Hanahau'oli School

Hanahau'oli School is an independent day school in Honolulu, Hawaii, serving roughly 250 children from preschool through sixth grade. The name means "joyous work." The program follows a progressive model: learning by doing, thematic units that cross subject lines, and the arts as a core way children make sense of ideas. Mandarin runs alongside the core program from the early grades.

Teaching here looks different from a scripted classroom. Faculty build curriculum together instead of pulling it off a shelf. Grade-level partners plan as teams, and long project cycles anchor each theme. Most classrooms pair a lead teacher with an associate teacher, so new hires learn the progressive method from a veteran before leading their own room. Teachers treat the elementary years as serious intellectual work, not a warm-up for middle school.

Compensation in Honolulu deserves a candid note. Hawaii has one of the highest costs of living in the country, and independent school pay reflects that pressure. Hanahau'oli's finances are steady: about $9.7 million in revenue and $35 million in net assets as of 2023, with fundraising up slightly year over year. Benefits for full-time faculty typically include medical coverage and retirement contributions. Class sizes stay small, and the school funds regular professional development in progressive practice.

Faculty jobs at Hanahau'oli School include lead and associate classroom teachers across the preschool-through-grade-six span, plus specialists in art, music, PE, and Mandarin. Staff roles open in admissions, advancement, and administration. Most teaching searches run winter through spring for an August start.