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.

Beware! Alphabetland Preschool prides themselves as a family-owned and operated business YET lack…read morethe sense of compassion and professionalism. The owner's son, Kyle is unable to empathize with families like myself because we are just $$ to him. Make sure you thoroughly read the application before signing because apparently, they (Administration) will use it against you should you have an issue with them. This review solely based on my experience with them. I, along with my siblings & now my children have attended & graduated Alphabetland Preschool (Waipahu Location). It was my child's first day back to school since last year, and after dropping her off to her class, I went into the office to make payment for the month. Although I was aware of the late fee for late payment and with the 10th being over the weekend, I asked the office staff (which then asked Mr. Kyle ARIZALA for permission to do so). Please keep in mind that my family's co-pay for tuition is $11.00 and this was my first time asking for leniency. Kyle was very stern on being unable to possibly waiving the $50 fee- making a strict example of how if I was an exception then he would have to make an exception for everyone else. I felt I was being treated very poorly by a member of administration- He didn't want to hear me out or perhaps even bothered to provide other options to this issue. Kyle insisted, I should have figured it out. I wrote an email addressing my concerns and in return was given a hand-delivered letter by my child's teacher the following day in response to my email. I've spoken and asked the teachers and aides about him, and I have not heard ONE positive attribute in regards to Kyle. So FYI, any issue presented to management is considered "confrontational" and deemed grounds for dismissal. What a joke! Someone enroll Kyle in a Public Relations class so he can learn how to efficiently deal with people.

I love this school! My girls are still attending here but I want to talk about the teachers that…read morethey had last year. My daughter learned so much from Ms. Nelsy (4 year olds teacher) while only being in her class for 5 months. She entered late because I originally had her in the HCAP (free preschool) but was approved for POD and was able to choose this school for her. At first, she didn't know how to write her name, count to 50, recognize letters, but then I was so proud to get her end of the year report card because she was able to do all of that. My daughter does tell me she misses Ms. Nelsy but now she is in the big girl class with Ms. Ancheta and I'm sure she's going to learn so much more! I think they're teaching them how to read which is amazing because she will be ahead when she enters Kindergarten the next school year. My other daughter had Ms. Charmaine (2 years old class) and I'm telling you that she's definitely a teacher you would want for your 2 year old because she has so much PATIENCE. My daughter was crying all day the first couple days. Sometimes she would even throw a tantrum to come home with me, it was so sad BUT I had to drop her off everyday so that she would get used to it and she did. Couple months in, she was just walking right into class like a big girl. Ms. Charmaine also helped me with potty training. My daughter was already trained with us at home but I was afraid she would have accidents at school so she would go in diapers but finally I asked Ms. Charmaine if she could help me and if it would be okay if my daughter wore underwears instead of diapers to school. She had a few accidents the first couple days and then after that, she was finally potty trained at school too. So thankful for Ms. Charmaine. My daughter's teacher now is Ms. Ashley (3 Year Olds Teacher) and she does mention that she will cry when Ms. Charmaine picks up the 2 year olds in the mornings and she's left behind but after that she's fine. She is having so much fun in Ms. Ashley's class and she actually says her name too "Mommy I go Ashley's class" it's so cute. I can't wait to see how much she will learn.

We have been very happy with Mililani Tech Park preschool. My kids look forward to going everyday…read moreand the teachers are friendly and communicate well with us about their progress or any issues that arise. The office staff is very organized and helpful. They are there anytime I've needed them and are always cheerful and supportive. They have a some nice events during the school year in the evenings for families to get together. Two of my children are in grade school now and I think they were very well prepared for kindergarten and knew their letters, sounds, numbers and how to write their name before starting kindergarten. Great facility!!!

Would pull my daughter out if i could. Pick up time changed from 6pm to 5:30pm with a monthly cost…read moreincrease. There was a cost increase just last year. They don't allow us to pay monthly payments on the parent app anymore. Teachers get mad when kids can't nap. One new younger teacher will grab kids arms and hold them very tightly I've walked in multiple times and seen this happen in class and outdoor play time. Not happy at all with my daughter's new teachers. Hardly any updates on the parents apps. My daughter's new sleep matt was ruined by another child. Don't know why some of these teachers are man handling these children's. You are in the wrong profession if you can't handle toddlers not even me will i grab my child the way i see some of these teachers do. My daughter's previous teachers were very sweet. I've bit my tongue for too long with this place.

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!

