Please be very careful about enrolling your child here. I was so excited when my child was able to get a spot at Cole. I overlooked a lot of things that bothered me for years because of that. I told myself I was too sensitive when the teacher in the infant class told me that my child was far behind developmentally and needed to be much farther along. I was point-blank asked if I was not doing enough at home to help further her along. (Now that I have a second child I see that what my first child lacked in gross motor skills at an early age she more than made up for in communication skills.) I told myself that maybe the teacher in the toddler class was right when, after a week of my daughter being bitten daily by another kid, I was asked if anything in our home life had changed to cause my daughter to want to get bitten. (Blaming the victim starts early, I guess). I told myself it was just another parent overreacting on the day that a father saw his daughter screaming from being cold. She had doused herself in water from the bathroom and was soaking wet and shivering when he stopped by. The sight he saw prompted him to have a very loud argument with the teachers in front of me and my kid. I really wish they had moved him away from the main classroom to have their discussion. From that day on for the next 6 months she was terrified of any new male she came across. But then she broke her toe and my vision finally shifted. At first, I only knew my side of the story. The side where I came to school to pick up my daughter and she was standing alone screaming. Now, I'll be the first to admit that she's a little dramatic. So I shrugged and grabbed her hand to lead her away. She crippled over in pain and clearly couldn't put any pressure on her foot. That's when I started to panic. I picked her up and raced her to the car where I took off her shoes to see what the problem was. The problem was her foot had been shoved into the shoe to the point where her baby toe had been folded at a 90-degree angle and broken. The toe was pinched right where it connects with the rest of the foot, cutting off circulation and turning blue. I was terrified she would lose the toe. After rushing her to a doctor and finding out her toe was in fact broken, we spent weeks splinting it until it was healed. We spoke to the school to find out their side of the story. At that point, there was a 70% chance that I would pull her out of the school after slowly looking at other daycare options. There was also a 30% chance that we would stay. It all depended on what the school told us. The school said they would view camera footage (I didn't know there were cameras!) and let us know what happened. They got back to us several days later. They said that her toe hadn't been broken. They said there was no sign of anyone coming near her prior to her crying. They said the reason she had been crying was that a father had come to pick up his kid and they cited the aforementioned male stranger anxiety. (That anxiety had finally gone away 3-months before her toe was broken, by the way.) Yes, despite the fact that we had medical proof that her toe was in fact broken and that I had seen that the cause of the broken toe was her toe being caught on something on a shoe that had been put on at the school by someone other than her parents, Cole opted to completely deny the fact that her toe was broken. That was their only response to our inquiry. At least they let us pull our daughter out of daycare the same day they came back with their "findings" (despite their rule of 30-day notice). They even paid us back for her last month of lunch that we had prepaid. Maybe they are just really generous to upset parents. I think it's more likely that they knew they had broken her toe and just wanted to hush us up and get us out of there. read more

Our daughter is now 1 year old! Today!! And she's been at the Cole Academy for 9 months now. Wanted to updated my review and say that Cole Academy has been awesome. Miss Qiara and Miss Aida are so wonderful with our daughter, they truly are a big part of our daughter's life and I'm so thankful for them. Infant Room A is where it's at baby!! We are so happy with it that we just got a tattoo on our daughter back that says "INFANT ROOM A FOREVAH" as a reminder for the rest of her life. (I kid I kid) The director Miss Cassandra and associate director Miss Sara are also great. All the staff we encounter know our daughter's name and say hi to her whenever they see her. The days that Cole Academy are closed (which isn't often) line up with our company holidays so we almost never have to take off work either. We are very happy with Cole academy and I think it's an excellent value. read more

