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    Punahou School

    4.6 (50 reviews)
    Closed 7:30 am - 4:00 pm

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    Julie C.

    Punahou School. Just hearing the name makes my heart happy! When I'm on campus I feel very nostalgic of my time spent there for 13 years. That may seem weird to other people, but that's honestly how I feel. I really enjoyed the time I spent at Punahou as it helped to make me who I am today. Punahou taught me more than reading, writing, math and science. It taught me how to communicate well with others, that it's OK to be different, and taught me critical thinking skills that have help me throughout my medical career. Punahou teaches you real life skills, that helps you to adapt in the real world. Punahou also focuses on making you a well-rounded student. Their academics program is arguably the best in the state, and one of the top in the country. But they also believe that arts, sports, leadership and service are also important qualities. Yes, Punahou has a world class track and field, Olympic size swimming pool, and even a glass blowing lab, but the things I remember so vividly are my interactions with my fellow students and the faculty. My teachers always made me feel important, and cared about my education. I felt that I mattered. Education has been always the most important thing for my parents. My dad always told me when I was a little girl, that education is something nobody can take away from you. I'm glad they invested in my education, as it was worth every penny.

    Case Middle School
    Bert S.

    For context, we are a Kantonk (Google it if you are new to Hawaii) family who started our daughter here her freshman year. My positive impression started with the telephone conference with the admissions officer informing up our daughter had been admitted. I started out asking practical questions about enrollment. The officer focused on telling me WHY they had chosen to admit our daughter. He wanted to make sure that we felt comfortable and that he had answered all of our questions. My daughter literally knew nobody but was warmly welcomed by the student body. I have to also give credit to the cheer coaches for allowing my daughter to shadow the cheer squad even though she missed tryouts and couldn't participate directly. It is important to point out this is not a pure academic school. I was shocked when she came home with her first report card with a "C" and the teacher had not given me a heads up. The school believes in letting each student develop at his or her own pace and is not trying to prop up the students grades. Some of her best classes have yielded her lowest grades. If you child has an opportunity to take any class with the Social Studies instructor Mr. Georgi, jump at it. He will teach them critical thinking and red pen their essays more severely than the English teachers. I like that financial aid is not tied to GPA. The school is trying to be economically inclusive. Do not let money be a barrier. Just remember to file your taxes early because the financial aid deadline in February 15th in 2015. There are a number of things I dislike. Often parents drive dangerously when picking up and dropping off their kids. There are popular classes like Asian History that needed to be assigned by lottery for summer school. The six day rotating schedule makes it tough to keep track of schedules. While most of the teachers are excellent, a few mediocre ones seem to be untouchable. Last, is the stigma attached to graduating Punahou and then attending UH. The $20k/year tuition bill is a killer, but it is still cheaper than the price of a mainland college education. I would be happy to have my daughter go to UH after Punahou.

    Raining! No shoes...

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    9 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Best School I ever went to. I felt very welcome there unlike any other school I went to.

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    3 years ago

    Great school with a wonderful staff and instructors. It's a safe environment for children of all ages

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    15 years ago

    Being given the opportunity to attend Punahou has been the most fortunate event of my life thus far.

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    15 years ago

    Punahou, College, good job. That's what you'll get out of going to Punahou. Highly recommend it. Thank you mom & dad.

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    Page 1 of 2

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    I've had family attend Punahou, Iolani, Mid Pac and Maryknoll and I can say without a doubt Punahou ranks first.

