SUCCESS STORIES
I live in Hawaii and took the Intensive English Course for a total of 32 weeks using the Kamaʻāina Special.
At first, I couldn’t understand what my teachers were saying, but after about a month, I gradually began to understand them and was able to
communicate more comfortably. As the weeks went by, I became more confident, and I made an effort to speak English with people outside of
school as much as possible.
I’m not very good at grammar, so I would like to continue learning English and improving my skills.
Before coming to Hawaii, my English was basically at zero. I was amazed by how much I was able to learn simply by being surrounded by English and actually using it every day. While I was in Hawaii, I made an effort to talk to as many people as possible and use English whenever I could. By the end of the program, I was able to understand what people were saying and communicate with them in English. I was honestly surprised by how much I had improved in just two weeks! This experience made me dream even bigger about traveling abroad and continuing to learn English in different countries. I also really enjoyed performing on stage again for the first time in 10 years! Being able to connect with local dancers and build friendships with them made the experience even more special. It was an incredibly fulfilling and unforgettable two weeks!
This time, I decided to travel to Hawaii for 75 days because I wanted to take my dog with me while he is still young and also enjoy my hobby of
surfing. I came to Hawaii Palms because I wanted to study English to communicate smoothly with friends from other countries. My impression of
Hawaii Palms was that it is very small group classes, which gives many opportunities to speak and express yourself, which I really liked. I also joined school activities and made friends!
I previously attended a language school in California, but at Hawaii Palms, the classes are small, and there are plenty of opportunities to practice speaking during lessons. They also offer many school activities, which allowed me to interact a lot with my classmates!
I really wanted to improve my own English skills, so I had been planning this parent-child study abroad experience for about a year. My son was
able to take English lessons at the same school, and since I also have a one-year-old daughter, I felt reassured knowing that babysitting
services could be arranged through the same place. My class was small, which felt really spoiled having such a personalized class. I was able
to learn English at my own pace, and whenever there were grammar mistakes, they were corrected on the spot. From there, the teacher would
expand on the topic and help me explore it more deeply. Although I have studied English before, this was the first time I genuinely felt that
learning English was fun!
In my son’s class, he learned new English words he had never known before and became able to use simple greetings, which allowed me to
really see his progress. I would love to come back again.
The level of this class was just right, but if I were able to stay longer, I would like to challenge myself with a higher level. Since I
was here for only one week this time, I was still able to have a great time because both my classmates and the teacher were wonderful. Next time, I would like to come and stay a little longer.
It was great that I could book classes online according to my schedule with the Elective ticket classes that allowed me to freely choose my classes. In addition, I took hula lessons at the school and also attended a yoga class that was introduced by the school. I became
friends with PALMS students I met through school activities, and we even went to a café together. I’ve decided that I want to study English properly, so I will obtain a visa and come back to Hawaii again!
When my child first joined the Summer Kids Program for one week, they came with absolutely no English ability at all. Since the summer program had many participants, my child felt a bit scared at first. However, little by little, they began to say on their own that they wanted to try ordering pizza in English. After that, my child participated in the Autumn Cultural Exchange Program, followed by five weeks in the Winter Kids Program. During the autumn program, my child admired an older boy from Korea and even became interested in learning the Korean language.
Because the autumn and winter programs had relatively small class sizes, there were more opportunities to speak English. The teachers also took the time to have meaningful conversations with the children, and I feel that my child’s English ability improved dramatically. At the same time, my child continues to study Japanese, and with a naturally sociable personality, their interest in English has grown even more. We would love for our child to participate again if given the opportunity.
This was my second time taking the intensive English course. I was the only student in the class this time, which allowed me to ask many questions at my own pace and spend a lot of time practicing conversation. As a result, I became able to understand English much better, even outside of school. I visit Hawaii several times a year, so next time I am considering taking private lessons as well. Because the teachers also explain natural English expressions used by native speakers, I was able to learn very practical, real-life English.
The week went by very quickly, and I really enjoyed my homestay, which offered a comfortable balance of privacy and time together. On Friday, I even went to see the Hilton fireworks with my host family.
I was able to walk to school every day, and I had many fun and meaningful experiences there as well. It was a very memorable and enjoyable time overall.
