PARENT REVIEWS
Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions a family can make. At Kauaʻi Creative Academy, our mission is to nurture the whole child through project based academics, creative arts, expansive movement, nature-based learning, social emotional intelligence, cultural teachings and meaningful community experiences.
We believe every child arrives with an innate curriculum, a unique constellation of gifts, curiosity, wisdom, and potential waiting to unfold. We are deeply grateful to the families who have shared the many ways they have witnessed this unfolding: children discovering a love of learning, finding confidence in their voices, strength within their bodies, expressing themselves through the arts, developing meaningful friendships, expanding their communication skills and growing into compassionate, capable individuals.
Over the years, KCA parents have shared heartfelt reflections that beautifully illuminate the power of individualized education, a true sense of belonging, and a nurturing learning environment rooted in aloha.
What Parents Say About Kauai Creative Academy
What Jerry Shey Has to Say
My daughter attended Kauai creative Academy for the year 2024-2025 in the sixth grade.
Her experience as well as ours has been nothing short of amazing. This was an excellent year for community building, cultural celebration, spiritual growth and education.
The curriculum was tailored seasonally as well as personally for the class. Parents have input in the curriculum as Miss Ilima invites and welcomes all parent involvement.
I love that astrology and mycology were studied, as well as traditional academia. My daughter’s interest peaked in math and spelling at the academy, which is a lovely tribute to the teachers.
Music and art are weaved into the curriculum and there were two special class performances, including hula. All hands on deck so the parents were brought closer together as a beautiful community. It was wonderful to see all the students shine during the winter performance.
My daughter is now confident performing and speaking in front of an audience, something she never did before this school year. This is a very important milestone, so I give big thanks to Miss Ilima.
Overall, to put it simply, all we ever wanted was to learn, love and grow. We experienced all three at the academy.
Mahalo Jerry,
Yes, thank you so much for your beautiful words and for entrusting us with your daughter's educational journey. It has been a true joy to witness her confidence, curiosity, and willingness to shine blossom over the year.
At Kauaʻi Creative Academy, we believe every child carries their own unique gifts, and we love creating a learning environment where those gifts can naturally unfold through project-based academics, the performing arts, nature, culture, and meaningful community. Seeing your daughter discover confidence in mathematics, spelling, music, hula, and public speaking is exactly why we do this work.
We are deeply grateful to your entire ʻohana for being such a valued part of our learning community. Your partnership and participation helped create the spirit of aloha that makes our school so special."
With love and gratitude,
Miss Ilima
What Holly Brown Has to Say
Ilima Morris’s Kauai Creative Academy has been a dynamic learning expe- rience for my daughter and myself for the past three years.
My daughter’s passion and education in the movement arts has been deepened in the areas of dance, gymnastics, and aerial silks since at- tending KCA. She loves to perform in front of an audience, and has had many opportunities to do so at community wide events held by KCA . My daughter is also now choreographing and sharing her own dances with confidence and skill which is quite beautiful and inspiring to witness. Additionally, she has taken up Native American flute and started up a garden club where each student has their own garden plot to tend to at school. Garden club has given her the opportunity to practice her leadership skills, which has been a highlight for her.
At KCA academics and performing arts strike a nice balance . When my daughter began with the school, she wasn’t reading or writing and now she is fully literate. I love how Ilima weaves teaching self empowerment, self-worth, and an investigative outside of the box way of thinking into the children’s curriculum.
My daughter has grown intellectually, physically, spiritually, and has formed some really special bonds with some of the students and teacher mentors as well.
Overall, Kauai Creative Academy Has been a great learning environment for my daughter and I would love to see the school grow, prosper and con- tinue to provide alternative educational opportunities for a wide variety of Kauai families!
Sincerely Holly Brown
"Thank you Holly, It is my inherent believe that performing arts are not simply enrichment, that they are an essential part of developing confidence, discipline, imagination, communication, and joy. It was such a joy to have your talented daughter attend our academy!"
