Hawaii Baptist Academy

There are some interesting reviews here from Tracy T, Tori M and Wendy A. When I buy products, I always check the bad reviews to see if I should avoid the purchase. HBA Elementary was more like one of those purchases where I’ve never heard of the product (which can be good so you don’t purchase due to hype), I’ve heard good and bad about it (still hard to judge), but the one thing they had going for them was I heard they were very rigid in their guidelines for students. Something I felt my son needed.
So now my son’s been attending HBA elementary for 4 years. He does well academically. Not straight As (though he did get a Soaring Eagle award this last quarter — straight high grades in core subjects), he’s happy with school (which I think is one of the biggest hurdles for a parent), still needs that guidance with behavior (hmmm), has awesome friends (and parents), and basically, the usual stuff you’d want from a school your child attends. There’s always good and bad with every school and I’m happy with the way things have gone for my child and I’ve heard the same from at least half the parents of the kids in his grade (private school is awesome — you do get to know the other parents). HBA is probably not a good fit for all types of kids. If you feel your child is TRULY a self starter and very creative, there are other schools that will put this to the test. My son is not all of the above, yet, hence the needed guidance and rigidity for now.
After 4 years here, I can say I have a new respect for the school I knew nothing about when my son first started. The biggest plus I’ve taken away from this experience so far is the faculty at this school steps up to the plate. You may sometimes need to ask and you may sometimes just get it without. In our case, multiple teachers have offered my son additional help with his better than average math skills. I think, one time I sort of asked and the 2^nd time the teacher just let us know what was going to happen. In either case, as parents, we were extremely happy he could get advanced tutoring, FOR FREE. I’m not saying they’ll do this for everyone, but I was amazed any elementary school, or teacher, has the time for unexpected curriculum. Keep in mind, this is not a group of students who are quite a bit more advanced than the rest so they set aside something for them, which can be kind of the norm. This is just him, getting the help I was hoping he’d get from the school, to accelerate. My hope is he can continue to get this kind of help until he gets to middle school. From that point on, the middle school sounds like it will be OK, but that will be another journey. I’m still glad they were able to step up in the first place. I’ve also heard of faculty helping kids who are really having trouble. Teachers letting kids come in after hours for tutoring. This isn’t help with the homework they didn’t finish. This is tutoring on a subject to help them better grasp the concepts they’re having trouble with. Again, free, just to help the child. I’ve heard of kids in this situation at some of the hyped schools and (from the stories I’ve heard) they basically tell you, you have to send your child to an outside tutor for help, which of course is not free. There are other stories, but it all comes down to the faculty at HBA Elementary is there for your child and they put a lot of effort into their job, which I can confrm first hand (and from stories of other parents and their kids).
There are some things schools can do for your child, but sometimes they can’t do everything you want. It’s these times you as a parent should step up to the plate. If a school can do this for YOUR child, you definitely should be willing and able to also.

I’m a little biased. Just saying.
I attended and graduated from the school and now I have a kid that attends the school. I think I’m a qualified to share some information about my experiences.
I have fond memories of the teachers and all my friends. The atmosphere was very supportive and I’m still close to many of my classmates. I enjoyed playing sports and being involved in other activities. Now there’s even more opportunity than when i was there. One of the most important things beside the relationships and environment was learning about Christ. In life, my faith really has shaped my perspective, outlook, attitude and decision making process.
Because my experience at HBA was so favorable, I’m glad I can send my child there and I feel that the school is also continuing to grow and improve as well. They have more space, facilities and programs! But some things still consistent, the great teachers and administrators! I know my kid is in a terrific school because she is so happy to be there. One day i hope to send my son too!

I credit Hawaii Baptist Academy in establishing the foundation for my Christian faith, beliefs, and values, and for that reason, I cannot put a price to my time spent there. What I have gained from my experience at this school is simply priceless.