I really enjoyed studying at Palms. I came three times over the past year, and every time was a great experience. I liked the classes mainly focused on conversation, so there were many opportunities to speak and use the expressions I learned. The class style was similar to my university classes, which made it easy to follow. The content and level were appropriate for me—maybe slightly easy at times, but I was still able to learn new things. Overall, it was a really great and rewarding experience.
Thank you so much for the past week. I feel truly lucky to have met such wonderful teachers and lovely students. This was my first time studying abroad, and for my son, his very first time overseas. Because of that, I was a little tense both before and after we arrived. But the moment we stepped onto the Palms floor, all my worries turned into excitement, and
everything suddenly felt fun. Every day my son said, “I want to go to school early! I want to see my teacher!” Hearing that made me so happy, and I was deeply moved to see how much he was growing. My English is still not perfect, and I can’t fully express everything I want to say yet, but Principal Javier and Tomoko always waited patiently for my words to come out and tried to understand me. I was truly grateful for that. It reminded me how important it is to keep practicing and speaking. We definitely want to come back again—just the two of us! Our days at Palms were without a doubt the best school life we could have imagined.
We took the opportunity for me and my son to attend the 3-4 days program. My son who loves to learn new things had a great time going to the Hawaii mission house and experiencing an American birthday party at his Summer Kids Program. Other hand for me, I felt my English skills are dropping despite need English at my work.
Tristynn is a brilliant teacher. She is very kind, very easy to talk to.
I sincerely enjoyed the course. Even though the classes are long, I
never got bored. I’m so grateful that I could take this Intensive
Course, even if it was just 1 week.
Every time I attend Hawaii Palms, I am impressed by the quality of the teachers and how motivated the students are. The supportive and encouraging learning environment really helps me stay focused and inspired. Studying at Hawaii Palms is a wonderful experience for seniors.
At Hawaii Palms English School, learning went beyond language. The teachers genuinely cared about each student, helping us see the best in ourselves—qualities we might not have even realized we had. From school events to post-class adventures around the island, I formed deep connections with people from all walks of life.
I was going to go to a different school, but I decided to study at Palms because my English teacher had studied in Hawaii and knew about Palms.
When I started, I only had 2 – 3 classmates, so I had to speak English for 4 hours a day during my 3-week stay. At first, I was very tired and there were a lot of things that I didn’t understand, but the teachers and staff at Palms were very kind and they answered my questions all the time. They were willing to understand me. It made me want to do my best again! In the end, it was a great choice to study here at Palms. I’ll be for sure to come back again.
My major at university requires a TOEIC score of 800 to graduate, so I signed up for 7 weeks of TOEIC test preparation. A lot of my friends studied abroad in Hawaii and had a great experience, so I decided to study in Hawaii and attend this school. The daily lessons were very efficient, with weekly practice exams. I was able to learn a wide range of real-world English skills with native speakers. My teacher was very kind, easy to understand, and enthusiastic. I saw my scores on the practice exams improving! 7 weeks went by very quickly and I now have the confidence to return home and get a passing score on the TOEIC test.
I am 100% satisfied with this school!
The school is always filled with welcoming atmosphere as if I’ve been a student for a long time. The level of lessons are really fit for our daily life, so I learned necessary vocabularies and useful phrases through the lessons. My teacher’s ceaseless support has helped me a lot to improve my English skills. In addition to that, the presentation was a great experience to boost my motivation for keeping to study English.
I decided to study English because I always regretted not studying when I was younger. I was nervous when I first joined Hawaii Palms, but the teachers were so nice and made me feel comfortable. I really like the fact that Hawaii Palms offers many school activities, one of them being Yoga. I joined Yoga Wellness Class every Friday during my stay here. I practice yoga in Japan and I also take yoga classes in a studio in Honolulu, but doing park yoga under the blue sky is so comfortable and gives me happiness. Kayoko’s yoga suits me and Hawaii Palms gives me happiness. Thank you so much.
When I enrolled at Palms, I couldn’t speak English at all. In the beginning, I was so nervous, but my teacher was great, so it helped to ease my tension. Often times, Japanese people are not good at comprehending English, but I was able to overcome that weakness. The atmosphere of the school is so nice, and I liked the fact that we get along with teachers and classmates right away.
I studied in English Intensive for 3 months. It was a fun learning environment, so, it didn’t take time to get along with my classmates and teachers. This time of my stay, I chose to study in Elective classes. I’m glad that I’m gaining more vocabulary word, expressions as I enjoy taking classes. Through joining fun school activities, it gives opportunities to make friends even they are in a different class. To me, Hawaii Palms English School is a precious family – ohana, and broadened my world.
