Kaimuki Waialae YMCA

We got the membership here for the family swim access. The pool is heated and comfortable. My kids tend to get cold fast in other pools so they like the warm temperature of this pool a lot.
Usually the life guards and staff are friendly. But some life guards don’t want to set up the lane dividers. Just laziness I guess. Also there are some members (the old timers) act like its their pool. One old lady who came after us told us we have to get out of the lane because its her lane. She has been coming here for a long time, she said. When I complained to the life guard, she just shrugged her shoulders.
But over all, this Y is good. Lots of stuff for kids sign up. The location and the price are good too.

This rating is for the Keiki swimming classes they have at this location (waialae/​Kaimuki YMCA). The aquatics department has the worse communication skills.
My child started swimming classes here about 5 years ago. Within the pass 6 months they have been slacking tremendously. This pass session they had 3 different teachers in the whole 8 week period. There was no communication to the second teacher where the first teacher left off and that went the same way for the 3^rd teacher. The 3^rd teacher at the second to the last class said that all the kids will have to repeat the class because she is unable to do the complete the paper work if the child has passed because she just started working with the group for 3 weekends.
These classes are 80 dollars for 8 weeks.
I will never enroll my child and do no recommend this place for teaching your children how to swim. From the way they operate here is terrible and unfair to the children and parents.
If Unilocal allowed me to put a no start rating. I would have definitely chose that.

I’m going to edit my review since the Central Y on Atkinson shut down and again this will only apply to the workout room.
With the closing of the Central Y this already small workout area has become woefully overcrowded and parking which was already an issue, has become terrible with having to find street parking at times. Maybe with the millions the Y made in selling prime Waikiki real estate they could perhaps upgrade the most neglected Y on island?
As stated in other reviews, this Y caters to the geriatric and retired crowd who often tend to talk instead of actually using what limited machines they are sitting on. The teens from the after school programs using their phones while working out, are at the other end of the time wasting spectrum. In short, if you want a quick, efficient, workout with lots lifting options and plentiful parking this isn’t the place for you. On the other hand if you enjoy waiting for machines while teens and retirees chat, like cold fans blowing on you (don’t want to actually sweat), scented air, and delight in looking for parking, by all means you’ve found your gym. The lone star rating is for the friendly staff.

A small-​ish «Y» but a great heated pool. Usually busy with open swim and the classes fill up pretty fast. Come early to get your gear. The workout room is small as well, but the machines are pretty new and clean (depending on who’s working). A great close knit staff

This review is only for their camps during school breaks.
My son went to Kahala Elementary for the winter intersession and loved it! (It helped that his good friend was also there, in the same group!) I was surprised to see that they were broken up into little groups. I suppose it’s easier to keep an eye on the kids that way. There weren’t as many excursions as Kama’aina Kids does, but they were more organized and creative. I saw the kids doing different activities onsite and was very impressed. My son also liked the lunch provided by Sweet Doughs. He said there was more variety like bentos and mac n cheese.
I’m thankful that I now have a few options so that my son can go to different places :)

The Aquatics Dept and the Front Desk/​Receptionist Staff do not CLEARLY communicate and give parents/​members wrong information. My son was to participate in a swim meet. I called that day to reconfirm the time. The FD confirmed the time BUT the swim meet was to be held in WAIPAHU! Needless to say I was totally inconvenienced and that was the FIRST time. Second, I called to confirm swim lessons and the FD staff confirmed it BUT there were no lessons that day but they were to start the following week… we left a wedding EARLY to make it to swim. Last, the YMCA confirmed the dates for PRIVATE swim lessons and then cancelled my sons lessons for lifeguard classes for two weeks. The ONLY reasons why I come back to this location is bcs my son loves Coach Nick. The Aquatics Director also needs to take a class on how to handle customer service. With everything that has happened all she did was pass the buck and not take any responsibility. If I could give a negative rating — I would. Good thing my son loves his coach bcs I would have left months ago.

I am reviewing the school age camp.
The camp staff is more concerned with making sure the parents know when there is an early pick up the day before a holiday then they are with the kids well being while at the camp.
The staff freely allows bullying of younger kids by older kids. They don’t care if a kid has a partner or not for off campus field trips. And they just don’t plan enough supervised activities (1 activity per an 8 hour day), so the kids are just hanging around bored and picking on each other.
And btw it’s not cheap!
If that sounds like a fun day for your child then this Y camp is for you.

I like this Y if I need a quick work out and if I’m coming from home and don’t feel like going all the way to Nuuanu or Ala Moana because it’s close. It is REALLY small though and you need to bring your own towel. There are 6 cardio machines and a few weight machines. There is only one bench I believe but a full set of free weights. I would recommend going in the morning or perhaps around 7PM. Idk how it is midday. 530 – 630 it’s crowded. There are two connected parking lots, so if you don’t find parking in the main one you can go to the one by the swimming pool.
I’ve been to a toning and Zumba class here… the crowd is definitely middle-​age ladies but I actually really enjoyed the Zumba class and now I make my mom come with me. I can only hope I am as fit as all these women when I have kids. I go weekly now teehee. Everyone has tons of energy, and isn’t that what you need in an exercise class??? It spreads!
Stay fit!