So I have had now 3 children in preschool at any given time over the past 2 years and when I first…read morewas told about Stepping Stones by a friend who had children enrolled I was still a little skeptical because of a huge ordeal I had just gone through with another preschool. We had such a bad experience that I think we were way over protective at that point but the staff at Stepping Stones Aiea was more than comforting. I called one day and spoke to the director Ms. Carmen and explained our situation and how we were extremely desperate to get our 2 girls into a school that not only we liked but accepted under 2 year olds (such a hard thing to find these days lol) but anyway she invited us there for a walk through right away and explained everything we would need to know. When we first started we had an issue with one of the teachers that was from another school, that we reported to department of licensing and Ms. Carmen made sure while the investigation was underway she was never with my children and then in the end she was moved out of the school. Ms. Carmen was very helpful and very understanding. First off I loved how clean and organized the school is. Parents don't wear outside shoes in the school. You take it off by the door or wear a shoe cover. Every afternoon around 4ish you see teachers sanitizing all the toys and shelves, I have seen them literally sanitizing each and every little toy one by one. With so many little ones in that school I feel that this is one of the most important things and I love how well they do it. You walk in at the end of the day and you can just smell how clean it is. Secondly I love that it is locked and you need a code to enter the building. The last preschool my kids where at you could walk in and go into a class all without anyone seeing you. there was a front desk which no one was every at so it was very scary with how loose the security was. I love that I can leave my kids here and walk out knowing that no one who is not supposed to be in the building will get in. My youngest child has health issues which restricts her from eating certain foods and when I was applying for them to start attending I told them about this. I was required to bring in a doctor's note, which was perfectly fine and then they were able to accommodate her. This school does not provide lunch; we bring home lunch daily but they do provide 2 snacks daily. Due to her being in the toddler class, she was 17 months at the time she started, she was given a high chair with her name and food restrictions on it so that she couldn't take others foods or the kids can't share. The director even bought other items of food to replace the food she can't have on days they had the items. There was an issue with the daily reports on the parent post where it looked like she was given food she wasn't allowed, but it was a misunderstanding and Ms. Carmen made it so we would get a photo of her eating each meal to have peace of mind. They really go above and beyond for the children in their care and the parents. You can tell that they love what they do and that they truly are in the right field of work. My oldest daughter no longer attends as she goes to DOE now but she loved her teachers and still talks about them and we had to put photos up in our home to help her feel better about no going there anymore. I would recommend this school to everyone I know as they have been nothing but the best for our family and we are so happy we found them when we did, only wish we found them sooner :)

Both of my kids have and are currently attending here. Very pleased with the wonderful…read morecommunication between administrators and staff. So far, we've enjoyed many of the teachers, Ms. jaime being the best one yet! She is fabulous and truly was such an amazing teacher to our child. They are accommodating with various allergies and have great communication with parents. I would highly recommend.

My son attended MPP for a little over a year and had a great experience! He learned a lot and most…read moreimportantly, loved going to school. He had some struggles at times, but the teachers and staff there were so patient and supportive. They continued to work with him and help him improve. He always felt loved and that everyone cared about his success. We are so appreciative of all they did for him in preparation for Kindergarten. Besides the great staff, some other things we really liked about the school were: -School events that parents were able to attend, such as their Christmas program and graduation. -The school is very safe with a keypad code needed to enter, along with security cameras throughout. -User friendly app. Almost everything is done through Procare, including signing your child in and out, paying your tuition, and updates from the school. -Constant communication from the teachers and staff. It was nice to get digital updates if something happened (pictures too!), as well as verbal updates when we would pick up our son. -Nice open AND covered area for the students to play on. There is a nice play structure, along with a new bike path for the students to play on outside. There is also a large covered area that the students can use if it is raining. Our son is definitely going to miss this school and his teachers. He had so much fun learning about different topics (he was always excited to share what they learned about that day in the car ride home) and grew a lot as a person. We are so glad we decided to send him here and would recommend this school to anyone!

All three of my children attended Mililani Presbyterian Preschool and my youngest just graduated…read more We had a wonderful experience while being enrolled there for the past 7 years. We will really miss this school so much! It is hard to believe that I won't see the staff there on a daily basis anymore. :( Everyone is fantastic. The teachers are so patient, loving, supportive & kind. You can tell they really care for children and my children have always felt so safe and loved. The administrative staff are very organized & friendly. They do a lot of fun things for the kids and there are lots of opportunities for parents to join in on the fun. (I loved volunteering for the different events) Tuition may be a bit more than others in Mililani, however, it's worth it!! The campus is great! One thing I loved was that the building is secure, so parents needed a special code to enter. It's not like the other preschools where anyone can just walk in. There is also a big lawn for running, an updated playground, a bike path and a big covered lanai for rainy days. The classrooms are big in comparison to the other preschools I've seen and are very clean and orderly. The classrooms also have their own outdoor covered lanais. It really is just an excellent school all around and we were very happy with our experience.

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.