To: Tracy T
My daughter will be ending her first year at HBA as a Kindergartener this year. She has grown to become a beautiful, independent, fearless and confident child while attending this school.
Your quote, saying:
«Kindergarteners die in their first year. Coming from preschool where they are creative beings and encouraged to talk about their day, HBA students are stifled and almost made to be robot like.»
Is so untrue.
My child is one of the most creative people I know and infact has come up with a novel idea of her own, a «kid food blog» which we will update as we travel across Europe the next 2 years. She is a shining example of what kids (when placed in the RIGHT school), can accomplish.
She has learned from attending HBA that the world is bigger than just Hawaii and we (as parents) are responsible for preparing her for her future, not just «top» local private schools and colleges, which seems to be your focus.
Again, successful, free-​thinking children are MADE when there’s BALANCE both at HOME and at SCHOOL and we’ve found that balance with HBA.
If we return to Hawaii, we will re-​enroll both of our children back into HBA.
So something must be wrong with us and our children (as you state in your review).
Shame on you!

It’s really too bad that Tracy T. is having such a terrible experience. It’s too bad her kids are stuck in a school their mom hates (I’m assuming she would have pulled them out by now if they’d been accepted anywhere else). Clearly their continued enrollment at this school will be negatively impacted by her own baggage and jaded attitude. Reading her sad commentary, the only thing I could think of was, you’re only going to get back what you expect. If you only look for the negative, that’s all you’re going to find. I don’t find most of her data and observations to be accurate. My own experience has been entirely different from hers; my children have developed wonderful friendships not only amongst other «lifers» but also with those who ENTERED (i.e. CHOSE to attend) from either middle school or the 9^th grade… and I would say the same is true for the majority of parents who have chosen to actively participate in school activities and events, etc. So much so, that many parents continue to stay involved, volunteer, and support the school years after their own children have graduated. Perhaps Tracy T. should stop projecting her own unhappiness upon the school and everyone else.
For the record, I only applied my children at HBA, had no desire to apply them anywhere else (and we’re NOT Southern Baptists!) We also know of other kids who were accepted at those «first choice schools» but actually chose (WHAT!!!) (*gasp*) to attend HBA. Please, Tracy T., take your kids out and make room for others who would like the opportunity to send their children to this «school of choice».

If you want to deepen your religion and faith in God, this is a great school.
If you want challenge in college preparation, athletics, and students who push the limits, I suggest to look elsewhere with your $ 12,000 dollars a year.

I wouldn’t typically write a review about a school but since i’m a alumni, I figured I better write a short review.
Located in Nuuanu, HBA is of Southern Baptist and funded partly through the Mainland Advisory Council. Millions of dollars come from the mainland to help offset cost to run this school.
I’ve been at HBA since elementary so I was there for an extended period of time. When I first went there, I wasn’t a happy camper as I went to a public school prior and this just didn’t seem the right fit for me. Many of the kids come from money and its pretty evident by the amount of stuff they have.
Education wise, its a pretty good school. Many of my classmates went on to do bigger and better things. Although I was a rebellious child, I think I did get some foundation in there… even if I didn’t realize it at the time.
I honestly believe now that its about the environment and how you can benefit just from being in a nurturing environment.