What Laura Bau Has to Say
I am very grateful for the two years my daughter has attended Kauai Creative Academy. At a time when public schools have not yet fully recognized the importance of childhood development and overall well-being, I am especially thankful that this special school has provided such a much-needed option for families.
I love that dance and movement are a big part of the curriculum. My child has really blossomed in dance and has gained valuable experience in both performing and choreography.
Academics are based on each student's individual abilities, allowing every child to learn at their own pace. Math and spelling are two areas where my child has greatly improved.
With its small group of children, it has been such a sweet and charismatic community to be part of, and we have truly enjoyed getting to know all the families.
Miss Ilima's efforts to provide enriching activities and amazing field trips really make this a special school.
We have thoroughly enjoyed our time here and are ever so thankful to have been a part of this wonderful learning community. --Laura Bau
Aloha Laura, mahalo nui loa for sharing such a thoughtful reflection of your family’s journey with Kauaʻi Creative Academy.
One of the greatest joys of this work is witnessing the many ways children learn, grow, and reveal who they are becoming. At KCA, we honor that learning is not one-size-fits-all! For that is unsustainable. We witness how children thrive when they are given the time, space, and meaningful experiences to develop their own strengths and passions.
It has been beautiful to watch your incredible daughter discover confidence and expression through dance, while also growing academically at her own pace. We believe movement, creativity, and intellectual exploration are deeply connected, and when children are given the freedom to engage with learning in ways that inspire them, remarkable growth naturally unfolds.
We are so grateful for your family’s presence, your trust, and the warmth you have brought to our community. Your ʻohana has been an important part of the KCA story, and we thank you for sharing this journey with us.
With the deepest respect and aloha,
Miss Ilima
What Anita Green Has to Say
As a parent, I am incredibly grateful for the nurturing, enriching environment that KCA has provided for my daughter, Rhea Green, who is 6 years old. Since joining the academy, Rhea has flourished academically, socially, and artistically in ways that have deeply impressed and uplifted our entire family.
Rhea has developed a genuine love for reading, writing, and math—subjects that can sometimes feel intimidating for young learners. The academic support at KCA is outstanding. Her reading and writing skills have improved remarkably in a short period of time, and she ap- proaches learning with motivation and independence. I am consistently amazed at how confidently she works on her projects and how excited she is to share what she’s learned.
One of the most refreshing aspects of KCA is the mixed-age classroom environment, with students ranging from 6 to 13 years old. This setup more accurately reflects real-world social dynamics and allows for peer learning and mentoring. Rhea benefits immensely from the diversity in ages, forming friendships and connections that help her grow emotionally and socially.
Equally important is the academy’s strong emphasis on the arts and connection to nature. Rhea has the opportunity to explore dance, aerial silk, musical instruments, and visual arts all in a supportive setting that encourages self-expression. She also participates in giving reports in front of her classmates and family members, which has noticeably boosted her confidence and public speaking abilities.
Nature-based learning and gardening are also key components of the curriculum. Children are taught to grow and prepare food, building essential life skills and a respectful, hands-on relationship with the Earth.
Additionally, Kauai Creative Academy values the involvement of families. One of the beautiful ways this is expressed is through monthly field trips organized by rotating parents, which creates a strong sense of community. Miss Ilima, the school’s teacher and director, actively encourages parental involvement in planning important events like graduation, field trips, and celebration ceremonies. This inclusive approach allows every family to contribute meaningfully and take shared responsibility in shaping the children’s experience and path at school.
KCA is more than just a school, it's a vibrant, intentional community that nurtures the whole child. I wholeheartedly support its mission and am so thankful for the positive, holistic growth I see in Rhea every day. Warmly - Anita Green
Aloha Anita,
Mahalo nui loa for your beautiful words and for sharing Rhea’s journey with our KCA ʻohana. It has been such a joy to witness her confidence, creativity, curiosity, and love of learning blossom.