I love this school, all the employees are so nice! And during my 3 weeks I have learned a lot. This school is like a big family and I think it’s very important to learn English. If I could I will absolutely come back!
Big “Mahalo” to my teacher, classmates and all the other person I met at school for the amazing time we spent together! I recommend this school without a doubt!
Thank you, grazie, mahalo!
I visit Hawaii two or three times a year, and my tour guide recommended Hawaii Palms English School to me. Through the classes, I felt that I had many opportunities not only to learn English, but also to express my own opinions. Even when answering questions, we were often encouraged to explain why we chose a particular answer or why we thought that way.
In Japan, I sometimes tend to go along with others and adjust my opinions to fit the people around me. So, having conversations where I could say, “This is what I think. What do you think?” was a very refreshing and valuable experience for me. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn English while also gaining confidence in expressing my own thoughts and opinions.
This was my third year participating in the Intensive English Course, and I am always so grateful for the warm welcome I receive every time I come back. This year, I decided to join the 2-week dance program as well because it was being offered during the same period as my English course. I have been dancing in Japan, but I had never practiced every day. More than anything, having the opportunity to communicate with local dancers in English and perform on a stage in Hawaii was an incredible experience. It gave me even more motivation to improve both my English and my dancing. It was also very rewarding to see the local dancers every day and practice together toward the same goal. Working hard together and finally achieving our goal gave me a wonderful sense of accomplishment!
One of the best things about Hawaii Palms is how much communication happens every day, not just between students, but with the teachers too.
Because the classes are small, everyone gets plenty of chances to talk and connect naturally.
Rather than just following the textbook, we get to build up lots of natural, everyday conversations. It not only helps improve our English, but also gives us a deeper understanding of different cultures and new discoveries every day.
I often have moments where I suddenly think, “Oh, so this is how people actually use this word!” Those real-life conversations really help everything stick, and learning feels fun and natural.
The staff and teachers are also incredibly kind and welcoming. They really take the time to understand each student, so even if it’s your first time studying abroad or joining the school, you can feel comfortable right away. It’s such a warm and friendly environment.
Taking classes at Hawaii Palms previously helped her overcome her fear of speaking English , and now she feels she can enjoy conversations much more. she hopes to continues working hard and improve from now on.
Both my daughter and I focused on conversation and practical English during our three-week program. My daughter had never studied English in
Japan, yet within about a week, she was absorbing the language just by listening. I was also able to develop the skills I needed to express myself in English.
Since arriving in Hawaii, we’ve been able to spend every moment together, and above all, it has been truly wonderful that both my daughter and I enjoy going to school. We are deeply grateful to the teachers. The Hawaiian breeze will surely remain a lifelong memory for my daughter, and attending the same school has given us shared memories to cherish. It was truly an invaluable experience.
I have studied abroad before in a country other than Hawaii, and that school had about 15 students in my class, so I didn’t have many
opportunities to speak. However, at Palms, the classes are small, and I only had two classmates. During the four-hour daily course, I was able to focus mainly on conversation practice and speak as much as possible.
The school has a warm and welcoming atmosphere, which made it very comfortable and easy to study. I would love to come back again. Next time, I hope to stay in a condominium and fully enjoy life in Hawaii!
I came to Hawaii on a J-visa in December last year. The reason I chose Hawaii Palms was its very convenient location in the center of Waikiki.
I study in the Intensive English Course in the morning and work in the afternoon. Since I sometimes use English at work, my goal is to practice speaking as much as possible so that I can communicate naturally with my coworkers. I plan to stay for one year, and I am also considering extending my Intensive English course.
I have been studying English since I was two years old, but I felt that practicing only once a week was not enough. This was my first time attending a school overseas, so I was very nervous and anxious at first.
However, my classmates were very kind, and I quickly felt comfortable and at ease.
I think the class level is appropriate for me. However, I still find it challenging to communicate in English, especially in conversation.
I strongly want to improve my English because I dream of becoming a stage performer in the United States in the future. Currently, I
practice singing in English and take dance lessons. From now on, I would like to watch many more stage performances abroad and be able to understand them in English.
My child really enjoyed all the activities and the field trip! His favorite activity was water play. Thank you so much for such a wonderful program!