I have to preface this review and say that I attended HBA from K-​12, so I have had a lot of experiences with this school. I also have applied my son to attend Kinder here as well.
HBA is (IMHO) one of the best private schools on O’ahu. It’s a school that has all the opportunites you could imagine with a great campus, genuinely caring teachers, and a rigorous curriculum.
I am not sure what school Tori M. went to when talking about this place an «not safe, nurturing, or welcoming if you’re not straight, Asian, or Southern Baptist.» Also «not challenging?» Hmmmm maybe I wasn’t that bright, but high school was pretty damn hard! I’m sincerely sorry you didn’t have a good time at HBA, but I completely disagree with those statements. There were lots of people that weren’t straight, Asian or Southern Baptist and had a great education and a good time. (They were my friends — a mix of non-​Asians, mixed orientation, and definitely none of us were S. Baptists.) HBA accepted and nurtured them all.
It’s a little pricey, but on the lower end of the top private schools in cost. You get quality education for what you pay for.
As a parent of a child going in to Kinder and looking for the best place for my child, I see HBA in a different perspective. I’m impressed that it is a school that runs like a very organized and professional business and 100% of the graduates still attend college. They have an organized and professional admin staff that coordinates a slew of applicants and schedules parent orientations, interviews and testing for new students.
The parent orientation was a great overview of the elementary school with the Kinder teachers sharing about what the children do and learn throughout the day and school year. I overheard other parents saying that this was more than they got at other schools and I agree. I’ve been to several other orientations which is a bunch of brochures and a Q and A session. The staff genuinely cares about the kids and are top notch educators that are constantly improving their classroom/​teaching skills.
The elementary campus is also more well maintained than I ever remember which is impressive because I know how much effort and money it takes to keep up a huge campus like they have. The middle school also has a new state-​of-​the art campus that is LEED Gold or Silver which shows effort to provide the best facilities and technology for the students.
HBA has had a significant part in shaping me into the person I am now and I’d say I’ve been pretty happy with where I’ve gone in life. *steps off soap box*

So I gave in and decided to write a Unilocal review for HBA. I could write a book on my six years here (I wont say which ones they were, too embarrassing). Bottom line, it’s not a safe, nurturing, or welcoming place to learn if you’re not a straight, Asian, Southern Baptist kid. They don’t challenge students, especially the bright ones. They discourage independent thought and punish it, especially in Bible classes. It’s one thing to encourage Christianity but nobody benefits if students hear that one way is right and everybody who doesn’t believe what you believe is evil and vile. They only thing this school has going for it is cross country and bowling teams.

I was supposed to go to HBA, and I wish I did. They have a pretty good Math team… excuse me while I be a geek over here. And their volleyball team was always really good and scrappy. I really like their gym. It was spacious, pretty clean, and the bleachers didn’t look like they’d fall apart if you sat on them. I think their athletic director and coaches really know what they’re doing. I mean, they take games off of the Big Three every year. Parking is kind of a hassle because all of the grounds are uneven, but it’s still a pretty nice area.

My Dad was a Army officer.
I was never sure what he did during the three years we were stationed in Honolulu, but he did it all underground and I know he did it for us. To this day I can only speculate. We would pick him up every evening at an entrance to a small building the size of an outhouse that lead to a stairway going underground. I only went down those stairs once, but I remember a heavy barred gate and two MPs with rifles at the bottom.
I have lots of tales to tell of my time in Hawaii and the deep contrast between this beautiful paradise we, his family, lived in and what was, obviously, my Father’s reality for those years. But, I digress…
In light of my Father’s reality, today I now know that my brother and I were put in a private school for «safety» reasons. My Mother had determined that we would not be safe, nor well educated, if we went to a public school in Hawaii. I am not sure what made her come to that conclusion, but she (or they) did. In later years she told me that the first private school that answered the phone when we moved to Honolulu was the one she chose and the one in which we were both enrolled for the next three years.
The 8^th grade in the Hawaiian Baptist Academy was the first year I finished an entire year in one school. .. ever. Transferred, relocated, moved on or off base, across the country, around the world. It was the school life of a military brat.
I started in the 8^th grade at HBA and spent three wonderful years here. Many lessons were learned. Many memories that I have carried all my life.
Is it a good school?
I suspect so.
Did I learn from my time there?
Yes, but probably not what they meant me to learn.
Were they able to convert me to a Southern Baptist?
Not even close.
What did I learn?
That everything that touches your life is a learning experience and that my Father’s «safety net» was able to create a «safety net» for me for my entire life.

More tales of UFO’s, May Day is Lei Day, Sticky Rice, the Air Force Academy, no dancing, the first to buck the system, Poison Flowers, power to ship an unsuspecting fellow off to Egypt and other Hawaiian Baptist Academy tales perhaps will be told in some future Unilocal review (s). Perhaps.
Three stars are based on my three-​year attendance here. Two additional stars are for the belief in myself that this school provided me with without even knowing they were doing it.
The Hawaiian Baptist Academy. Thank you.