Mililani 'Ike is one of the top ranked elementary schools on island. A lot of families request for…read moregeographical exemptions to send their kids here with the expectations that their children will receive top notch education. The campus is relatively new, well maintained, and all buildings, with the exception of the cafeteria, are air conditioned. There is plenty nearby street parking and parking across the street at Mililani Rec 7. However, the school is focused only on their ratings and advanced curriculum, not on the student as individuals. It is a common practice for teachers to repeatedly keep students in for recess to complete class assignments AND not communicate this with parents. Even after parents repeatedly request to allow their children to have recess-for a break, so that they can enjoy school, and to learn how to socialize with their peers-students are still kept in for recess. If a student is repeatedly having difficulty completing class work, parents should be notified and the student should be assessed for any underlining learning disabilities. Further, if multiple students in the same class are unable to complete classwork, the teacher should be evaluated for their teaching abilities. Multiple teachers take extended leaves of absence in the middle of the school year which negatively affects the students' learning. When I registered this complaint with the principal she simply nodded her head, smiled, and said "well, we hoped for a smooth transition." This is pretty much the same response when registering any complaint with the principal. She simply smiles and nods her head . When multiple parents register the same concern, she will hold a mass meeting for the parents and then turn the tables around and ask the parents to step up. For example, a few years ago there were 3 different incidences when vehicles drove in front of the school and took pictures of the student; the principal ultimately rejected parents' demands for a locked campus, security cameras, and security guards. Instead she asked parents to volunteer to patrol the campus for safety. When parents registered multiple complaints about the lack of a cross guard and safety of the children crossing without one, she asked parents to work as a crossing guard. While the principal is very soft spoken and passive aggressive, the majority of the teachers are short on patience, yell in the class, and speak down to children...even before the school day starts! The student body is LARGE, yet shrinking due to multiple families withdrawing their children and enrolling them in private schools. Due to the large student body, school events (i.e. School assemblies where children receive achievement awards, open house events, and concerts) either exclude families or ask that only parents attend and not siblings. Despite all, I still rated Mililani 'Ike as 2 stars because it is a nice campus and there is a pocketful of teachers that truly care. Just cross your fingers that your child is assumed to one of them....and that they don't request a lengthy leave of absence in the middle of the school year.

My daughter attended kindergarten here, and boy was it a rough year! Her teacher was the most…read moreunfriendly, sad looking kindergarten teacher I've ever seen. No warmth in her body or voice whatsoever. No hugs, no high fives, nothing! My daughter had trouble adjusting because of this. She got herself into some trouble when she pushed a classmate and got detention in the office where she had to sit with one of the VP's and write and draw pictures of what she did and why it was wrong. Thinking back on it (she's in 3rd grade now) I think that was too harsh for a 5 year old, and I wish I would've stepped in and said/done something. Several times I considered moving my daughter to a different class, but I didn't know if that would do more harm then good. After kindergarten We moved into the Mililani Waena school district so my daughter attended both 1st and 2nd grade there. Let me tell you that school rocked! There was such a feeling of Ohana at that school, everyone was friendly and down to earth. There was so much happiness and life there. Kids were allowed to be kids, laugh, run around, play. The curriculum was awesome too, and my daughter thrived there. I loved Her 1st grade teacher, Ms. Brewer. She was smart and fun and i enjoyed helping her in the classroom. The principal was great. You could really tell he cared about the kids and the school. He even was nice enough to work with me and put my daughter in the same class as her friend to help her adjust. They had an awesome website that was consistently updated and current. Sorry I could go on and on about how awesome that school was, but back to Ike now.... So we moved (yes AGAIN lol) , back to the Ike district where like i mentioned earlier my daughter is in 3rd grade now. As soon as we got back there I remembered why i didn't like it 2 years earlier. Everyone walks around like robots, no one talks, there's an eerie quietness on campus. The principal is very quiet and kind of awkward. Their website was so outdated. There were pics on there from years ago, and hardly any current information. I ended up writing in about how bad it was and it's since been updated. At the open house I was one of the last ones there and I felt rushed by the teacher, not a great first impression. She didn't try at all to get to know me or my daughter. So needless to say the year didn't start off in the best way. There's way too much computer homework. Wednesdays there's no regular classroom instruction because the kids bounce around from PE to music to language and so on. Oh and field trips are expensive! I found out it's because enrollment has dropped so drastically which has caused funding to drop as well, so us parents get stuck paying the price. (I should say my older daughter attended 2nd-5th grade here and had a great experience with Ms. Cupp (now Mrs. Laughlin and Ms. Kawai (now Mrs. Nakagawara) and Ms. Okamura.). Teachers can make or break it for the kids they come in contact with, and Ike definitely lacks great teachers, it's sad. I've never been a teacher, and i can only imagine what a tough tough job it is, but it just makes sense that you should have a warmth and a compassion for kids. You should be fun and happy and make your kids say "she's (he's) the best teacher ever! I hope I didn't offend anyone with this post, but I had to be honest. Oh and i just had to add in that the teachers have a lot of teacher work days which means no school for the kids, plus a lot of meetings which means a lot of substitutes, plus school ends 1 hour and 25 minutes early every Wednesday for meetings! Not really sure why....hmmmm? Seems like an excess for sure!