This school is so UNDERRATED. I can't express how much my daughter and I loved this school. She was…read moreshowered with love from all the teachers during her time there. Everything is extremely organized and there's lots of activities, programs, arts, music... It's Montessori based but not fully Montessori, so the kids have a great mix of structure and independent learning. I recommend this school to everyone I know. It's located behind Salt Lake shopping center and the campus is clean and well-kept. I can't recommend this school enough.

Don't remember this preschool too much since I was pretty young, but I do remember some fun music…read moreclasses and lunch times. This was also the first time I had a traumatic fall that resulted in a lot of blood that I can remember. I was trying to spin on the lunch stool, and it didn't spin, so I fell off and smashed my face into the ground. My teeth punctured my lip and there was a lot of blood on my shirt. My dentist thinks that since that happened when I still had my baby teeth, it might have damaged my permanent teeth which is why there is a dark spot on one of them! Totally just a toddler being a toddler!

We've had an amazing experience here - my son was in the CDC's 24-kiddo class and it was way too…read morechaotic with a 1-to-12 ratio for him to actually learn anything. In comparison the ratio at MCPH has been 1 adult to every four or five students. I love the way the teachers at MCPH treat each of the students with kindness, calmness, and love - you'd never see them barking at the kiddos, only gently redirecting. He has only been there a few months (with a COVID-interruption to boot) and he has learned so much. I see the improvement at home in organization, demeanor, and academic skills. When I pick him up, he wants to stay longer! I've found that communication is really strong - they respond promptly via email to any concerns, and they have two parent nights where you can go in a experience what a day in MCPH is like for your kiddos. They also provide regular progress reports on what skills your kid has learned, what materials they've been exposed to, etc. and post photos on the school's website if you've granted permission.

Montessori Center of Pearl Harbor, and the amazing teachers there, are directly responsible for…read moreturning my little girl into a compassionate, creative, motivated child. In a world where so many schools are regimented and focused on numbers, rather than the child, MCPH is the exception to the rule. They give children the opportunity to learn through play and offer activities that inspire the child to want to learn more and to be excited about learning. The kids get plenty of sunshine with a fenced outdoor play area and a large covered lanai where they can eat lunch, paint, or engage in various Montessori outside learning activities. This in no way means the kids aren't learning or preparing for kindergarten; my daughter loves math now (no idea where that came from - not her parents) and is more prepared for school than many students in "traditional" pre-schools. MCPH just recognizes that children learn and grow by engaging in student led learning and hands on activities, rather than being forced to sit at a table and do worksheets all day. (Although tables and worksheets are available if that's your kid's thing). Even with all the above (which is fabulous) the best part about the school is the staff - they truly love all the students like their own and go out of their way to help parents. My daughter is creative, unique, and often challenging -- and they embrace her weird, love her for who she is, and set reasonable boundaries. They are honest and upfront with parents and work as a team to help each child be their best. (My daughter's teacher gave new parents her cell number, so we could text her with any concerns or questions.) Expectation management for those coming from the mainland: The school is small. It has two classes and the director is one of the teachers. There is no reception or front desk. They are non-profit and operate on a limited budget where any extra money goes back into the school/to benefit the kids. So, if you're looking for shine you won't get it here (or anywhere in Hawaii, if we're honest). What you will get is an incredibly safe and clean environment located on post (always a comfort if there is a lockdown or issue). What you will get is a staff that knows and cares about your entire family and will do everything in their power to encourage your child's learning and social/emotional development. I can't imagine sending my daughter anywhere else - and, since she cries when she is sick and can't go to school, I think she agrees.

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.

We just graduated one of our kids and plan to send our other one next year! The staff is very…read moreorganized, communicates well, and cares about the kids. They keep parents involved and plans so many events throughout year. I would highly recommend!!!

