Moanalua High School

Moving to this school was one of the best decisions. I learned so much more then i had in my previous school and one of the main reasons is the music department here.
--Submitted by a student

My daughter success story started in Moanalua Middle school. There is a tradition of involvement of the MoHS high schoolers with the education of the upcoming ones...a form of brotherhood that instills pride and trust. The music program is by far the greatest contributor to the excellence of this HS. Mr. Seta et al are the best role models you can expect as a parent. They have taught music, discipline, perseverance and many other valuable life lessons to my daughter. I am always amazed at the open and friendly atmosphere between students. You don't hear about bullying or ridiculing. Kids are always busy keeping up with the challenging academics or the many activities offered. My daughter has flourished in this great school. Teachers and counselors are completely involved and they involve the parents plenty as well. They don't wait until grades drop too much to send you a message. They know your child and don't hesitate to communicate with you at the smallest early sign of performance drop. I love the Menes and intend to support them in any way possible.
--Submitted by a parent

Ever since i started attending Moanalua, I've found this school to be one of the best not only because of the faculty and students, but what's taught. In our marching band program, our director Mr. Seta teaches not only how to be a great musician but also teaches us life lessons such as our music department motto P.R.I.D.E. which stands for perseverance, respect, integrity, discipline and excellence. As we learn to behave like so, it rubs off onto the student body, improving us as a whole and making Moanalua a better school.
--Submitted by a student

MOHS has been the #1 HS on this island 20+ years. My senior year in 1980: The Economics teacher won National Teacher of the Year, my Oceanography teacher newly introduced the first DOE approved HS ocean science class that year, won the State teacher of the year. MOHS constantly has teaching faculty that is creative and sometimes too far ahead for the DOE's requirements. This school can be really hard for kids to keep up at. Children that are suffering from family problems such as poor self-seteem, turmoil, bad parenting and isolative emotional depression aren't ridiculed or shuffled out of the equation, and military kids have always been a big part of MOHS. Families that lived here 20 years ago continue to breathe life into this once very tiny school with their children now in attendance to insure its integrity as a cornerstone unto itself. My daughter also attends MOHS.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a student at Moanalua High School and compared to all the other public schools on the island, I can truly say that MoHS is one of the best. Yes, some teachers may not be the best, and there may be a few students who may not be as friendly as other, but hey! What school doesn't have these problems? It's all perspective. But as far as I'm concerned, our school has great facilities and resources available to students. We have a great media and music program, as well as athletics. I don't think the school should be blamed for students not having friends or other aspects they can't control. Moanalua is a very safe campus. If you try visiting other campuses on the island and looking at their statistics of academic achievement and students who go onto highschool, you would see the difference.
--Submitted by a student

Moanalua is an outstanding school consistantly winning awards in academics, music, athletics,etc. While I agree there are racial cliques and local vs. non-local tensions, can you expect anything less in an ethnically diverse environment? My daughter is 'local', of asian and hawaiian ancestry, and has many 'non-local' friends, many of whom are military dependants. She does not discriminate because we have never taught her to do so. However, she acknowledges the presence of racial tension and credits it to ignorance and intolerance on both sides. If you are a 'mainlander' or 'military', tips to assimilating: *Respect the culture and cultural diversity *Understand the history of the islands and be sensitive to the fact that the military/haoles have not always been a welcome presence for Hawaiians (not unlike the Native American Indians). *Do not stop trying to make friends -Ignorance is everywhere...do not become part of the problem. Be part of the solution!
--Submitted by a parent

I came to the island the summer full of high hopes. Our family did the research and choose to move into an area the was in the Moanalua District so that our daughter could attend the high school. She has blended in very well at over 10 different schools in her life. However, the children and some of the faculty have not been very warm and accepting of a non-local child. Academically she is doing very well however, she has not made one local friend this school year. I tell her to keep trying to blend in but the kids are just simply mean to her her. Kind people should not be stereotyped rather local or not...it is very hurtful and it scars deeply. I pray that some of you reading this will not be so defensive and take a hard look that some of the negatives might be true.
--Submitted by a parent

This school is great because they teach the student how they would need to function in a adult like society it is a great start to there adult like years.
--Submitted by a parent

This school may be good because it is in Hawaii and I have kids that attend it and they have had racial problems. The teachers there talk to the students as though education is not imprtant. I am military I think if this best High School I am losing my mind, it is far from it. The student behavior here is horrible the best choice when moving to Hawaii is private School!
--Submitted by a parent

A wonderful school full of wonderful people. The most amazing experiences I have had in my life has come from attending this school.
--Submitted by a student