Hongwanji Mission School
- Private
- HONOLULU, HI
Private School
Hongwanji Mission School Reviews
Rating 5 out of 5 17 reviews
My son has been a student at Hongwanji Mission School since preschool (about 5 years now), and from day 1, we have loved it. From the faculty to the students, the parents and the PTO, we have loved every aspect of the school and all that it has to offer. The extracurricular classes that are offered has given my child the opportunity to try, and flourish, in a variety of avenues I never thought possible.
Hongwanji Mission now plays such a huge role in our lives. The relationships that we as a family have made, are to last a lifetime and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Next year, my daughter will be joining her brother at Hongwanji Mission and we’re excited to see how she’ll flourish there as well!
Hongwanji Mission now plays such a huge role in our lives. The relationships that we as a family have made, are to last a lifetime and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Next year, my daughter will be joining her brother at Hongwanji Mission and we’re excited to see how she’ll flourish there as well!
If you asked me to pick the single best decision that my wife and I have ever made as parents, it would be choosing Hongwanji Mission School for our son and starting him there from preschool. This place is really amazing, I can't overstate that enough. It has exceeded every expectation we had with respect to a quality education for our son. The teachers here really care about each and every student's well being and success. The environment is safe and comfortable for everyone, kindness and treating others with respect are part of the Buddhist values taught to the students and with bullying so common today, it's really nice as a parent to have peace of mind your child is both treated right and taught to treat others the same. If you're looking for a quality private elem/middle school for your child, do not delay and apply today, there is a wait list for most grades. That alone is a testament to how good this place is, everyone wants to get their child in here.
Our three children have experienced a collective 22 years (and counting!) at Hongwanji Mission School. The technology-focused curriculum, kindness and compassion-oriented guiding principles for everyday actions, and opportunities for neighbor island, East Coast, and Japan travel make the total experience from pre-K through Middle School exceptional. Most important, however, has been the collective efforts of the students, parents, and faculty to cultivate and maintain a strong sense of community. We are proud to be HMS parents!
We currently have 3 children enrolled at Hongwanji Mission School. We couldn’t be happier with the academic curriculum and the level of engagement from the teachers, PTO, and the school administrators. Hongwanji Mission School provides our children with a positive learning environment, offers a variety of classes offerings as well as afterschool programs, and staff/faculty are always friendly and welcoming. Our children have embraced Hongwanji's Buddhist principles of kindness, compassion, and respect. We are confident these Buddhist principles and values will help prepare and develop our children to become socially and culturally responsible citizens. We are very fortunate to be a part of the Hongwanji Mission School Ohana and would highly recommend the school to anyone.
If you are looking for a safe, nurturing environment that values the development of every aspect of your child’s being, Hongwanji is the place for your child. Low student-teacher ratio allows for an individualized attention. Japanese culture, art, music and PE are a part of the daily curriculum. My children attended Hms from preschool through 8th grade and the staff are like family to us.
We love HMS! Our daughter is currently in PK and we have had nothing but great experiences so far. We know that the educational foundation that HMS has given her will help her in the future, wherever she goes. The teachers she has had have been nothing short of wonderful, and we love the structured and nurturing curriculum that HMS provides. Our daughter also really loves all of the extra-curricular classes that are offered. It’s a great way for her to try a bunch of activities, and we find that she learns and benefits so much from all of them. Since we started at HMS at the height of COVID, we were naturally concerned with exposure, but the policies/procedures that the school put in place made us feel better about sending her to school. We know that they are doing everything they possibly can to keep the children and staff safe! We are so excited for our son to start school this year so he can get the same great experiences and strong educational foundation as our daughter!
We chose to send our child to Hongwanji Mission School because of the array of academic and extracurricular activities provided by the school to address the needs of each individual child. Our child stayed at Hongwanji Mission School because he found a family. Every day for the past eight years, our child has been welcomed by warm smiles and caring words. He has been challenged to develop intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. We are deeply appreciative that the Hongwanji Mission School teachers and staff have created a safe place for children to take risks and innovate to become the leaders of tomorrow.
I’ve been fortunate enough to be a part of the HMS community for quite some time. My sister and I both attended HMS from Preschool, before moving to other private schools. HMS provided us with an excellent educational foundation, helped us build a strong moral compass, and equipped us to succeed as well-rounded individuals. Fast forward a couple decades later, and now my children are attending!
Facilities are kept in great condition and the campus always feels SAFE. Electives are unmatched and there is something for every interest: Ballet, Karate, Swim, Robotics, Ukulele, Japanese & Little Vet School to name a few! The sense of community is further strengthened by family events that are frequently put together by the PTO.
HMS truly has been the best educational foundation for myself and my children. I will always be grateful to HMS’ standards of excellence and their commitment to integrate Buddhist values and teachings into each school day. I can’t recommend it enough.
Facilities are kept in great condition and the campus always feels SAFE. Electives are unmatched and there is something for every interest: Ballet, Karate, Swim, Robotics, Ukulele, Japanese & Little Vet School to name a few! The sense of community is further strengthened by family events that are frequently put together by the PTO.
