Recommended · Honolulu, HI · Est. 2007
Hawaii Palms English School
Small Waikiki-based English school pairing intensive coursework with beach-town immersion, capped at nine students per class in the spirit of Aloha.
About
Tucked into a Kalakaua Avenue high-rise a short walk from Waikiki Beach, Hawaii Palms English School has been teaching English to international visitors since 2007. The school is unmistakably built around its setting: a strict English-only policy inside the classroom, capped classes of four to five students (nine at most), and an activity calendar that leans into local life with yoga sessions, beach barbecues and cultural outings. The staff is drawn from a mix of international backgrounds, which keeps the atmosphere closer to a boutique language camp than a corporate academy.
Program structure is flexible rather than sprawling. Students choose between English Intensive tracks of three, nine or twelve weeks, an online option for those who cannot travel, and dedicated courses for kids and teens. Elective classes and volunteer placements round out the offering, and the school helps with accommodation logistics for arriving students. There is no CEA or ACCET badge on the site and no mention of SEVP F-1 authorization, which lines up with the federal data flagging the school as visitor and short-course oriented rather than a degree-track pathway.
This is a school for adult learners and families who want to combine English study with a Hawaiian stay, not for students chasing a US university transfer. Pricing is not published outright, though a 2026 fee calculator lives on the site for prospective students to build their own quote.
Programs offered
- English Intensive (3, 9, or 12 weeks)
- Online English classes
- English for Kids & Teens
- Elective classes
- Student activity program (yoga, BBQ, cultural outings)
- Volunteer opportunities
Languages & delivery
Languages taught
- English
Delivery
- 👥 Adult international learners and young students seeking short-to-medium-term English immersion combined with a Hawaii stay; not a college-pathway or F-1 degree program.
- 📏 Average 4-5 students, maximum 9 per class
What stands out
- Waikiki location one block from the beach
- Very small class sizes (max 9 students)
- Strict English-only policy on campus
- Weekly activity program with yoga, BBQ, and cultural outings
- Accommodation assistance for incoming students
- Volunteer placement opportunities
- Dedicated Kids & Teens track alongside adult courses
- Aloha-infused, boutique atmosphere rather than institutional
Recent Google reviews
I love this school. The teachers and staff are all kind and friendly. The lessons have really helped me. This is my third time taking the course, and I feel like my English skills are improving every time. I want to take the course again next winter break.Mahalo.
The school is fantastic!! All staffs are very friendly and kind. I liked homey atmosphere of the school. I would like to come back to take the intensive course again, longer than this time.
I had a great time at Palms School. The staff is very friendly and helpful. It was always very familiar and a comfortable atmosphere. Especially for people from Europe (or from other parts in the world) it could be a good opportunity to improve their English - because the most students are from Asia and you don’t have the possibility to speak in your mother language. And if you’ve reached a certain level, the class won’t be big. We were always between 2 and 3 students in the class. Sometimes I even got privat lessons. They also offer a lot of activities which you can join. A special thanks to Scott!!! He‘s a really good teacher and interesting personality and in the meantime more a friend than „just“ a teacher. Thank you guys for this great and unforgettable time.
This place is safe and very good. My child loved this place. :) see u next summer!
Based on 10 Google reviews · average 5.0
Location
📍 2270 Kalakaua Avenue, Suite 711, Honolulu, HI 96815