Testimonials

"Kuleana Education Academy was a 180 for our family. I never knew school could be like this.

We had to get our daughter out of public school where she was excelling academically but really struggling with constant bullying and harassment. Every kid deserves to feel safe and get a good education and unfortunately that’s not what we were experiencing at the public middle school in our area.

When we first toured Kuleana, I was a little skeptical because I didn’t see all the kids at their desks with pencils and paper, all trained to focus on a lecture. I thought we may have to sacrifice some academic development to get her in a safer environment. It’s true that there really is a difference in how they teach but I couldn’t have been more wrong about the learning outcome!
Our daughter who was straight A’s in public school has been just as academically challenged here, if not more so. Kuleana meets students where they are, whether that is academically or emotionally. They have created a warm, accepting environment that is a legit Ohana.

I am not exaggerating to say that the move here was life-changing for her and our entire family. She comes home from school now and doesn’t want to run to her room to detox and or ruminate on how she was treated by other kids, instead she is back to her fun creative silly self. I have zero doubt that this dramatic shift is hugely due to the environment she is in every day.

And bonus points because they teach life skills here like mindfulness and how to navigate their emotions. Middle school is such a difficult transformative period - these kids deserve an environment that recognizes that and sets them up for life!

The communication from the administration team and teachers is unlike anything we experienced in the public system. When we got the first newsletter after her first month, I really wished this was an option for me growing up. We couldn’t be happier with our decision. 💙 -Charlie

“Thank you for how much you’ve helped my son grow this year. He’s a different kid than before he came to Kuleana and I can’t say enough how much it means that he looks forward to school and says he had the best day every day.”

Kuleana is definitely a school that is based on love and nourishing the students with emotional, literate, common knowledge for any human survive the real world. I WISH this was the school I grew up in. But- the staff really is the reason. Their patience and passion, the love of their kids/ students. JGambing

Kuleana has been a huge blessing in my life. Knowing that the school and staff stands by our children and puts them first is a huge relief. Thank you for all that you do for our keiki!

Yes. I would talk about how we moved from public school with many issues and how Kuleana welcomed us with open arms and have helped both our children find themselves and be able to thrive in their education and social skills.

I highly recommend Kuleana Education because of the quality of education each child receives.

Kuleana Education is a school that thinks outside the box. It is taught by very dedicated teachers that take the whole child into consideration. It uses creativity and play to learn, which has been shown to support faster retention abilities when taking on new tasks. I appreciate the diverse teachers and perspectives. I appreciate the animal care and outdoor activities and space. My son has had the option to go back to his prior school and he continues to choose this one. He says it is his school and I appreciate a child that wants to get out of bed each morning and attend his school. I appreciate he loves learning. I appreciate how close knit the community is. I would recommend this school for those that want to unschool their children though help them become healthy, loving connected humans!

Kuleana was a great fit for my son. He was able to be himself and learn so much. He was very supported by the staff and truly enjoyed being at school with everyone. I cannot thank the staff enough for all you guys do. Thank you so much!

We are excited to see the new basketball goal! Also thankful we are able to text Dana short notice for whatever we need - that’s priceless!

Keep up the awesome work. We appreciate having an option like Kuleana for our kids as opposed to a traditional school environment/experience.

Hello Kuleana Education Academy!
My family and I recently visited Hawaii. On our second to last day, we did a night manta snorkel and met Kapono and so....On our last day there, we came to the Entrepreneurial Fair at your school and were so impressed! The hair extensions, the cookies, the pancakes, the crochet, the rice, the bath salts! Needless to say, our suitcases were a little heavier coming home with the very best souvenirs we could have hoped for. My 5th grade daughter, Georgia, said "I want to go to school here!"
Thank you so much! -Camas, WA

"Our children thrive at Kuleana Education! what an amazing school! The teachers are so amazing that the children do not even realize they are learning!! Kuleana teaches teamwork, strength. and understanding for each child. Highly recommend!!" -Janelle

"​Although I do not have students attending this school, I have had the privilege of interacting with the students and faculty on several occasions; most recently this past Friday at their Entrepreneur Event. Each student that I interacted with was engaged and pleasant and polite. They had obviously spent time and effort in learning how to prepare and market product, were able to make change, and politely thanked me as a customer.
Learning and being able to use each of these skills are lessons that they will use in their lives. As a member of the community, I am happy that faculty are engaging students in this manner." -Sandra