HMS truly has been the best educational foundation for myself and my children. I will always be grateful to HMS’ standards of excellence and their commitment to integrate Buddhist values and teachings into each school day. I can’t recommend it enough.
Our Kindergartener loves HMS and so do we! He loves going to school every day, and likes all of his teachers and friends. HMS community welcomed us and made us feel like family from day 1. Some of our favorite things about HMS include Mrs. Whitney (the best swim teacher!), Japanese classes, Library class, fun Recess Care and after school activity options, safe learning environment, experienced and caring teachers and staff. Thank you for making school such an enjoyable and safe place for our kids HMS!
We are grateful that our daughter is at such a Mindful Middle School! This was her first year at HMS after attending a Hawaii Public Elementary School. Class size, caring faculty, relevant curriculum, and elective/resource classes including Swimming, Japanese, French, Lei Making and much more influenced our decision to have our daughter attend HMS. She is so happy! From the first day of school, her classmates welcomed her and helped her adjust quickly to a new school. She does not want to miss any days of school. In an ever-changing and complicated world, we are very grateful to have the experience and traditions of HMS guiding our daughter in her Middle School Years. Thank you all so much!
We have been part of the HMS family since our girls were in preK & K. They have since both been accepted to Punahou thanks to the rigorous curriculum, loving support, & nurturing environment provided at HMS. For 6th grade we applied our oldest daughter to Mid-pacific, Punahou, Iolani, LeJardin, Hawaii Baptist Academy, and LaPietra. Each of them asked her where she currently went. It was reassuring to hear how impressed they were we chose Hongwanji Mission School. They each said the curriculum at HMS will more than prepare her for the SSAT. Their class and extracurricular offerings checked off all the boxes making it easy for us! We are proud to say she got into every school she applied (besides a waitlist at Iolani).HMS prepared her and gave her the confidence to excel. We are so thankful for the teachers, Mr Randell, and truly dedicated staff. HMS offered our kiddos a solid academic foundation with all the love & support of an extended family. Thank you HMS.Best choice we ever made!
We have been a part of the Hongwanji family since preschool at the Moiliili Hongwanji preschool/temple. When it was time to select a K-8 school for our daughter, it was instantaneous for us to enroll at HMS. Our daughter enjoys the curriculum, the structure, and the cohesiveness of the student body while we as parents especially appreciate the knowledgeable staff, experienced faculty, and the unique experience of being a part of the HMS Ohana. We highly recommend HMS to all parents who might be interested in seeking a quality education experience for their children. We are grateful for the opportunity to have a daughter at HMS.
Our son is in first grade at Hongwanji Mission School and he absolutely loves it! The teachers and faculty truly care about the students and the entire campus environment feels like one interconnected family. While academics are of high importance, so too are the core values and life lessons that students will take with them for the rest of their lives. The afterschool programs are diverse and provide extended enrichment beyond normal school hours which is a huge benefit for a working family like ours. Thank you HMS!
Our family loves Hongwanji Mission School! This is our first year with HMS. All of the faculty, staff, and families have been very supportive, inclusive, and welcoming. Great care and time is given to developing a variety of learning opportunities and fun activities for the students. The facility is beautiful, well-maintained, and safe. The PTO and room parent teams have been amazing to work with. Our son just loves to go to school, and has enjoyed being part of the Lego robotics team, drama - Performance Arts Academy (PA'A), and student council. The overall experience has been more than we could have hoped for, and we're so grateful for everything. Thank you HMS ohana!
My kids have been attending HMS for 5 years now and I have been extremely happy with the HMS ohana! I like the size of the school because you get to know the faculty, staff, students and other parents. Pre-pandemic, kids looked forward to the various opportunities from 2nd grade sleepover, 4th grade Big Island Study Tour, 5th grade East Coast Study Tour, and 8th grade Japan Study Tour. During the pandemic, I was impressed by the quick implementation of shifting to a full day of virtual learning while other schools were still trying to figure out what to do and also the return to in-person and maintaining safety protocols.
The PTO activities have been great to meet other families and they came p with great ways to do in-person and virtual activities.
The PTO activities have been great to meet other families and they came p with great ways to do in-person and virtual activities.
My son has been at Hongwanji Mission School for 9 years. The staff at HMS are caring and nurturing. Their positive attitude and dedication permeate the culture of the school. The academic program coupled with the resource and after-school classes contributes to well-rounded student development. Students are well prepared to be successful in any high school program.
The parent teacher organization (PTO) offers many opportunities for families to come together as a community.
Any family looking for a values based education and a supportive community for their children should take the time to consider HMS.
The parent teacher organization (PTO) offers many opportunities for families to come together as a community.
Any family looking for a values based education and a supportive community for their children should take the time to consider HMS.
Hongwanji Mission School provides a safe, fun, and supportive environment that stresses the importance of social and emotional development as well as academic achievement. The classes are small with tailored instruction that allowed our boys (who had very different personalities and ways of learning) to thrive and enjoy their school. The facilities are great and the campus is comfortable and feels like school and playground.