Miss Jessica and the entire team of teachers are everything you would hope for in a preschool. They are warm, kind, intelligent, and fully engaged with the children. Their sincerity and care were evident every single day. It was almost tangible how much they truly loved each child, including ours. The mission of Ewa Plains Enrichment feels centered in love. Every lesson, classroom moment, and interaction reflects that. Our son not only learned how to read here, but something lit up inside him. It was as if a light switched on, and now he reads his own bedtime stories with joy and confidence. This milestone was nurtured by the school's incredible literacy program and the encouragement of his teachers. The school's focus on literacy is truly outstanding. The dedication and joy the teachers bring to reading is something our family will never forget. We also deeply appreciated the school's commitment to Hawaiian culture. Field trips to the lo'i, the pumpkin patch, and the library helped connect learning to the land and the community. Through songs, stories, and hands-on experiences, the children developed a strong sense of place and respect. As a Buddhist family, we always felt completely welcomed and respected at this Christian school. The values of kindness, compassion, gratitude, and responsibility were shared in a loving and inclusive way that felt deeply aligned with our home life. Our son also had the opportunity to share his own heritage during Culture Week and to learn about the cultures of his classmates. Seeing his identity honored and celebrated was incredibly meaningful and helped him feel proud and connected. The school created beautiful memories throughout the year, from Christmas and Easter performances to a heartfelt Mother's Day celebration. Preschool graduation was one of the best graduation events I have ever attended. It was thoughtful, joyful, and full of love. You could see how much the staff cared about each and every child. During a year when our family needed to take extended international trips, the school was flexible, understanding, and supportive. They even prepared homework packets for our son to bring with him, so he could stay connected and continue learning while we traveled. That level of care and thoughtfulness meant so much to us. Ewa Plains Enrichment has been around for many years, and that experience shows in the most beautiful ways. The staff have worked with so many different types of children and family situations, and their understanding, flexibility, and wisdom come through in how they support each student. You can tell they have truly seen it all and are prepared to meet each child where they are, with love and confidence. Ewa Plains Enrichment consistently goes above and beyond what is expected. They are always thinking about the children and their future. This is not just a school. It is a place where children are truly seen, nurtured, and loved. We will be forever grateful to this school, which is a true gift to the community and island!

Ms. Qiara was one of our daughters caregivers at the Cole Academy a few years ago. Our daughter…read morewas 3 months old and was with Ms. Qiara every weekday for over a year. She is amazing with babies and kids! She is one of those people who seem to be positive all the time, patient, and always looking out for the children under her care. We would recommend her without hesitation for any sort of infant care. A lot of other parents would speak very highly of her as well.

Serving Honolulu...Qiara is an experienced and former infant care teacher at the Cole Academy…read moreDowntown who now started her own program. As a local attorney in town, my family does not know what we would do without her! She has now cared for all three of my children and currently my nine month old. She is incredibly kind, patient and loving with children and truly possesses that "special touch" that allows her to connect with them. My children naturally refer to her as their "favorite Auntie". If you are looking for someone to trust with the care of your most loved one, you have found Qiara. She is responsible, dependable and is passionate about providing a safe environment where your baby will grow, learn and be showered with love!

best staff and school for my kids,highly recommend this school.there's a saying says you learn from…read morethe best,you will always do best.God blessed this good heart teacher and leader,may our good lord bless them all.

Can't say enough great things about this preschool. Amazingly caring and skilled teachers, aides…read moreand admin. Our family had such a wonderful experience with our daughter attending here. She's learned so much and has made great friends.

To start with my daughter started preschool (age 2) April 2018 at nuuanu preschool. Loved it but…read moresadly they closed down December 2019. I looked all over between town to Pearl city ( we live in town I work out there) and I came across Keiki Aloha preschool. Walked in met Aunty Cathy and scheduled a walk through with Uncle Troy. After doing the walk through I realized I loved everything about it. Class sizes are small, extremely clean, kids work at their own pace, very very secured and they are big on hugs (so am I)! Uncle Troy made a space to take my daughter right away, we filled out all the papers and pretty much the rest is history. Fast forward a few months my daughter loves school. Talks about everything she's done that day. Sings songs and practices alphabets at home, talks about park (yes the go outdoors to the park), talks about movies and being a princess and so much more... Once you get to the door you have to be buzzed in (again very secure), once child has put away their shoes and they say good morning they go to wash their hands and then join everyone.If you come early enough they serve breakfast. Food is included in the tuition. They do activities, get naps, and even get TV/movie time (yes I approve as my daughter will talk with me about what she watched and explain what is going on), playtime, one on one time (if needed), etc. As a parent I love the fact that they give structure but love...if you are a parent who's not super big on structure this is not the school for you. I appreciate the fact that they will make kids walk in (no carrying as we all have 2 feet), they dont give into tantrums, no toys from home, and healthy (as possible )food options. They let the kids have fun in a safe way. To Uncle Troy, Aunty Cathy, and staff thank you for taking such good care and treating my baby girl like the big girl she is.

We brought our child here when he was 3 years old. The initial introduction to the school was…read moregreat, but something felt off. We were surprised that there was no waitlist for enrollment. During the tour, the director spoke very highly of the school and even mentioned he could help us with tax write-offs. However, just a month after starting, our son was already afraid to return. He preferred to stay home, but due to our work schedule and lack of alternative childcare, we had no choice but to continue sending him. Not long after, he began completely refusing to go. One day, after picking him up, he told me in the car that someone had been bullying him. He had visible scratches on his neck and a bruise on his cheek. We immediately brought this to the teacher's attention, but her exact response was, "I don't know. Talk to your son." We asked the director for an explanation and even requested footage of the incident, but that was the final straw for us. The complete lack of compassion and professionalism made it clear we could not continue here. Not recommended.