At Kauaʻi Creative Academy, we believe every child carries a beautiful array of gifts waiting to emerge. Our joyful role is to co-create a learning environment where those gifts can unfold, expand, and flourish. It is a deeply symbiotic relationship, one where children inspire us as much as we guide and support them.
Rhea’s enthusiasm, kindness, and willingness to share her ideas have been a gift to our classroom. We are deeply grateful for your family’s presence, participation, and the love you bring to our learning community.
With heartfelt aloha,
Miss Ilima
What Brad and Dianna Tayan Have to Say
Aloha,
I am writing in support of Kauai Creative Academy. My son has been a student there for the past four years, and it has been a wonderful, enriching experience for both him and our whole family. Ilima creates such a nurturing, safe, and heart-centered environment for the children at the school, and I’ve also watched my son excel academically during his years there.
Beyond academics, Kauai Creative Academy has helped foster my son's confidence, curiosity, creativity, and love of learning. He has developed meaningful friendships and has grown into a kind, capable, and engaged young person because of the supportive community that surrounds him each day. It is clear that every child is genuinely known, valued, and encouraged to reach their full potential.
We are incredibly grateful for the dedication, passion, and care that Ilima and the Kauai Creative Academy staff bring to their work. The positive impact this school has had on our family is immeasurable, and I know many other families in our community share this same appreciation.
I’m so grateful our community has Kauai Creative Academy and I strongly support the continuation of this school. It is truly a special place that provides an invaluable educational option for families on Kauai, and I hope it will continue serving our community for many years to come.
Sincerely,
Brad and Diana Tayan
Princeville, Kauai
Aloha Brad and Diana,
Mahalo nui loa for walking this journey with us and for sharing your family’s experience at Kauaʻi Creative Academy.
There is something truly special about witnessing a child grow over many years, the unfolding of confidence, curiosity, kindness, and a deeper connection to learning. We are honored to have been part of your wonderful son’s path and grateful for the trust your family has placed in our school community.
Children flourish when they are surrounded by love, belonging, and the freedom to discover who they are becoming. Over the years your ʻohana has contributed so much to the spirit of KCA, and we are deeply grateful.
With gratitude and aloha,
Miss Ilima
What Reka and Joltz S. Have to Say
Liliom was 4 years old when she started the Creative Academy. She was incredibly shy and had not spent anytime away from us, and didn’t want to start school. By the end of the first week she was so in love with Ilima Morris and enjoyed the activities so much that she would ask to go to school everyday. By the end of the program she was a confident young lady, performing for us at home all that she learned at school. She would sing, dance and show off her new gymnastics skills. She learned how to do cartwheels, back bend kick overs, started learning the basics on the aerial silks. She also excelled academically. We are a bilingual family and spoke mostly Hungarian at home, and when she started the program she was just beginning to learn how to communicate in English. By the end of the school year, she was interacting easily with other kids, as her language skills had improved dramatically. It was truly a joy to see her go through such a profound transformation in every way. This was only possible because of the safe, loving, nurturing, fun and exciting environment that Ilima created. We feel so blessed that Liliom had the opportunity to attend this incredibly dynamic program with one of the best teachers of all time. -Reka & Joltz S.
Aloha Reka and Joltz, mahalo nui loa for sharing Liliom’s beautiful journey with us.
One of the most meaningful parts of teaching is witnessing the moment when a child begins to trust the world around them and recognize their own abilities. Watching Liliom move from quiet observation into joyful expression was truly a gift.
Her courage, creativity, and determination shined through as she explored language, movement, academics, and the performing arts. It was especially wonderful to see her confidence grow as she discovered new ways to communicate, connect, and share herself with others.
We are deeply grateful that your family entrusted us with such an important chapter of Liliom’s early years. Her presence brought so much sweetness and inspiration to our classroom, and we will always cherish the memories created together.
With a humble heart and lots of aloha!
Miss Ilima