We love the cole academy downtown! As a pediatric surgeon, I am so paranoid about all the ways my 1.5 year old can hurt herself. Add to that anxiety the whole covid pandemic, and I was struggling to let anyone besides Grandma watch my precious baby. However, my husband and I have crazy working schedules (he's also a surgeon), so we needed to find a place to send our daughter during the day. We were delighted to find the Cole Academy and we are so pleased with the care and love that they give to the kids. We have seen our daughter benefit immensely from her time at school (talking more, learning to clean up her toys, learning to follow rules, etc). We get daily reports on her activities, meals, naps, and diaper changes. These really help the helicopter mom in me to feel better about spending time away from her. As a bonus, they take tons of pictures of the kids and are always sending home great art projects! read more

Exemplary organization run professionally and with great attention to details. A safe, nurturing, and Aloha filled atmosphere with state of the art educational facilities and technology. Any child would be blessed to be a student here!!! All campuses are amazing!!! Can't go wrong with Cole Academy!!! They Live Aloha! read more

Our 2-year old son has been at the Cole Academy (downtown) for 2 months and we LOVE it! Every single staff member is kind, thoughtful, and helpful. Our son is potty training right now and Ms. Monica and Ms. Darlene has been so helpful. Ms. Sara is incredibly nice and Ms. Cassandra has been so attentive in onboarding us and getting us acclimated to a school environment. We also love the indoor playground, and the artwork on the walls makes the school so inviting. I love walking in and looking at the new art displayed outside of the classrooms. Our son loves school, he comes home everyday and sings the "story" song that Ms. Monica and Ms. Darlene sings when it's story time. Overall, our first 2 months have been great. I was a mess the first week - getting adjusted to him being in school, but I am so happy we enrolled him at Cole. You get what you pay for and I know that when I leave him at school to go to work, he is in a safe, healthy, and educational environment. read more

I don't know where to begin without getting quite emotional as I write this, but Cole Academy downtown became a huge part of our daily lives and has been a resilient support system for us this past couple of years. With all the uncertainty of Covid-19 the school has gone above and beyond in making us feel at ease. When my daughter joined Cole she was only 2 and was not fully potty trained but within just two months she became quite independent. Thanks to Ms. Alicia. As she moved on to Pre-K her teacher Ms. Mele and everyone are very nurturing to the children. I honestly felt a good sense of security for my child when I walk in their doors. As my daughter move on to kindergarten, I know it's not going to be easy so if you are a parent searching for a daycare or Pre-K, look no further. Cole not only has given us a sense of security but they had a profound interest of my child's overall well being. She left being extremely smart, respectful and confident in all aspects of her toddlerhood. Thank you Cole Academy for giving us this amazing journey! read more

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We took our daughter to Cole Academy for the first 4 months after my wife ended her maternity leave. We highly enjoyed the convenience of being walking distance from work and visiting during our lunch break. We felt it was well worth the extra money we were paying because they are on the higher side of the spectrum. All the teachers/caregivers were always very nice, as well as Sara and Cassandra. We would likely have kept our daughter there if we did not move because drop offs and pickups became less convenient as part of our new route in and out of work. It added quite a bit more effort once they stopped allowing the storage of strollers there, which was a great help for us because we parked 6 blocks away. read more

truly disturbing experience. I think everyone wants to send their child to the cole academy simply because of the name. but do you really want to send you precious child to a dark and filthy hell hole? AND pay $12something to nearly 1,700 a month? you would think that, with the amount of money you put into a school, they would know anything at all about hygiene. those puzzle mats they use for the children's play area was almost black with dirt. the teachers didn't mind me walking into the classrooms with my shoes on where little hands and feet touch when babies crawl around. I don't think they sweep, Swiffer or mop the floors. if they do, its not very often. there is a light smell of urine where ever you go. I just cant believe that they want to make me pay 3400 for the first month (security deposit + first month) to send my baby to that nasty place. NO THANKS!!!!!!!! so much better schools out there for like, a grand less! read more

