Keiki Aloha Preschool

To start with my daughter started preschool (age 2) April 2018 at nuuanu preschool. Loved it but sadly they closed down December 2019. I looked all over between town to Pearl city ( we live in town I work out there) and I came across Keiki Aloha preschool. Walked in met Aunty Cathy and scheduled a walk through with Uncle Troy. After doing the walk through I realized I loved everything about it. Class sizes are small, extremely clean, kids work at their own pace, very very secured and they are big on hugs (so am I)! Uncle Troy made a space to take my daughter right away, we filled out all the papers and pretty much the rest is history.Fast forward a few months my daughter loves school. Talks about everything she's done that day. Sings songs and practices alphabets at home, talks about park (yes the go outdoors to the park), talks about movies and being a princess and so much more... Once you get to the door you have to be buzzed in (again very secure), once child has put away their shoes and they say good morning they go to wash their hands and then join everyone.If you come early enough they serve breakfast. Food is included in the tuition. They do activities, get naps, and even get TV/movie time (yes I approve as my daughter will talk with me about what she watched and explain what is going on), playtime, one on one time (if needed), etc.As a parent I love the fact that they give structure but love...if you are a parent who's not super big on structure this is not the school for you. I appreciate the fact that they will make kids walk in (no carrying as we all have 2 feet), they dont give into tantrums, no toys from home, and healthy (as possible )food options. They let the kids have fun in a safe way. To Uncle Troy, Aunty Cathy, and staff thank you for taking such good care and treating my baby girl like the big girl she is.

A very small preschool located in the shopping center near Cutter Ford and across the street from Shiro's Saimin which takes 3 units. My son has been going to this school since he was 2.5 years old till the day before he started Kindergarten. To start off my son is very opihi and a very picky eater. At when he first started as a toddler he mostly drank milk from a sippy cup, in full on diapers, and could barely speak any words at all. For MONTHS he cried everyday when I dropped him off and was so grouchy after school because he didnt nap or eat due to this new environment he has never been in, let alone with anyone else in his life. On his very last day of preschool he was speaking full sentences, opened up his personality, fully potty trained, learned to have new aunties and uncles, knew his ABCs, numbers and colors and even knew all the words to the Hawaii Pono'i and America the beautiful along with other small songs from his school. Did all of this happen overnight? No, but over the course of 2.5 years he has grown so much thanks to this preschool. They understood he learned at his own pace and included him in all the activities till he understood what was needed to be done. Has he opened up his appetite? No lol, but regardless they always offered breakfast, lunch and snack time as well to open him to the possibility of eating new foods.Their hours may say 6am-6pm but in reality they take kids in from 630am-430pm. They have the most affordable tuition around and accept pretty much all child subsidies Hawaii has to offer to help low income parents except the Pauahi Scholarships. It was thanks to Cathy who has told me about it in the first place which helped a lot as a single mother paying for my son's tuition.As the years went by (especially this year) they've upgraded a lot of their areas in the school from signage, outside cameras, alarm system, and kids cubbies which was very nice to see. The staff has been consistent except for 1 seasonal teacher that always comes and goes and my son will always hug all his teachers with a smile upon me picking him up.A great choice for a small affordable school for your little one. Communication could be better between teachers and teacher to parent though. Sometimes a conversation can be forgotten or unspoken but as a parent that what you must follow up on to make sure everything stays up to par. If you want to know how your child is doing in school you have to ask yourself.Thanks for helping my little buddy grow Keiki Aloha. He's come a long way and I appreciate how far he has some with your help.

I would not waste my time writing a bad review for a school I didn't send my child to. Nice try saying we were not enrolled there. Shows how conniving the owners truly are. I'm just looking out for other families and children.

I waited 3 years to write this review. I brought my son here when he was a little over 2 years old. Troy seemed really nice and friendly during the meeting process to sign up my son....then I realized he's actually just full of himself. The overall well being and growth of my son deteriorated when he was in this school. My son was shy, quiet, and didn't really talk much. He would cry pretty much everyday I dropped him off and I always wondered why. Each time they'd ask me to just let him cry it out on the carpet and when he was ready they'd calm him down and sit him down to eat. Well one day I watched what happened At the front area from the window, I pretended to leave but stood there watching from the front door, my son cried, then stopped shortly after and they just left him there on the floor and ignored him even after he stopped crying. I stood there watching in disbelief, they just kept eating and ignored him. He became reluctant to want to try to learn to talk, he cried when I tried to put him on the toilet to assist in potty training. It's like he was scared to do so, like he had a bad experience with it. Troy even made a comment after I asked about what happened the day I saw him just left on the floor and he said "sometimes when he cries it just makes you wanna" and proceeded to make a mean face while using his hands to show like he was squeezing something. I was just like...."oh". Cathy can have a nasty attitude for no reason sometimes and it's really unprofessional. The staff doesn't talk to you or when they do it's like they don't want to say too much, not friendly at all. They charged me random late fees when I pulled my son out and when I asked why they didn't mention the fees earlier they said because it's not their job to remind me....yes, I know this but why not mention it at the time of the incurred fee so I can pay it when it's due instead of 4 months later when I'm pulling my son out. I paid it cause it's whatever and they can have the money. Troys mom actually opened the school and he took over he said. It's obviously not their passion to be educators of little ones and it truly shows. The reason I waited so long was to see if it was the school or if it was my son just being a 2 year old. I was so wrong it was the school. I took him to SOUNDS OF SUCCESS right across the way. His demeanor changed within 4 months after leaving this school. He was potty trained, talking, happy, and flourishing. He attended SOUNDS OF SUCCESS for a little over a year.....the teachers are so caring and amazing, Laurie the director is amazing. Go see my review for them and find out more about why! Stay clear of Keoki Aloha, it's cheaper than most places but you get what you pay for. A mediocre staff that's inconsistent and not an environment or people you'd want your babies to be around. It's hit or miss which is why some reviews are good and the others aren't at all, they take the time for some and others not so much.