At first, I felt a bit unsure, but I participated in many activities and learned so much from the people I met at Palms, and the two months flew
by in no time. I sincerely thank all the teachers and staff who kindly guided me.
All of the teachers at Palms are truly wonderful, and I think it’s amazing that their quality and warmth have remained unchanged. The students who attend this school are also all very kind, which makes it feel very safe and welcoming. The classes are enjoyable, and I’m also very grateful for the activities you organize on weekends and after school. Thanks to you, I’ve been able to create so many wonderful memories. Thank you very much!
I chose Hawaii Palms because, to be honest, I was a little worried about traveling at my age. But the location is just amazing and really easy to get to. I’ve always dreamed of studying abroad and speak English as much as possible, so I finally decided to come to Hawaii last year. This is my second time.
My goal was to “learn while having fun,” and Hawaii Palms turned out to be the perfect place for that. We study English hard at school, but everyone there treats you like family. The teachers explain everything very clearly and make sure you really understand.
We had a lot of time to practice speaking English at school so, before I knew it, I was thinking in English and even talking to people at stores after school! It’s such a comfortable environment where you can totally immerse yourself in English.
Once you start understanding English, Hawaii becomes even more fun. You can just drop by Hawaii Palms like you would your favorite café or shop, and they’ll welcome you with open arms. Even if you come to Hawaii alone, you’ll feel totally at home in Hawaii and you’ll definitely want to come back again!
I wanted to take dance lessons in Hawaii this year, and school staff
helped me to find studio.
The teachers and staffs are so warm and I love this school!
Our family just moved to Hawaii this May because of my husband’s job.
But my daughter’s school doesn’t start until August, so I was looking for an English school where she could practice communicating with local children.
At first I looked for a “Summer School” for my daughter, but then I found out that Palms offers classroom lessons for for students her age in May and June. Since she’s very shy, I though the school’s “small class size” would be perfect for her, so I made the decision to register her at Palms. Since starting her course, my daughter can study at her own pace and has a lot of chances to communicate with her teacher, which
is reassuring to me.
Thank you so much for the warm and valuable experience. I really enjoyed learning with all the teachers.
I couldn’t speak English at all when I came to Hawaii, but they taught me in a way that I could understand, and I was very happy that I could get good marks in my tests because I continued to study. I was also inspired by my schoolmates, and it made me want to study English more.
Thank you very much for these past three weeks! It seems like a long time, but I was able to spend a very fulfilling time. The teachers and staff at Hawaii Palms were very warm and kind, and my daughter enjoyed the program so much from the first day. She said that she wanted to go to school even on weekends.There were fun activities every day and, apart from learning English, she also made a lot of friends. We had a very fun, dream-like life in Hawaii. By speaking English, communicating, and having a lot of experiences, my daughter was able to grow a lot.
Thank you very much.
Hawaii Palms Yoga was the most relaxing yoga that I’ve ever experienced. Our instructor brought us under a beautiful tree, in a park, right next to the beach. While we were doing our movements & stretches, you could hear the waves on the shore and Hawaiian birds in the nearby trees. We did yoga at the best time; it was cool enough to feel the Pacific Ocean breeze, but warm enough to be at the most ideal temperature. I would do this class again in a heartbeat! Thank you, Hawaii Palms Yoga!
Hawaii Palms English School was my first school I went to study in Hawaii. I was nervous at first, but teachers were always helping students to understand by drawing pictures, playing a game. Also school offers fun activities such as BBQ, BYOB, YOGA. Even if you are shy person, you get along with everyone very quickly here. I especially liked the lesson which students go out with group, follow the direction, then compete with other groups. I was nervous to talk to strangers on the street, but it was lots of fun. The time I spent in Hawaii was not only improved my English, but I was able to meet many people, and it really was a precious great experience.
Thank you so much!
Soon after registering at Palms, I regretted my decision – I wondered if I would be able to do it or not. But unexpectedly, when I finished the first day, I found how exciting it is here! So now my regret is that I didn’t come to Palms earlier. Although it’s not easy to study hard for me, I enjoyed my school days very much. I wish I could be back and join this school again. I thank all of Palms so much!!
If I didn’t go to this school, I would just have memories of playing hard. I am grateful I had nice classmates, teachers and staff in the school. Plus, I had a great time with my daughter. I really appreciate everyone whom I met.