For the amount of tuition, this place is horrible. I had my daughter in the downtown facility for just about a month - until I found someone who watches kids in their home. This place HAS WAY TOO MUCH GOING ON... The facility although clean, is dark and lends itself more to a cattle ranch. Kids are walking around being restrained by gated doors, and the infant room - where they BAND your baby for naps is not something that I have EVER seen before in my life. Why they feel the need to TIE down an infants arms is beyond me - this is NOT my idea of infant swaddling. My daughter went there for two weeks and caught a cold during the second week, another reason why cattle call day cares are not the preferred choice for infant care. If you work downtown the location can be convenient, but I would recommend a place where your child can truly be loved instead of 'watched'. read more

It is easy to write a review of place after spending a few minutes through a tour. It is easier to write a review of a place after spending many years interacting with teachers/caregivers of the place. My little one has been attending the school since four months old. She is now three. Infant program here is by far the best. It felt like a Zen spa for the little ones. The teachers in the infant program not only took care of my daughter, they took care of me. They were attentive to every concern I had. They fully encouraged nursing. I loved being able to drop by the school and nurse my little one during lunch breaks. My little one transitioned from infant to wobbler to toddlers to 2's to now 3's program. The teachers paid extra special attention not just to the little ones but also to the parents during the transition period to make sure everyone is adjusting fine. My little one loves her teachers and friends in her current 3's preschool. The little ones have structured schedule starting from day one (yes, infants have schedules too). The curriculums have a great balance of learn and play. Parents get written daily report of what the little one did from eating to napping to learning activities. There are parents-teacher conferences to assess how the child is doing. We have toured other daycare/preschools to see if the little one would like them better. We are staying at Cole Academy. Here are the reasons: Pros: - Amount of days the school is open. There are no one week off in spring, one week off in summer or two weeks in December non-sense. We are not losing a month of school payment. - Teachers. They are genuine. They are real. They love the kids (even the naughty ones). They put in a lot of effort for the little ones to have a safe, stable and fun environment to thrive in. - Location. Great location for anyone near downtown. - Hours. Perfect for working professional parents. - No church/religious affiliations. A rarity on the island. Cons: - Cost. It is still cheaper than daycare/preschool of most metropolitan areas. The cost is made up with amount of days open as well as in the materials the kids have access to. There will always be a world of Toyotas and Lexus. You get what you pay. - Lacking intense foreign language program. My little one does get exposed to tremendous amount of cultural activities. If little one learns Pidgin, that is great. It is part of this island's culture. Ultimately, it is the parents' involvement that will help the little ones be good citizens of the world. It really doesn't matter what school your child attends. You will get the child that you put the effort to help grow. This school will help your child grow when you are not available. read more

Cole academy is the single best private child care available. With multiple locations, they are available to fit the needs of all working parents. Full time care is available or 25 hours is considered part time with the choice of hours you want your child to participate in the programs. There is also a drop in rate available for those who aren't ready to commit. All mommies want to feel that their child is well taken care of and educated while away from them, not just to disappear in the masses! Cole academy works with each child and always has scheduled educational activities for them to enjoy. My son Cole started as a 1 year old in the wobbler class for simple socialization, and now he will be going until he's ready for kindergarten. You definitely get what you pay for at this place. The price may feel a bit steep at the beginning, but well worth it. When Cole turned 2, he started learning multiple languages, including sign language at this wonderful place. He also counts to 10 clearly and knows many things other children learn at 6 years old in kindergarten. The directors Andee and Nadine are excellent coordinators and go above and beyond for each family. They work hard to place the child in the correct class for their personal growth. The school provides organic milk and snacks for all the children. For lunch you can choose to pack or order quality organic lunches that are delivered to the school each day for a small fee. They have cots for them to nap on daily, and teach them to use the bathroom and wash their hands in the most adorable little toilets and sinks! Outside has a great play structure that they play on multiple times during the day to get their energy out. The facility opens @7:30am- 6 pm. Children as young as 6 weeks old can start at Cole academy with intimate care featuring a ratio of 1 adult to 2 babies, well below the state mandated ratio. Some days I come in to drop off my child and find the directors holding a sleeping baby while multi tasking on the computer. This warms my heart knowing that child was given as much love and care that the mother would be giving if she wasn't at work. I've never spoken to any family who wasn't extremely happy with their experience at Cole academy! read more