This school has teachers that show no compassion. They need to update their standards and hire new staff that want to help your child not just sit in a corner on their phones. Troy is great but not there all the time.

We made a reservation time and we still had to wait 1 hr just to get in, I feel like the walk in is faster than reservation line

I love this school!! they have been great teachers and friends to my child. Troy the director is an awesome human being who has a passion for teaching kids and helping families. I would recommend this school for anyone who needs professional services and the best care for their children. thank you Keiki Aloha for all the time my child has spent with you.

Great old school style preschool / daycare. They take safety first with temperature checks, double door security. Im happy with what the faculty does with what they have for my daughter. Everytime we drop off our daughter they are always trying their best to serve the children and never on their cellphones or talking stories. At the end of the day is it fancy or brand new like other preschools, no but if you are looking for an allday care with that old school charm this may be for you.

Zero stars. I enrolled my daughter here for Aug 2021 school year in my negligence of not checking the reviews on here first. I took advice from someone whose child attended 12 years prior because it was a family member, I trusted it. WRONG! First off, Troy the director we met with him in April 1st, paid him $1800.dep + first mo. Then I turned in all the paperwork for her TB test and he was not in the loop that TB test does not require a poke anymore for anyone outside of healthcare since 2018. He sent me going back 3x to her pediatrician & lanakila saying my daughter needs to get the poke or she can't start school. He finally says just bring the forms you have! Aug 2nd first day seems okay. Day 3, I drop my daughter I'm asking questions one boy is siting in the corner screaming, kicking on the floor being ignored, not eating, nose running. I asked what's Covid protocol, teacher Anna said they will need to call his parents if he strikes up a fever. So my daughter starts crying and I'm trying to hype her up saying "hey you're gonna have beef tipsFor lunch." Anna says,"oh no we're not eating that today, we brought leftovers." I'm confused By contract, they Cater from Iges lunch due to not having a certified kitchen, Troy said they don't cook but yet I see them cooking on hot plates in the mornings making hot sandwiches. Anna said they order Iges about 3x a week IF we don't have anything to bring or in our grocery fridge. Troy admit that they don't feed them Iges daily, sometimes it just the frozen foods chicken nuggets etc. I mentioned what Anna said and he said, he doesn't know why she said that, "possible language barrier." Yet the minute we picked up my daughter she asked for food & said she was hungry. Then my husband picks up my daughter on the 7th day of school, she was not 100% potty trained, I paid an extra $50 fee for this, she ran to the door with her pants around her ankles while her teacher Leslie just sits there. Then she holds her mask to her face while opening the door. Hub asked Leslie how my daughter was doing she says "fine" and walks away. She's done this to me everyday since my daughter started there, I ask Leslie the same thing and She tells me "well she cried a little this morning." And walks away, that's all you gonna get outta her. My daughter attended this school from Aug 2nd to Aug 12th. On Aug 12th I got Covid and found out midday. I sent my husband to pick up my daughter due to pending results. August 13th kept my daughter home and she also tested positive for Covid. I alerted Troy as soon as I got her results and he said ok well I guess now my world will be upside down for a few weeks because of this. We quarantined Dr said we will be okay to go out and back to work and school. Well I called the school at 6:30am in the morning she should have returned and teacher japanese lady sweet with glasses(my daughter loved her) She verified other kids had Covid and parents were notified but I as a parent, never once got a letter saying this school had any cases while parents didn't heR of our case. I asked how did they clean the classroom And she said "we wiped down door handles & shelves with Clorox wipes" so I asked no cleaning company came In to clean, she said No. DHS worker who holds the pearl city preschool licenses also was not aware of any cases, it was not reported to her or the Dept of health. My Hub and I agreed to pull my daughter out, she attended for 9 school days and he would not find it in his heart to even give me a portion of my $1800. Negligence of Troy who told me that because of my daughters Covid case he had to attend 9 meetings on proper procedures. Lies! DHS also said they shouldn't be cooking at all, I learned that there are different grades of the health placards as like the green ones you see on the restaurant doors.This school is only allowed to microwave food. Troy does a great way of smooth talking hes a know it all saying he's a realtor, father, educator smh. I went there this morning to ask for their tax EIN number for our taxes, He said he's also the most honest and fair guy...I said if you were you would have refunded by deposit. He threw his hands up and said "Im Not going there with you because I don't handle the money, I'm just the director." Yet he was quick to take my check for $1800. There's just 2 teachers there who are bodies! Beware, don't take your kid there. It's the cheapest for a reason.

Worst place to bring your kid . My child is a sometimes picky eater . If I didn't hear this directly out of his mouth I wouldn't say it but I did hear it .... His theory is to starve your child and actually punish our child to get them to try new food . That's absolutely absurd to hear that from the guy that owns the company .. Everytime I pick my kid up I noticed the kids never interact amongst each other like normal kid s would . It's like their on time out for 7-10 hours a day , 5 times a week My child doesn't even know any of her classmates names , our child is a social butterfly and has no problem talking to other kids and making friends . But for some reason she doesn't know anyone . Not even the teachers name . Our kid asked to leave this school . Shows how much care they show towards the kids . This is a toddler prison in my eyes .