Aliamanu Elementary School

Posted: September 10, 2025

The school’s website is always terribly outdated. They seldom use technology!
The text books, if they have any, are many times old & outdated like 1980’s! Many teachers just wing it with wrk sheets or something they got off the internet like “teachers pay teachers” website! No parent involvement at all for years! Not surprising given- Administration just likes to use the latest educational jargon but not once will you hear “how does it effect student learning” bec they only care about forms & checking boxes regardless of whether it is actually happening or actually being effective! I honestly have never seen a worse educational system as this! The classrooms look like they’re fire hazards! It’s so bad you feel sorry for them but then you realize it’s easy to fix! It’s called learning & understanding the best educational practices, accountability and genuine caring about the students!!

Posted: September 10, 2025

Posted: September 10, 2025

Posted: September 10, 2025

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Posted: July 23, 2025

The best part of this school is the teachers. The better ones are firm, but they love their students. The worst is the administration. They intimidate and bully the teachers to get them to do what they want them to do, especially the vice principal. He makes judgements about teachers even if he has never taught before (He was a high school counselor). He seems to think elementary teachers and high school teacher teach the same and need the same supplies, even though the younger the students, the more things you need to engage them. They also practice nepotism by hiring relatives and friends with no teaching experiences to teach during the summer. They also don’t understand that in classes have high numbers then you need to put people teaching specials in to a regular grade level to alleviate the numbers. It is a top heavy school with too many teachers not teaching in grade level classrooms, making teachers in those grade need to work harder, having so many students. They need to do a better job!!

Posted: July 23, 2025

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Posted: January 7, 2025

I have experience with a fifth grade teacher and a sixth grade teacher using negative attention to coerce students to change their behavior. This caused the peers to ostrasize the student and reject the student on a personal level. The principal supported both teachers and the counselors didn't want to have the students change teachers. The sixth grade teacher has the best reputation out of all the sixth grade teachers at the school. After the year was over, I got a geographical exemption to send my child to another school. The principal is loyal to the teachers even if their methods effect the students extremely negatively. My student's grades dropped in all subjects because of the effect of the teacher on my student in the classroom. The teacher gave my student half a lunch everyday with only the teacher. My student was not allowed recess or a full lunch or a half lunch with other students.

Posted: January 7, 2025

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Posted: September 7, 2022

We haven't been here long but so far we are really loving this school. All of the staff have been very helpful and kind. My daughter actually enjoys going to school. The only day that she doesn't look forward to is service day. Service day is where the students help out around the cafeteria, etc. It isn't something we are used do, but I do think it teaches good skills. Her teacher has been great too. They have some after school activity programs this year too! I only give it a 4 star and not a 5 because I do feel that they may be a little behind academically. However, the school is laid back and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Especially if you have a military child who is stressed from moving, etc. This has been good for her emotional health. I would recommend this school, they seem to care about the children.

Posted: September 7, 2022

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Posted: August 5, 2019

Especially in the older grades the teachers give students a lot of autonomy. My oldest preferred to get as much work as possible done in her free time at school while my youngest would bring hers home. At the most in the 6 years we were there they'd have 1-2 hours. But the 2 hours was just one year and not every day.

Posted: August 5, 2019

We have loved all our teachers. Each had a different approach, but all were effective and easy to communicate with.

Posted: August 5, 2019

They have a whole algorithm reinforced at each age with adequate guidance counselors who meet regularly with the classes and individual students as needed that all help the students to make good choices with regards to themselves and one another.

Posted: August 5, 2019

Principal Sandi Yoshimi arrived in 2014, and things have improved each year under her. The school has implemented a community garden, expanded robotics, ensured 1:1 devices in the classrooms, and brought back music and art while showing big improvements in ther overall progress of student performance on SBA.

Posted: August 5, 2019

I don't have personal experience with this.

Posted: August 5, 2019

Did not experience bullying with my children, so while I'm sure it exists they must handle it well that in 6 years we heard of only a couple isolated incidents.

Posted: August 5, 2019

Our 2 girls thrived at Aliamanu. The teachers we had were caring and effective, our experiences as a family were positive. Our girls were always encouraged, their performance on standardized testing was above par, it was easy to communicate any concerns and the counselors went above and beyond to help.

Posted: May 24, 2019

They have a great special ed staff the does wonders with little administrative support.

Posted: May 24, 2019

Sometimes cyber bullying gets through the cracks, but without a stronger policy from the administration to control phones it will continue.

Posted: May 24, 2019

The children have homework most nights that is an extension of the classroom and that doesn’t take all night.

Posted: May 24, 2019

Teachers are exceptional and very hard working.

Posted: May 24, 2019

All due to the teachers who try and maintain high standards

Posted: May 24, 2019

Administration takes out it’s short comings by blaming the hard working teachers.

Posted: May 24, 2019

I like the teachers and the special programs, but I really dislike the administration and they need to be replaced.

Posted: March 1, 2019

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Posted: March 1, 2019

I love this school. We have been here 6 years and the education as well as the teachers and staff are amazing. Thank you for making my girls grow with knowledge..xo

Posted: September 2, 2018

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Posted: September 2, 2018

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Posted: September 2, 2018

This is our second year at the school and we love it! My daughter has made wonderful friends and her teachers have been amazing. Administration is great. We are very happy here!