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I was very worried about having my daughter attend any type of daycare and had put so much research into all available daycares for us. I was so lucky that there was an available space for her at The Cole Academy. As soon as we walked in I knew this would be a great place for her. It's clean, and several large plastic play areas inside. You have to take off your shoes as you enter which adds to the cleanliness. In the little "wobblers" area everything is neat and tidy. When I met Ms Sara she was so welcoming and had answers for all my numerous questions. My daughters day care teachers especially Ms Qiara was so amazing and you can tell she truely cares for children. I can't express enough how much I appreciate the Cole Academy downtown for taking such good care of my daughter. read more

We ALL want the best for our children and we want to know that they are in a nurturing and safe environment that fosters growth and development. Honestly, I could have stayed at home with my son, and I did for the first 16 months. However, I wanted him to be socialized and start learning things I could not teach him at home. We chose Cole Academy because my other co-workers have sent their children there and they rave about their curriculum and staff. In the beginning we enrolled him 2 days a week and after 1 month enrolled him full time in the wobblers class. At first I was so hesitant to keep him in school, he cried every day for 3 months. He had a hard time adjusting because prior to this he was pretty much attached to my hip or more so boob! The staff and teachers are so amazing. They have so much patience and are so caring. I knew without a doubt that he was in good hands. Fast forward 6 months, I cannot believe how far my son has come. He is now in Ms. Kimmie's class, which is one of the toddler classes. His class size is very small, which I love!!! He LOVES school now and he adores Ms. Kimmie! She truly is an angel and loves our son like her own!!! Every morning he shouts "Ms. Kimmie, Ms. Kimmie" and points to the door to go to school! It brings tears to my eyes to see how much he loves school, his teachers, and friends! My husband and I are blown away by how much he has learned in such a short period of time. He is not even 2 yet and he has an extensive vocabulary, he can count, say his ABCs, sing all sorts of songs, loves reading, always says please and thank you, he makes associations with things we have never taught him before, the list can go on and on! He even learned sign language from school before he could talk! We are truly impressed! Even his pediatrician was impressed!!! I love that they do arts and crafts every day and have themes for the week. Their curriculum is great but they also encourage play and fun activities to keep the children happy! It's true that a child's mind develops at a rapid rate before the age of 3, and I'm so grateful to Cole Academy for setting a solid foundation for my son's education and future! We love all the teachers that our son had at Cole: Ms. Lupe, Ms. Noe, Ms. Jessica, Ms. Ashley, and Ms. Maureen. They are all amazing!!! Sending our son to Cole Academy was one of the best decisions we made. I highly recommend them!!! Update: We sent my son to a different preschool when he turned 2 because it had a great reputation and he was on the waiting list since he was 6 months old! I was really torn whether or not to take him out of Cole because he loved it there and we loved all the staff. With a heavy heart we pulled him out and started him at the new preschool (which I will not disclose). It was the biggest mistake of our lives!!! After one and a half months at the other preschool he went right back to Cole Academy! You really pay for what you get!!! I will never take him out of Cole again! The staffing ratio is the best in the state, and the teachers love and care for your children like their own! The center director, Casandra is also so sweet and genuine! She always listens to our concerns and makes sure both parents and children are taken care of! My son is absolutely thriving at Cole Academy and I am so grateful! read more