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    Roosevelt High School

    Roosevelt High School

    3.8
    (21 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    Student body comprised of those residing in Mānoa Valley, Makiki, Makiki Heights, Tantalus,…read morePapakōlea, Kalāwahine, Punchbowl, Pauoa, Pauoa Valley, Pacific Heights, and some from Nuʻuanu Valley too. Many students that lived outside of the district and had a GE were from Kāneohe, Kailua, Waimānalo to Wai'anae. There were also students who attended Iolani, Kamehameha and St. Louis, then transferred to Roosevelt. There are some staff and many students with different last names that are related to each other, have attended and still attend RHS. One day one of my grandma's cousins approached me. I later found out she was a cafeteria monitor during the day and custodian after school. Coming to think of it, I have relatives that graduated in the late 1970's till mid 2000's on my maternal side of the family. During Hawaiian studies class, a substitute teacher asked me, "Where do you live? What's your family name?" I responded. Then she said, "I graduated same year with your relative's name." I was quite surprised. There are currently many entrepreneurs, including those married to entrepreneurs so they help with other aspects of thriving businesses, alumni with successful careers in the public and private sector. Let's not forget about notable celebrities listed in Wikipedia. Hawaiian language classes offered and counted as foreign language credits toward college, along with Mandarin, Japanese, Spanish, and French. I vividly recall signing up first choice: Hawaiian, second choice: Spanish, third choice: Japanese. I remember getting my last choice while my other friends got Hawaiian and Spanish classes. My favorite instructors who definitely made an impact in my life were Mrs. Wells, English teacher who immersed us in reading, writing, grammar, spelling, and working together in class ranging from The Hobbit, Beowulf, Shakespeare, Hamlet, too many to name, and our last individual project and typed essay for the year, Les Miserables. School is known for their language arts. Fine Arts and Cooking teacher, Mrs. Fong. She was the one who encouraged me to consider applying for colleges to arts schools on the mainland. I've also enjoyed learning baked recipes. One of those recipes taught in class was how to make pumpkin pie. We had access to ovens, sinks, and clean counter tops. Fun, practical, and life learning skills. Japanese language sensei, Mrs. Fujinaka for teaching us one of the first things is, "Otearai e itte mo ii desu ka?" Translation in English, "May I please go to the restroom?" Reserved for when really got to go and having a brain fart. Hiragana, katakana, and some of the kanji ingrained in memory. Economics teacher, Mrs. Leung taught us how to write checks which I thought was cool as it applies to signing legal documents till this day. Sports was and still is an integral part of the student body. I remembered running between two to four old football field laps daily after school, where dirt would kick up and if wearing white shoes, would get dirty fast. I vividly recalled running snakes weekly on red and gold bleachers, north, south, east, and west, in no particular order. Legs would get jiggly or charley horse if out of shape. Yet, great cardio, conditioning for the body. Sports practices ended at 6 PM. Games on Saturdays either on or off campus. Loved the swimming pool especially during P.E. Earned school credits while working on a life skill. They're also known for their band. Many clubs offered on campus too. Enjoyed underground cafeteria, choice to eat indoor or outdoors. Cafeteria staff offered a choice of school lunch or chef salad. Limited parking. First come, first get in the morning at 7 AM. Some lessons I don't recall learning and wish instructors taught at that time were study skills, time management, and financial literacy. There were cliques here and there. Now, we're all grown peeps and if we run into each other in public, it's "Hey! How's it going?" followed with a hug and honi on the cheek.

    I'm sure this is a great school, however, there has been a very loud siren or alarm coming from the…read morehigh school a few blocks away from where I live. It starts around 11 PM and continues until about 6 AM, making it difficult to sleep. I live over 30 floors up and can still hear it clearly, so I imagine it's affecting many people in the neighborhood. I'm not sure if others have reported it yet, but I hope this issue can be addressed and fixed soon.

    Photos
    Roosevelt High School
    Huli huli chicken plate purchased from the Roosevelt High School 2024 ROTC group at the Pagoda Restaurant pick up location!
    Huli huli chicken plate purchased from the Roosevelt High School 2024 ROTC group at the Pagoda Restaurant pick up location!
    808 Basketball Club

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    808 Basketball Club
    Maryknoll School

    Maryknoll School

    4.8
    (9 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    Our family has had a very positive experience at this private Catholic school. My child is…read morecurrently 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.

    Tonight they had their Fall Festival. Nadine invited me to go with her. It was fun. They were doing…read morea 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.

    Photos
    Administration Building... Where the Convent used to be!
    Administration Building... Where the Convent used to be!
    Celebrating 95 years in Hawaii in 2022...
    Celebrating 95 years in Hawaii in 2022...
    Directory for the Community Center

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    Directory for the Community Center
    Kaimuki High School

    Kaimuki High School

    3.6
    (19 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    It's not clear what is the purpose of these school reviews. As a parent of a high school student…read moresome of the topics are irrelevant. Reviewing a craft fair seems more like it belongs in a community activities brochure - it's an event that takes place on campus but it's not really a school program for students or teachers. Kinda the same opinion re whether reviewing a carnival on campus is helpful. Also, note that some reviews refer to classes offered by the Adult Education Program on campus - after hours for a fee. Yes these are classes held on the KHS campus but it's misleading to suggest that classes like Thai Cooking are a curriculum choice for students. Mahalo to those who noted the dedicated teachers. Yes the school buildings are old and bathrooms can be pretty bad. The school isn't given funds for landscaping, full time gardeners, or upscale interior designers. There are custodians whose daily tasks are basic maintenance. Getting necessary repairs can be a bureaucratic nightmare BUT maintaining a safe and functional appearance is the responsibility of the occupants, the students and teachers.