Posted: June 20, 2018

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Posted: June 20, 2018

As a parent and a teacher, this school was awesome. Communication is fantastic so if you have any concerns, they are addressed quickly and with good resolution. The specials/resources here are awesome as well. I strongly recommend this school! :)

Posted: May 17, 2018

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Posted: May 17, 2018

I have loved my experience at Aliamanu. My daughter is in 5th grade and has gone here since kindergarten. We have had a wonderful experience. The principal is awesome. She truly cares about the school and the students. The teachers are wonderful. The environment is very welcoming and friendly. The school feels like a family, a community. 10/10

Posted: August 2, 2017

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Posted: August 2, 2017

I highly recommend the school! I have had three children attend the school for the past three years. We have had experience with grades kindergarten through sixth. We also have a special needs child. Teachers and administrators go above and beyond to make this a happy, educationally challenging, innovative environment. Any questions or concerns are immediately handled by administrators. The principle is awesome. She's always looking to find ways of improving the school and safety. Having a special needs child means that I had to have frequent contact with school administrators as well as frequent trips to the campus. This allowed me greater access to seeing the inner workings of the school. I was always pleasantly impressed with the various interactions I witnessed between students and administration. The curriculum as challenging and when we have had one of our children struggle with an idea or subject teachers have been willing to put in the extra time to modify their teaching plan in a way that makes sense to our child, be that during recess or after school. The teachers care about the children's success. I can honestly say over the past three years that Aliamanu Elementarys staff have become like an extended family in many ways. Moving to Hawaii I was concerned about the education my children would receive after having read bad reviews. If your children will be attending the school but should not be a concern of yours, it's an excellent school.

Posted: November 27, 2015

There is happiness and joy at the school. I truly enjoy that my son attends classes there.

Posted: November 21, 2015

I feel that the educators at Aliamanu are highly effective and productive in how they teach our students. Each educator that I have talked to has words of knowledge to share.

Posted: November 21, 2015

I feel the the homework that my son receives from his teacher is all needed in advancing his student learning goals . Each homework aligns with the Common Core Curriculum Standards.

Posted: November 21, 2015

I see true values of fairness, integrity, and kindness whenever I am talking to any of the educators at Aliamanu. Whenever I need to know more information about any of the content areas , I get a great response and ample information .

Posted: May 22, 2014

I am very disappointed in how this school runs things! From the Superintendent to the Principal and Vice Principal! They care more about covering their butts and supporting their teachers instead of the children in the school and in hearing parents complaints! It is ridiculous how they can let the teachers get away with verbally bully students and let children feel like they are nothing and aren't smart enough. I am saying all of this not only from 1 school year experience, but 2. When we first moved here my child had a bad teacher who let bully going on within the students and then try to have my child get in trouble for defending themselves. That is not only the teacher, but the vice principal trying punish my child. Then this year we had it changed around where the teacher herself was verbally bullying my child andI had an investigation opened up on her being that I had the facts come from other children and parents seeing her do it and it was said she was found innocent of it. It is so sad on how the school and teacher gets away with this kind of behavior!

Posted: September 30, 2013

The school is really good. I have a K and 6th grader. Both my boys love the school and have made many friends. The only set back was our Kindergarden teacher was moved to another school after the first week of the school year and now after the first quarter there are so many Kindergarten students that they are starting another class so children are being moved around to accomodate. The teachers are very attentive to each of their children. So long as parents are involved in the school and what their child is learning it only helps to ensure their overall success.

Posted: April 8, 2013

I have a 1st and 4th grader attending Aliamanu Elementary school and we are pleased with the education they are receiving. Dont get me wrong if I had $20,000 to send each of my children to private school I would do it. I miss having music and art for my children but they are doing wonderful in all of the other subjects. We have been blessed some amazing teachers that really give as much as they can to the children. YES funding is low but it is everywhere else. Thats when I donate my time and some supplies to help out my teachers. Number one is be involved. The more I involve myself at the school the more I learn about teachers and staff. There is a lot to make a school run great. Its not just Hawaii that has problems. We are a salty Navy family and move a lot. Dont be afraid of all the bad things people say about this school. Just because ONE teacher does not mesh well with a parent does not make the entire school bad. People judge schools out here so poorly and its truly not fair. Get involved. I did and our first year and a half here has been great and I will have another child attending here in the fall and Im not afraid of her education one bit.

Posted: April 5, 2013

I went to this school from K-most of 4th grade. unfortunately i am in a military family. I then moved to Virginia. While I was 2 grade levels ahead in math, science, reading and music, I was behind in history. They teach Hawaiian history a lot more than US history. However that did not stop me from getting perfect scores on all of my end of years tests. While I was there I found my teachers to be very kind and yes the recesses were combined but the Teachers did a great jobs at keeping the kids away from other years and safe. I was very sad when I moved. I am very disappointed that I missed the higher education. If I was to move back as of now, I am in my Junior year of high school, I believe that I would be to far behind Hawaiian schools to graduate. I know I may be a child but take it from someone who has actually experienced the education rather than the parents who aren't actually sitting in the classes with their kids. It was an amazing school. If I could, when I am older and have kids I would send them there.

Posted: November 20, 2012

Love this school!! My daughter was there from 1st-3rd and my son k-1st. We live in Ohio now and their teachers here are amazed how advance my kids are. Was told by my daughter's 4th grade teacher that the math she was taught toward the end of 3rd grade (at Aliamanu) was not taught until 5th grade here in Ohio. My son's 2nd grade teacher told me that he was one of the few kids in his class that can write in a complete sentence and well advance in his math. I might have just been really lucky or blessed with the teachers my kids had. Being in the military, we hear a lot about schools at our next base and was told before we got there that Hawaii school were not that great. Well, Aliamanu was one of the better schools. Even comparing with other parents around the island, they were shocked about the work my kids were doing. I do have to say that more parents need to get involved. I was fortunate not to work so I volunteered A LOT of my time at the school and in classrooms. I understand that not all parents can dedicate all their time there but every little time counts for something.