My daughter has been attending The Cole Academy for less than 2 months now in the wobbler/toddler program. Although it took her a few weeks having to say good-bye to mommy through tears, she eventually warmed up to the other toddlers and teachers and now absolutely LOVES going there!!! Ms. Noe and Ms. Maureen have been nothing but warm and friendly not only to me, but give my daughter the attention she needs daily, and treat her as if she's their own. Not to mention that the other teachers I don't even know say hi (by name) to my daughter. That's cool! My daughter now walks through the doors w/a smile on her face from ear-to-ear and blows a kiss to mommy as I'm on the way out. That tells me she really likes it there w/all her little friends, that she wants to stay there and it feels safe to her. Ms. Noe and Ms. Maureen are absolute angels! They're so good w/the kids and keep them busy from beginning to end. The kids all seem to love the daily art, circle time w/stories, songs & educational factors, outside play and especially water play on Fridays. They get snacks, water and milk many times a day, diapers changed every hour and sunscreen each time they go outside. And of course nap and lunch time is incorporated in there too. I absolutely LOVE the fact that my daughter gets sent home w/a 'report card' every day telling me what she did during the day, if she pooped, how long she napped and anything else special or that I should know. I can't wait to get home and she what and how she did each day. I love the teachers there and their curriculum and I'd like to keep her there as long as I can afford it. I also love that they have 5 kids per teacher as other preschools have 6. But yes, it IS VERY EXPENSIVE!!! And although I'm on 4 other waiting lists for other preschools, I'm hoping I can keep here there as long as I can afford it. I can't compare Cole to anywhere else since she's never gone anywhere besides Cole, but if I do end up taking her to another (more affordable) preschool, I question if I'd like it as much as Cole. As they say, you get what you pay for and if that's what I have to pay for my child's education, even at this early age, then I will continue to do so as long as feasible. I gave Cole a 4 vs. a 5 star only because I wish they cleaned the floors a bit more often then they do. Yes, they do wear shoes in there (unlike the newborn & infant room), but it's not like the kids sit there and lick the floors. My daughter tends to kick off her shoes halfway through the day and gets her white socks a bit dirty, so that's really the only thing I'd have to complain about if anything. They're VERY consistent on teaching them to wash hands and they are very sanitary when it comes to changing the diapers. So again, if you can afford it, I really recommend The Cole Academy! read more

My child has attended Cole for about 1 1/2 years. We are very happy with the staff there. The staff are knowledgeable and caring. They also send home detailed notes about our child's day. The management is also very professional and responsive to any concerns or questions. We never worry about our child when we are at work. The downside of Cole is the price, but in comparison to the competition, you get what you pay for. Besides the great staff, a big plus to Cole is that they are rarely closed. The longest amount of time they are closed is usually a few days before Christmas. Other than that, they are open (even for many holidays). read more

We sent our son to Cole because of last resort, but I am so happy we got such wonderful teachers. Ms. Noe and Mrs. Maureen teach the Toddler class: 18-24 months at Cole, and if it weren't for them we would of pulled our son out sooner due to tuition prices rising. They show such passion for the kids in their class and love them like their own. If you have money, the cole academy is definitely worth paying if your teachers are Ms. Noe and Mrs Maureen, your kid(s) will be cared for well and they will also LOVE them too. I want to Thank all the wonderful teachers who cared for my son.. I finally understand what teachers appreciation is:) read more

Can't believe I never left a review! My son went to Cole Academy downtown from age 3-5 (when he started kindergarten). Yes, it's expensive but you get what you pay for. The teachers are very engaged, class size is small and the kids all seem happy to be there. The downtown location does have a small outdoor playground area, but you are right downtown so that should be expected. When he was interviewing for kindergarten the schools all took one look at "Cole Academy" for preschool and all had good words for where he would place. He was already reading and knew simple math before K. We moved off island, he is now in 3rd grade (4th grade reading 6th grade math) and I totally credit his preschool education for this. If you can afford it, go to Cole, you won't regret it. And yes, that is my son on the pictures on their web page. :-) read more

