Kaelepulu Elementary School

We are new to the area. After reading reviews I was so scared. Please judge for yourself. Me and my two children were embraced with an aloha spirit. We come from the mainland and my children are behind. Not saying that will be the case for you and yours. Just providing an unbiased honest review. So far I wish I had enrolled my children sooner! I hope you can rest easy too once you DO enroll your children. Much love from one stressed ma to another. So the school is BEYOND expectations, and and excellent learning environment! Everyone is committed and it shows! The children are all so kind and respectful!

Wow! What an incredible school. My son is in Kindergarten here and every single person we've encountered - from teachers, to counselors, to the nurse the principal, the front office, and education aides - has been truly committed to supporting the children. The older children smile and wave when they walk past the grown ups. It is a magical place, both in terms of the physical space and the overall vibe. They really are living their values and the kids here are fortunate to learn and grow in an environment that appreciates SEL as much as academic progress (and understands they are two sides of the same coin). We couldn't be happier or more grateful about our decision to send our son here.

We have send two children to St. John Vianney School in Kailua and still have one set to enter its Early Learning Center (ELC) 3 next year. What incredible teachers and administrators. And it shows in the students. They build a strong academic foundation without distraction by new fads. You don't have to be Catholic to apply, but Catholic identidy is core and religion is taught almost every day. There are a variety of extraciriccular activities to include a hula halau. They have a excellent volleyball teams as well. Tuition assistance is very much available. Best thing you can do is to just reach out to the school if you want your child to have an excellent local education that is grounded in Christ.

We started our three year old at the Early Learning Center (ELC) this school year (Aug 2022-May 2023), and half way through the year we have been nothing but impressed at the small class sizes, individual attention from the teachers and staff, fun community building events, and sense of both belonging and self sufficiency our child has developed. We adore the local, private feel of this school, and the caring nature of all the teachers and parents who pitch in to help the kids succeed. While it's too early to assess academic rigor, our child has been receiving a classical, well-rounded education including letters & numbers, age appropriate math, collaborative songs and games, physical education, Catholic religion (but not overdone, ~1x per week), art, and a foreign language (Spanish). Additional extra curriculars--soccer, hula, and even golf!--are offered separately at reasonable costs after school. The value for St. Anthony's tution is fantastic. The location is convenient, adjacent to downtown Kailua in a beautiful neighborhood setting, across from Kailua Beach with the Ko'olau mountains visible in the distance. Among the schools we looked at in Kailua, St. Anthony's was our top choice and has been wonderful for our pre-schooler.