I’ve been here when I was a small kid time, spending my afternoons here as a part of an afternoon program during the summer. I remembered this since I was in a group with a group leader doing all sorts of team activities with a goal of building team unity and making friends along the way. The problem with that was, I wasn’t all much of a team player back in those days. We played games, ran around the landscape, and just tried to be kids for once. That didn’t really happen with me. During what I remember then, we didn’t use the swimming pool — or at least I didn’t use it since I was too darn chicken to swim, so I just entertained myself while the other kids played and splashed in the pool. This was back in the mid 1980’s, when things weren’t really a concern — as they are right now. Things were pretty good back then, but I knew better.
Nowadays, I’ve heard that they are doing Zumba classes here and a friend of mine told me about how awesome Zumba is, so I was like, ok, one time and check things out. So, I came here not really knowing what to expect. I have seen those Zumba commercials on tv, but not participated in a live class before. I even don’t participate in group X classes at 24 Hour Fitness and prefer to work out on the cardio equipment and lift heavy dumbbells like most guys do. I have seen some guys work out to Zumba, but I never have thought I would be there doing it too. The entire facility and what they want to accomplish is entirely two different concepts. They’re probably surviving on the child care and after school programs for the kiddies.

The Kaimuki Waialae YMCA is located in Kahala, the gateway between Kaimuki and the rest of East Honolulu. Diagonally across from the Kahala Mall Shopping Center, they have a private lot here for parking, so you can use that. For me, catching public transportation suits me just fine. Route #1 bus goes from town and out to Hawaii Kai, stopping at Kahala Mall area, so you can easily get to the YMCA from there. There’s also route #22, which comes from Waikiki and out to Hawaii Kai as well. Two options for a good deal, but like anything, it’s the time spending commuting that makes the difference in what you are saving in $$. There’s also on street parking in the nearby residential areas too, or you can also park at the Kahala Mall Shopping Center. I really don’t think they check.
With all that said, the Kaimuki Waialae YMCA is a pretty good facility for those who need day care and after school programs for their kids. While my experiences as a kid was probably not in the norm, I probably would have made better use of everything if I was more extroverted and not be to myself all the time growing up back then. Oh well, that’s life. As far as the Zumba class was concerned, I don’t think Zumba is the right combination for me. While it is a good place to meet and socialize with other like-​minded active individuals, I feel like I’m not really getting in a good workout. Almost feels like a dance, but for me, I rather go running and see places and things, instead of being cooped up in a room and listening to other people. That’s just me.
The staff here is friendly, which is a good thing. I enjoyed my time here and loved to reminisce about old times as a kid, but I’m unsure about coming back here. I know they have a workout room — similar to a gym of sorts, but it does seem to be not up to my standards. For what it was worth, the Zumba class my friend brought me to made me more sociable than what I am doing right now. But I rather just put on my running shoes and explore on my own two feet. Sometimes, just staying active no matter what methodology you use is awesome. Just gotta stick with it and you’ll see results. Often times, it’s good to change and switch things up to keep things fresh and interesting, but never ever quit. I did check out this place and it is expensive to go here and do your thing, so be advised if you sign up. The facilities are not adequate for what I aim to do, so be aware of what you are getting yourself into. Overall, I probably wouldn’t be back, especially when I have a membership to 24 Hour Fitness already — which is already stocked with ample equipment and plenty more chances to mingle and socialize with people.
They do have certified instructors and personal trainers on site, but sorry. While membership fees are island wide and relatively cheaper than 24 Hour Fitness, I rather go to a place that has value for the money. While this YMCA fits budget friendly people and families in need of such services, it’s really not for me. Even when it’s realtively close to home, I feel better going to 24 Hour Fitness or just lacing up my running shoes and going out for a nice run around the neighborhood.
Support local!
C–

YMCA Pre-​K program is great. My daughter loves it. Although it’s only twice a week, it helps my daughter a lot.
My daughter is always looking forward to Monday and Wednesday just to be in school. That tells you something.
I pay $ 135 a month which is not bad.

I am only reviewing their children’s swimming program. Most of the young adult/​teenagers who are teaching the young kids are really nice people. If your little aquanaut is naturally talented, destined to be the next trophy kid of this millennium, then you will probably be more than satisfied with their program. However, my children are the type who are more likely to sink like a stone in the water, and require a lot of repetitious instruction. The problem I noticed is that the instructors changed very frequently, so there wasn’t a lot of consistency in the instruction methods.
I wonder how or if the instructors themselves are taught/​oriented to the swimming instruction program. To give you an example, one of the male instructors (who I had never seen before) yelled to my son:
Instructor: Do you know how to do freestyle?
Son: Yeah!
Instructor: Let’s see it, then.
(Upon which my son proceeds to do an elaborate dog paddle-​controlled drowning with style maneuver)
Instructor: That’s not the way to do freestyle!
And that was it! He very correctly told him that he was doing it wrong, but didn’t attempt to show him the correct way to do it! What kind of teaching methodology is that?! Is there a name for it? I don’t know, because my degrees are not in education, but surely there is an official name for it. All I know is that it didn’t work!
So, although our kids had fun splashing in the water there, after at least a couple different series of classes, we decided the kids weren’t learning very much. We subsequently put them in the Leahi Swim School, which was held at St. Francis School in Manoa. More expensive, yes, but there was more consistency in their instruction, and the instructors seemed much more passionate about encouraging the kids.
Again, if your kids have genius IQ’s, are already solving quadratic equations at the age of five, are hard at work in the lab working on cures for cancer at age six, not to mention playing Mendelssohn concertos on the violin for a sold out crowd at age ten, they may do just fine with very minimal instruction. Oh, and if your kids are at least three standard deviations above the mean in everything, be sure to mention all their accomplishments in the next holiday form letter or blog you send to all your friends!