I've been sending my daughter here for a couple months now, and love it! The staff members are great! Andee, Mr. Rob, and Ms. Noe really made our experience here feel very comfortable and welcomed. I also love how the staff really tend to the children when they're sad and crying, and how they give you a little report card everyday about how the day went. read more

Quite disappointed in Cole Downtown. For $2K/month was expecting much more. The director was our biggest problem, not very helpful, genuine, or caring when we needed her to be. Didn't try to help us when we needed it most, the feeling she gave us was we were lucky to get into Cole and if we are concerned about things, there are plenty of other kids waiting. The daycare ladies were good, although seemed stressed, hard to discipline 1 yr olds. This location is heavy on discipline, which may be good for some kids, but making a 1.5 yr old sit still in their chair for 30 min, and get scoldings for wanting to get up after a 5min snack is not what we were hoping for. Facility seems really old, appliances are old, not much natural light inside, small area, needs updating, kind of dark. 2 stars instead of 1 because the activities were well done, report of things the children did everyday, and good hours. I've been told a good amount of parents are transferring their kids out of downtown location. Way overpriced!! read more

Noticeably under manned. Dropped off child with 2 adults (one of which occupied making meals) and 13 other children. Complained and they stated they will assign a rover when one came available . The place looks incredibly dirty and they have children walking around barefoot in areas adults wear shoes. Had multiple bottles prepared and the lady looking after him said he didn't want to drink any. The real reason was the woman didn't take out the spill stopper so he got a great tease and no milk for 6-8 hrs. The vibe I got from the employees was not positive and actually more like a postpartum mom or dad. Oh and the drop in rate is 90 a day pretty steep for the care your child will receive. I was also told that my child fell off an outside toy several times and I asked why did you continue to let him on it and they responded... We can only do so much.. read more

Love the cole academy! Both my sons went to Cole. The curriculum is wonderful and the teachers really love the children. The tuition seems high but they are open long hours and during many vacation periods. Per hour the tuition is reasonable. I will always miss cole. read more

Cole Academy is the cleanest and most organized child care/academy in our area. I've went to them all when first seeking care and am so glad I found Cole. Since attending, my daughter has advanced so much. Her daily activities have really helped her develop as a toddler. She became completely potty trained and accident free within a couple weeks with her teachers help. Being dual military we worry about our child being in daycare full time but at Cole, she really is in school and not a daycare. Her day is structured and focused on academics. I have no doubt my daughter will easily be accepted into preschool. She is beyond her age in language, counting, and arts. I am really proud of her and her teachers. She is actually excited "to go to school" and it makes it easier for us as working parents. The most important thing I have learned about my recent move to Hawaii is Hawaii is expensive but I can not put a price on my child's education. The staff has worked hard to help us with GSA funding and it is appreciated. Thank you Cole Academy!!! Very happy parents. read more

I agree with all of the wonderful things "thinzar n." wrote below! For the negative comments- not sure if its fair to write such negative things after seeing the school for just a few "minutes" during a tour. I think the reviews that matter are from those who actually send their child(ren) to Cole. We are the ones who actually deal with teachers daily and see how much our child enjoys being at the school. Cole is amazing and I would recommend this school to ALL of my friends. The teachers are genuine and really care about the children. The student-teacher ratio is low which is Very nice- my son's teachers know everything from his favorite foods to how he likes to nap. The personal relationship developed with each child is one of a kind. When I leave for work, I am 100% confident knowing that my son is in good hands. I have no worries at all. I have witnessed myself the teachers cleaning the classroom, tables and nap cots- they keep things very clean which is another plus! I also love getting Daily Progress Reports on how long my son napped for, if he ate all of his lunch, what he drank in the day, when he went to the potty and other fun comments. My son has grown so much and absolutely loves going to school. I am expecting again and will definitely send my second child to Cole in the future. Yes, the price of tuition is pricey but trust me when I say this, you definitely get what you pay for! A+ school. read more