December Community Event: A Packed Room and New Momentum

Last Wednesday, about 50 people gathered at Treehouse Coworking to hear from Carl Sabatino, our founding Head of School. It was our first community event, and the energy in the room confirmed what we have been building toward: there is real demand for dedicated gifted education in Hawaiʻi.

What We Discussed

Carl shared learnings from his decades of experience educating gifted children: why they need a different type of education based around pacing, depth, and complexity rather than age-based lockstep. We discussed how Tradewinds will use technology to expand what is possible—adaptive learning that meets scholars at their level, and connections to global experts that geography once made impossible.

The conversations afterward reminded us why we are building Tradewinds. Parents sharing stories. Kids making new friends who are on their wavelength. While the adults met, Wrenn Okada, ʻIolani School robotics coordinator, kept the keiki engaged with a Lego STEM activity.

As Seen on TV

Andy recently appeared on HI Now Daily to discuss Tradewinds and the gap in gifted education here in Hawaiʻi. The 3-minute segment provides a good introduction to what we are building and why it matters.

Growing Interest from Educators

We have received applications from dozens of talented teachers from Hawaiʻi and beyond who believe in what we are doing and want to be part of it. This response from educators reinforces our confidence that Tradewinds is addressing a real need—not just for families, but for teachers who want to work with gifted learners in a purpose-built environment.

Applications Now Open

Tradewinds is now accepting applications for rolling admissions. A cognitive assessment such as the WISC-V is required as part of the application. These assessments can take time to schedule, so families considering Tradewinds for Fall 2026 should plan accordingly. Guidance on how to get testing is available at the Admissions page on the Tradewinds website.