Mokulele Elementary School

This school is awful! If you can avoid it at all costs, please do for the sake of you and your children! My child excels academically and has a fairly easy time making friends, but the bullying at this school is WAY out of control! My child was threatened by another child that he was going to beat her up after school and my daughter told the teacher out of fear and the teacher told her to deal with it because class was almost over!!!! This is just one of the many issues we have had! I have had countless meetings with the principal who refuses to admit that this school has a bullying problem. The academic situation is even worse! They only care about the students who will get them closer to getting grants (those students who score higher on state tests!)...so if your child has difficulty learning...forget it! AVOID! AVOID! AVOID!!!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

As military families, we don't often have a lot of choice in the schools our children attend-because we have to live on or near base..We are very disappointed with the Hawaii school systems and their level of academics. That being said, Mokulele is a nice school. The staff really do care about the children and they do.. ok.. with the curriculum they're given. I think they could focus more on academics, and less on school events, brush bot competitions and recess. My girls can play at home. We do feel like its necessary to supplement the kids outside of school..but that would be the case for any school in Hawaii. That is why I give 3 stars in teacher quality. They are all very sweet people, every one of them. I just wish my kids were being challenged more. Over all, Mokulele is a safe, fun place for your kids to attend. It will do...
—Submitted by a parent

My children really enjoyed Mokulele. The teachers are wonderful and the Admin. is very much involved. Compared to Hickam Elem., Mokulele has a much better curriculum. My children attended both schools and Mokulele far exceeds Hickam Elem. Parents think Hickam is better because Officer children attend Hickam but they are painstakingly wrong.
—Submitted by a parent

My son attended (Jr.) Kindergarten here. His acacemics improved greatly over the school year. He went recognizing some of the alphabet to reading by year's end. Kindergarten has an impressive curriculum including science, social studies & basics like reading and math. They go to a music class, have PE, and visit the library each week. They have sort of a mentoring interaction with the older grades called Ohana which meets weekly as well. I think each of the kids are a assigned an older 'buddy.' I was impressed that the K's got to go on 5 field trips during the school year. Parent involvement is greatly encouraged. I give the school 4 stars because I felt lost at the beginning of the school year since there was no parent orientation & some of the special events could have been better. I think there will be a parent orientation for 2009-2010.
—Submitted by a parent

What is potentially a strong point of this school is the opportunity for teachers to 'articulate', or meet on a weekly basis to plan/discuss curriculum materials and other pending issues. In other schools teachers often work in isolation so time spent with other teachers to discuss classroom issues is often hit-and-miss.
—Submitted by a teacher

My son attended Kindergarten at the school. I felt academically the school was good, especially with my son coming from a private preschool. The programs that are offered to the kindergartens were music, Hawaiian studies and computers. Each student participated in these programs. The school really stress reading for all the students. The kindergartens went to the library once a week and pick out a book to write their favorite part in the story and draw a pictures. The incentive at the end of the month was a coupon for a personal pan pizza meal at pizza hut. Fit 2 Win was a big fitness program for the school and Hickam Youth Center which the students recorded daily all the fitness activities they did. My son attended the before and after school program at the Hickam Youth Center. The school encourages parents to volunteer.
—Submitted by a parent

Mokulele was a wonderful school my children loved it and the teachers became friends . The teachers and staff really care for the children.
—Submitted by ekela, a parent

The staff and teachers @ Mokulele are truly exceptional. My son has ADHD and year after year I see him strive to his fullest potential academically. I give the Mokulele teachers many thanks for their hard work, dedication and patience with my son. I am forever indebted to them. Many thanks! Omayra
—Submitted by a parent