My daughter loves going to school thank you Stepping Stones!! She would give them 5 stars herself,…read morenow that she can count forwards and backwards. My daughter started just before turning 3 so she is in daycare. The teachers are loving and amazing. They have a routine for the kids which is good because my daughter has grown so much & understanding. Routine is so good for her, she knows what to do and what to expect. I feel like the teachers genuinely love and care for our children. They treat us like we are family. All the teachers, even other classes know my daughter and our family. Yes it's a family affair!!! We love to drop her off together! && yes ... they potty train! That's a super plus!!! Admin staff is great too. They took care of ME the first few days! I didn't think my daughter was ready. The teachers carried her away & said "bye mom" && within two days my daughter was like "bye mom." I said my daughter won't sleep during 12:00 to 2:30 pm nap time. Well within a week she was taking long naps. I am amazed at what they do!!! The communication is great with Stepping Stones. There's an app where they share pictures of the day of activities they do, when sleep etc. They remind us when the school is on vacation. They also really value their teachers too, which is a good! There are a lot of safety and health protocols in place that I really appreciate too. They wash hands before going into different areas, if she goes home sick she doesn't go in the next day. (Not part of the review just a heads up: her immune system is getting stronger. She would get sick super often in the first few months so our family is a monthly telehealth family!!!) Location is OK. There is a parking structure that I get stuck in often, which isn't Stepping Stones fault but if I put the ticket in enough times, it eventually lets me out! They provide parking so if I have to go into the lot I can get out free. Also, the machine is broken occasionally. The good thing is there's two entrances. So it's not that bad. If I could I would give them six stars.

I was so happy and lucky to experience such an amazing preschool! Excellent daycare! Building is…read moreclean and spacious. Meal plan is well thought and nutritious. They made my son feel very comfortable and cared for. He learned lot of new things to help him prepare for kindergarten. Highly recommend this place for your kids!

I am 110% reviewing the correct school as I only live a few minutes away. You may have modified…read morethe website, your mascot/logo, and the name (from Navy Hale Keiki to Hale Keiki) since I applied but the address is still the same. It's still the correct school. After the last-mentioned call, as reported in the previous review, with this school: I did NOT get any correspondence notifying me regarding acceptance (or nonacceptance). Basically, I submitted my application +fee $$ and did not ever get any response regarding my application. This is what I experienced, as I am also committed to honest and fair reviews.

We have been a part of the HKS Ohana for the last two years and will return in the fall for another…read moreyear. We have been very pleased with the academics at HKS. My child is reading/math/science far above his current grade level. My child loves school. The students/families are friendly and what small issue my child had with another student was resolved quickly and satisfactorily. The school itself feels incredibly secure and everyone knows each other. When something is amiss, they don't hesitate to call the authorities, which I really appreciate. My only negative feedback is that I wish there was more transparency in terms of budget. Tuition has steadily increased and I'm not sure where the extra money went- nor money from fundraising efforts and PTO fundraising efforts. Communication could be better but i do think it has improved over the last two years. I've never had any real encounters with admin but I do think they are fair and responsive. Others may disagree. Overall, we couldn't imagine sending our child anywhere else and look forward to sending our other child there for kindergarten.

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.

If you are planning to enroll your preschooler here make sure that Ms. Jen will not be your childs…read moreteacher. My daughter wet the bed at night often and would pee in her pants during school. This all started when she started going here. She would also cry every morning before school. This was her 2nd year going to preschool. Her first year at a different school she had none of these issues. I finally spoke with Ms. Jen one day after school. She had no soul, no empathy to my concerns. Much more was discussed which led me to believe that she was unfit to be a teacher. I immediately walked to the principal's office and said this would be my daughter's last day. I got her in another preschool nearby the following week luckily. Immediately we noticed a change in her attitude. No bed wetting, no crying before school. Back to her happy self. I will say that the afterschool staff were always really nice.

If i could give 10 stars to this school i totally would. This school located is hidden in the back…read moreof the residential area inside a buddhist temple. The school is small and old looking but what inside will amazed you!! The people!! All the teachers, principal and everyone is so nice and friendly and very helpful, very professional and kind. This is our kids very first school and we are very pleased to find this school nearby our house. Tuition is also affordable in my opinion for the time that they watch our kids 6:45-7:30 drop off/ pick up 3-4:30/5 i forgot but we rarely leave them there after 4ish. I love every single teachers and teacher aid they have. Ms Jan, Ms Jen, Ms Melissa, Mr Andrew; Ms Amy, Ms Claire and also Ms Jennifer works in the office, everyone is so nice and always there to support our kids whenever needed. Even other teachers from another class always say Hi and recognize our kids by Name make us feel very welcomed! i cannot recommend enough to everyone about this school. my children always come home happy and excited to come to school. You can tell they learn a lot. Become more independent and polite, well manner and speak more words. don't look anymore! enroll your child!! you won't regret! :)