Frequently Asked Questions

Tradewinds School is designed for gifted and profoundly gifted children grades K–5 who need more than traditional education can offer. We serve students who are intellectually curious, deeply motivated, and ready for challenges that match their abilities. Our focus is on grades K–5 for our fall 2026 launch in Honolulu.

In Fall 2026, Tradewinds will be for grades K–5. We would be thrilled to be able to grow Tradewinds to support our inaugural learners through the middle school years. In the event that families will need to apply out for 6th grade, we'll notify them in Fall 2026 with adequate notice to prepare applications elsewhere.

Gifted children don't just need more work—they need different work. Unlike the traditional "teacher in front of classroom" model of education, Tradewinds personalizes core reading and math curriculum individually, so that each learner can learn at the pace their minds demand. This is possible thanks to AI-powered tutoring, facilitated and supported by skilled teaching and coaching. This also allows flexibility for project based approaches to science, social studies, and more. Finally, social-emotional support is woven throughout every day to help learners navigate the unique challenges of being gifted.

Our AI-powered personalized learning adapts to each student's abilities, allowing them to soar as high as their mastery can take them. Rather than following a one-size-fits-all curriculum, students progress through material at their own pace, with AI helping to identify gaps, suggest challenges, and provide immediate feedback. We are in talks with the team at Alpha School to license their 2 Hour Learning platform for our core curriculum. You can learn more from their white paper.

Project-based learning is a teaching approach where students gain deep knowledge through active exploration of real-world challenges and questions. For gifted children, this is crucial because it provides a high ceiling—there's no limit to how far they can take their learning. Instead of being constrained by grade-level expectations, they can dive deeply into complex topics, make connections across disciplines, and develop critical thinking skills that match their intellectual abilities. Projects give them the space to pursue their intense interests while building skills in research, collaboration, and creative problem-solving.

We understand that gifted children often experience asynchronous development—their intellectual abilities may far exceed their social or emotional development. We provide dedicated social-emotional curriculum to help students navigate perfectionism, intensity, and the unique challenges of thinking differently. Being among a community of like-minded peers who understand what it's like is also a crucial part of the experience.

We expect tuition to be $30,000-$40,000 per year, in line with other top Hawaiʻi private schools. We expect to spend more than this per child, but we're charging a sustainable amount from year one so we don't need to surprise families with significant tuition increases in the near future. We are unable to offer financial aid at this time but will let you know if that changes.

We're in active conversations about facility options in Honolulu. Our campus will be located somewhere between Nuʻuanu and Hawaiʻi Kai. We'll share specific location details with interested families as soon as it's finalized. Our focus is on finding a space that supports both academic excellence and hands-on project-based learning.

Our mascot is the mōlī, the Hawaiian name for the Laysan albatross. These remarkable seabirds embody the spirit we hope to nurture in our students. Mōlī are known for their incredible intelligence and problem-solving abilities, their lifelong commitment to learning and adaptation, and their ability to soar vast distances across the Pacific Ocean. Like the mōlī that rides the trade winds across thousands of miles of ocean, we want our students to harness their natural gifts and ride the currents of their curiosity to explore the world. The mōlī also represents resilience, community, and the deep connection to Hawaiʻi's natural environment—values that are central to our school's mission.

Applicants will be asked to submit the results of a standardized cognitive assessment administered in 2023 or later. These assessments, which include WPPSI, WISC-V or Stanford-Binet, are administered by clinical psychologists. A score of 130+ generally indicates giftedness. Feel free to reach out with questions about how to access testing.

We plan to offer a standard school schedule and school year, comparable to those of top private schools and to the Hawaiʻi DOE.

We don't have anything to share about this yet. We hope to share more updates as the year unfolds.

We're accepting applications for our fall 2026 founding cohort. Visit our admissions page to learn more about the application process, tuition details, and timeline. You can also join our interest list to stay updated on our progress and get your questions answered.

We are in the process of applying for official recognition with the Hawaiʻi Association of Independent Schools. While we're not yet an official applicant school, we're working through the necessary steps and welcome your interest. We're happy to keep you updated on our progress throughout this process.