"​If my husband and I were to personally customize a wholesome, educational experience to prepare our young sons for life…Kuleana Education covers it all! We have experienced four other schools in our Kona area and this nurturing atmosphere fits both us parents and our children!
We have all personally spent much time on campus over these last couple years getting to know both dedicated, loving staff and amazing students. It’s the only school we’ve seen nurture these kid’s spirits in order for them to confidently thrive and accomplish personal life goals. Most importantly, occasional conflicts are teacher guided and sorted out between classmates with positive skills taught in Social Emotional classes. As a parent, my concerns were responded to, but the staff assisted students in open discussions to solve any conflicts soon after they happened. These are wonderful skills to teach our kids!
Here we find a solid foundation of kindness, respect, mindfulness, life skills, Hawaiian Studies, Music, cultural celebration, creative expression mixed in with basic classes…this offers more than we could ask for! This year our son actually took the lead in his science project and also his business plan for entrepreneurial day! We witnessed first hand some great, creative thinkers!
In addition, the Ellison Ohana proudly share that our son has greatly improved his overall performance since he has always struggled with autism 1, anxiety disorder and ADHD. Every day was a struggle for us all with two boys on the spectrum. We are much improved now!
Finally, Kuleana Education’s symbiotic professional inclusion of supervised medical RBT’s(Registered Behavior Therapists from Big Island Behavior Intervention at Imi’ Ola Services), allows our children to better access their education and to improve their social skills on a daily basis. For the first time, we are cutting back medical hours only due to the amazing improvements Samuel has made both academically and socially. Our wonderful clients have also thanked us for recommending Kuleana Education for their children and grandchildren due to the offered trauma based education. A place where we all find joy, success and a reason to explore with new friendships made. Much gratitude to our Kuleana Education Ohana! Mahalo!❤️" -Lauralynn and Steve

“My child receives an outstanding educational experience at Kuleana. Since kindergarten I have witnessed remarkable growth and development in her academic abilities and personal character. I am impressed by the school’s commitment to holistic development by their emphasis on elective learning through classes in nature, Hawaiian studies, health, drama, and gardening. We at very proud of being a part of the Kuleana Ohana and community.”

Kuleana Education created a safe space for my son to flourish and love school. He jumps out of bed in the morning because he loves it so much. The teachers are caring, considerate and supportive. The combination of nature, animals, and education make for an ideal learning environment. The friendships that have been cultivated are life-long ones. We are so blessed we have had this school to attend during some of the most challenging years we have faced in society.

We love Kuelana School! Teachers are very committed and dedicated to our children’s academic growth and also their wellbeing. The class size is small enough so that each student receives individual attention to his or her needs so that one can achieve the maximum potential. The classes by block give opportunity to get children used to the different styles of all teachers on campus - this is so cool.

There is no doubt that our daughter has enjoyed her time at Kuleana. We have watched her grow from a shy child to making friends with practically the entire school. The mindfulness that Ms. Michelle shares and teaches our daughter will forever be cherished. The methods of feelings/emotions that Mr. Robby teaches has made our daughter be able to express herself more freely. The care, compassion, hugs, and tickles that Ms. Karina gives to our daughter is something that she would treasure, never forget, and never stop asking for. All the teachers, staff, and fellow students at Kuleana has made it a true Ohana experience for us.

This school is fantastic! It offers so much more than traditional public school. The children learn so many valuable life skills and how to work together with each other no matter the grade level. Some of the things that drew us to Kuleana was the short learning blocks with frequent breaks, the farm, Japanese class, the curriculum, and the genuine love the entire faculty has for all of the students. It truly is a family environment! The Engman Ohana

I love is this school!! I am so blessed to have found it. Thank you for your continued support of my boys.

This is a magical place. I can’t believe it exist and I don’t want it to ever be over.

"My granddaughter attended Kuleana for 9 years kindergarten through her graduating 8th grade last year. She started out rocky but because of the loving giving teachers and staff she did great! Her graduating speech was directed to each teacher and how they affected her life. I now have her 2 younger siblings attending and again the love and individuality of the care they are receiving is so special. I truly love and support this school and all of the teachers and staff. I strongly encourage you this school for your children." -Kathy