    I just love and appreciate crafters…read more.. Kaimuki High School is home to one of the largest craft fair and oh I've never got the chance to check them out as I'm always working and since I'm on the tail end of my vacation time...my boss gave the the few extra days which I'm just so grateful as it got me a chance to give this place a visit. Pretty much overtaking majority of the school as you can find vendors down each hall though all are outdoor setting the slight shade does help as it still gets crazy hot in the afternoon. Very impressed of the variety they have here the parking does get challenging if you don't go early enough though since we went on the last few hours I did manage to get a parking as the early birds left. Me and my bestie hit the ground and tried to check off our gift list we manage to find items for ourselves as well loving all the fun and cute items they have. As we got hungry there was a few food trucks which is a nice convenience as well but what a wonderful place to get a lot of your shopping done and hope that I can do this again as it was a fun experience. Thank you!

    Photos
    Kaimuki High School
    Kaimuki High School
    Map of Fair

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    Map of Fair
    President William McKinley High School

    President William McKinley High School

    3.0
    (20 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    What would life be without music…read more.. Attended McKinley High School Band Booster Christmas Craft Fair and was pretty impressed how it was all organized. Surely you got all the kids out waving the cars down to check out and support and with the parking that's right besides their cafeteria which is where majority of the vendors are held makes it a great venue to hold such an event. As I shopped and scanned various craft items you have the band playing Christmas music right outside while selling bentos and waving signs to alert you about more vendors across in the gym and outside on the lanai. It was a very lively and fun morning to shop and browse that I even bought a Christmas decor made by the Robotic Club, it's a wire swirled up to shape a Christmas tree which was wrapped up in tiny multi-colored lights that with a click on the switch will change to various modes it even included a spare and I was able to buy another spare so that I'm all set for the holidays with this stunning piece of art that will go to a wonderful cause. Keep dreaming and do what you love... Thank you!

    I dont like this school i got bullied so much I had to move to a another school and I came home…read morefrom school crying everyone becuase some girls were bullying and kept calling me names becuase I looked like I just came from Chima I was offended and the school didn't do anything about it and I told my mom and she told the school and the school still didn't do anything about it.

    Photos
    President William McKinley High School
    Na Lani ʻEhā  Nā Lei O Ka 'Iwa Ha'a I Ka Lani - Hui 'Iwa Academy
    Na Lani ʻEhā Nā Lei O Ka 'Iwa Ha'a I Ka Lani - Hui 'Iwa Academy
    Na Lani ʻEhā  Nā Lei O Ka 'Iwa Ha'a I Ka Lani - Hui 'Iwa Academy

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    Na Lani ʻEhā Nā Lei O Ka 'Iwa Ha'a I Ka Lani - Hui 'Iwa Academy
    Maryknoll Grade School

    Maryknoll Grade School

    3.6
    (20 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    Our family has had a very positive experience at this private Catholic school. My child is…read morecurrently 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.

    Maryknoll School has extremely unprofessional and cruel teachers who physically endanger students,…read morediscriminate against students and show favoritism towards students who are not in minority groups. They also do not accomodate students with different learning needs or serious struggles with mental health, barely teach their students and expect them to figure things out on their own. This school also fails to teach students Catholic values or how they can become better indivuduals. In fact, students there enjoy sexually harrasing other students, physically harming other students, recording innapropriate videos of other students without permission to publicly post online, and shouting sexual, ableist, racist, and sexist slurs at other students. Teachers and other school staff members do not do anything to prevent any of this. In addition, the school lunches are stale, dry, and unhealthy.

    Photos
    Logo on the light source
    Logo on the light source
    Follow the signs for the parking...
    Follow the signs for the parking...
    10-14-23

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    10-14-23

    Punahou School - elementaryschools - Updated July 2026

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