Hahaione Elementary School

This is a really good school. Mr. Bradley the 5th grade teacher is outstanding, he is the kind of teacher the kids really like and yet he gets the job done and communicates daily via email. The variety of after-school programs available is much better than those offered at our previous (private) school. the facilities are nice and spacious, the computers are new Macs, and the parents are all involved. There are a lot of events like Ohana Night, Talent Show, and Halloween Fun. So glad it's our neighborhood school!!! Unlike some schools, most kids here really are from the neighborhood.
--Submitted by a parent

I wish that my son had the same positive experiences at Hahaione as some of these other students report. However, my son is blond with blue eyes. He was treated very poorly by his teacher and I believe that it was absolutely race-based discrimination. She made many "haole" jokes and derogatory remarks. My son is very bright, but in front of the entire class she humiliated him and asked him if he was retarded. She mocked him and asked if he wanted to go to special ed. (Since leaving Hahaione, my child has been in gifted and talented classes exclusively) Regardless of whether or not he needed special ed, the childish way that she treated a child was reprehensible. No child should be humiliated and Special Ed isn't a punishment, it is a program to help kids with special needs. When I attempted repeatedly to work it out with the principal, I received a lot of promises and lip service, but no follow through. Eventually I reported the problems to the superintendent who took immediate action. The reason I am giving this school 2 stars instead of 1 is because after the superintendent got involved, things improved immensely for the duration of my son't fifth grade year.
--Submitted by a parent

We joined Hahaione last year and are very fond of the school. Parents are heavily involved and teachers are (for the most part) exceptional.
--Submitted by a parent

We're on our fourth year at Haha'ione Elementary and are so happy with our school. Wonderful teachers, involved parents, happy kids. Exposure to music, Hawaiiana, foreign language, physical education and more -- and all that begins in Kindergarten! Plus, the PYP Programme offers curriculum focused on global thinking and community-mindedness.
--Submitted by a parent

Their constant effort to improve learning and our community
--Submitted by a parent

It's a great school, my daughter is in Kindergarten and she loves it. She has been better behaved since she started school there, her teacher works with the kids through a reward system so that really has helped my daughter. They PTA is awesome they plan many great events and the parents really get involved and help the kids really love their school.
--Submitted by a parent

Great school, great parents. Both my daughters love it.
--Submitted by a parent

This is an up and coming school. The principal is very approachable and works extremely hard to improve the school. Funding issues impede the extracurricular activities, but the principal brings in after school activities for low fees that somewhat makes up for the lack of an art and PE teacher. Japanese and Mandarin Chinese as well as many other after school courses are available. GT and accelerated programs could be better, but they are trying to improve the program. If this school had adequate funds, it would be excellent.
--Submitted by a parent

I beleive the push for State testing leaned towards making math a priority and didn't involve other academics as much. Music and art were victims of cutbacks and overcrowded classrooms made it difficult for teachers and students. The staff and faculty are teriffic and do the best with what they have. I am dissapointed in the lack of parental involvement but am greatful for those who do participate.
--Submitted by a parent

I was very disappointed in this school, and withdrew my child after one year. Many promises were made at the beginning of the year, but nothing materialized. The Gifted/Talented Program started six weeks before the end of the school year, and they tried to cram it into a few hours per week for those six weeks. The kids were promised an orchestra class, which started around spring break, but they never got to play their violins. (They did get to hold the violins one day, but my child was gone on a field trip for GT class that day.) The school has a science lab, but my child's 4th grade class never used it. Definitely an over-rated school.
--Submitted by a parent