Pacific Buddhist Academy

1754 Lusitana Street

Honolulu, HI 96813

9 Reviews

School District
Grade

9-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on September 22, 2017

Both my children attend PBA since we moved to Hawaii and I'm glad they do. With a caring faculty, conducive learning environment and small teacher-student ratio, my children excel academically, thrive in extracurricular activities, and they enjoy going to school!
Submitted by parent on January 26, 2017

I absolutely love this school and I am glad that I've made the decision to send both of my children here. They were previously enrolled in a public school and were considered the "middle" type of students. They were not recognized as the top students, nor were they disruptive to receive attention from teachers. Basically, they were ignored. At PBA, everyone knew who they were and they thrived academically and socially. Both students participated actively in clubs, sports, and performing arts. They also excelled in their academics. Both children received generous scholarships for college and are well prepared for the future.
Submitted by parent on January 25, 2017

I cant say enough about how we much we love Pacific Buddhist Academy! The culture at PBA encourages and celebrates each students individuality. I have two very different kids at PBA, a son who’s somewhat of an introvert and a daughter who’s outgoing and a social butterfly. PBA has been able to bring out the best in both of them and allows them to be who they are as individuals. Though we are not Buddhist (we’re Catholic) you don’t need to be to attend school there. They don’t push religion, but they do emphasis Buddhist principles like peace, compassion, gratitude and interdependence. All of which creates a foundation of virtue that is evident in the student body.PBA's small class sizes allow for a lot of individualized attention. They’re college-prep, project-based and have a unique schedule where students only have 2 core classes along with electives per 6 week cycle. This has been a recipe for success for both my kids. They’re more focused, confident and driven, and they truly LOVE school.If you’re looking for a great high school experience for your teen, I encourage you to check out PBA. It really is the best kept secret!
Submitted by parent on March 11, 2014

I love this school for my daughter. She was previously at Punahou, and was a B+ student there, but while it is a good school, it was too big for her and a bit "left-brained." At PBA the education is more progressive and with the small class sizes, there is an enormous amount of teacher attention and opportunities for academic challenge and growth. The faculty are impressive and dedicated. While we are not Buddhist, the values taught are universal. There is a rich offering of exchange programs in Japan and their taiko drumming group is world class. I have no doubt my daughter will have the academic background needed to get into and succeed at a top east coast mainland college, which is her goal.
Submitted by parent on March 04, 2014

My son attended the Academy of the Pacific because he thrived intellectually and socially in a smaller environment and with a lower student/teacher ratio. When AOP closed, I looked into PBA and was pleasantly surprised with their low student/teacher ratio and willingness to make accommodations/modifications for my son. He is challenged intellectually but is not overwhelmed. The teachers are always willing to go the extra mile to support the students. He is making incredible progress in all areas: intellectually, emotionally, and socially. You do not have to be a Buddhist (I am a Christian) but the students do learn the principles of Buddhism ~ peace. My son and I are both very happy with PBA.
Submitted by parent on March 04, 2014

PBA was the absolute best choice that we could have made. The teachers and administrators are all incredibly supportive; and they make themselves available to students in so many ways. Where other schools might take a swim or sink approach, the PBA staff refuse to let a student fail either academically or as human beings. They care about the growth of their students as people, which is especially important during the challenging teen years. PBA is a gem of a high school -- a perfect environment for learning and growing, expecially for students who might feel lost in a school with a large student body. We have been part of the PBA community for four years and we will be eternally grateful for this experience.
Submitted by parent on February 22, 2014

We just moved back to Oahu and wanted a school close to downtown area that was easily accessible to freeways. PBA sits right off the Pali Hwy. Our daughter has fit in here immediately as the staff and students are very welcoming, helpful and work together to help each other reach their academic goals. The school a small environment and students receive excellent one on one guidance from their teachers and advisers. Our daughter has attended many public and private schools and this is by far the best fit for her so far. The school offers a very good blend of academics, electives, social activities, community volunteerism and moral awareness and structure.
Submitted by parent on February 20, 2014

Pacific Buddhist Academy has been an oasis in a desert of high school choices nationwide. Being in Hawaii, the school functions with Buddhist and "ohana" based values. Students do not have to be Buddhist but will develop life skills in an environment of compassion and passion, which is thematically Buddhist. Teachers are involved, excited and highly skilled to work with each student as individuals. Experiential learning is encouraged and coupled with traditional academic avenues. As a relatively young, small, school, PBA has growing pains but makes each challenge a learning experience for the entire community. For some lucky high school graduates, PBA will be the gem of their education.
Submitted by parent on July 03, 2013

My son recently graduated from the Pacific Buddhist Academy. We can highly recommend the school. Our experience can be summed up as follows: Small class size better teacher/student interaction Creative and talented teachers Positive learning atmosphere Good value for tuition price. PBA is a college preparatory High School in central Honolulu that is Buddhist based, but open to all beliefs. The Buddhist based framework is not heavy or dogmatic, but creates a positive theme to the campus. We are not a religious family, but we still appreciated the spiritual side of the school, and the philosophy of peace and interconnectedness. The teachers at PBA seemed innovative and created a positive learning atmosphere that my son really responded to. He did very well. The good and bad (you decide) differences between PBA and other schools: Smaller class room sizes at PBA. General resources smaller than other private schools. Over-all Buddhist framework compared to Christian or nuetral. Lower tuition cost. PBA is only 10 years old, so lacks the history and distinguished list of graduates that other schools have. Very very high percentage of grads from PBA go onto college.