Mary, Star of the Sea School - Honolulu

What Mary, Star of the Sea School - Honolulu does

Mary, Star of the Sea School (MSOS) is a private, nonprofit K-8 Catholic elementary and middle school located at 4469 Malia Street in the Waialae-Kahala neighborhood of Honolulu, Hawaii, on a 14-acre campus shared with the Mary, Star of the Sea Parish and the Mary, Star of the Sea Early Learning Center. Founded in 1946 by the Diocese of Honolulu and originally staffed by the Marist Community and Sisters of Notre Dame De Namur, the school currently operates under the Blessed Sacrament Community and serves students of all denominations across Kindergarten through Grade 8. Its core offering is a Catholic, learner-centered K-8 academic program on a single-track year-round calendar with quarterly intersessions for remediation and enrichment, differentiated learning, low student-teacher ratios, and faith formation integrated through weekly Mass with parishioners. The school reports 100% of 8th-grade students gaining acceptance into top private high schools of their choice, and a student body representing families from over 30 countries.

The school's product surface extends beyond core academics to include an English as a Second Language (ESL) program with F-1 visa/I-20 support for international students, before- and after-school care (6:30 AM-7:45 AM and 2:45-5:30 PM), the STAR Summer Academy, an annual Spring Musical, and enrichment offerings such as competitive robotics, FabLab Hawaii 3D printing, hula, ukulele, band, choir, gymnastics, yoga, art, and Catholic Schools League athletics (volleyball, basketball, track, cheerleading) for Grades 4-8. Standardized testing uses third-party TerraNova, STAR Renaissance, and InView assessments. The technology stack is operational rather than differentiated — Beehively (parent portal), FACTS (tuition management), Calendly (tour scheduling), Zeffy (donations/ticketing), Google Calendar, Outlook, and iCalendar integrations — with no proprietary AI/ML components.

MSOS monetizes through recurring annual tuition subscriptions ($14,700 Regular K-8 and $21,505 ESL for 2026-2027), a $300 re-enrollment fee, $1,000 sibling discounts, a $200 full-payment discount, paid enrichment transactions, before/after-care fees, STAR Summer Academy classes starting at $525, plus donations and fundraising (e.g., Diamond Cup Golf Tournament, East Honolulu Food Festival drawing 2,000+ guests and 18 restaurants) to close an estimated $3,300 per-student tuition gap relative to the school's stated $18,000 average cost to educate. Distribution is direct-to-family via a website application funnel, scheduled open houses, personalized campus tours, Parish referrals, and a Parent Teacher Guild that drives community word-of-mouth. Customer segments span Catholic families seeking faith-based education, international/ESL families, and working families needing extended care.

Name

Mary, Star of the Sea School - Honolulu

Legal name

Mary, Star of the Sea School

Website

https://starofthesea.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mary, Star of the Sea School is a K-8 Catholic elementary and middle school in Honolulu's Waialae-Kahala neighborhood, founded 1946 under the Diocese of Honolulu. It offers faith-based differentiated learning, ESL, before/after care, summer programs, and enrichment to local and international families on a 14-acre shared campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Private Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAJABAC

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Private & Independent K–12 Schools

SECONDARYEDACADAH

Faith-Based Early Learning Academies

Education/Early Childhood Education/Early Learning Academies & Montessori/Reggio/Steiner Programs

SECONDARYEDACABAF

Faith-Based Preschools

Education/Early Childhood Education/Preschools & Pre-K Programs

Keywords

• Catholic K-8 education
• Private elementary school
• Faith-based learning
• ESL program
• After-school enrichment

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition - Regular Program: Annual tuition for K-8 students covering core academic instruction, curriculum, and standard school services
2. Tuition - ESL Program: Higher tuition rate for English as a Second Language program with specialized instruction and support
3. STAR Summer Academy: Summer programming with classes starting at $525 per class, plus optional morning care ($300) and after school care ($490)
4. Before/After School Care: Morning care from 6:30 AM to 7:45 AM and after school care from 2:45 PM to 5:30 PM for working families
5. Enrichment Programs: After-school activities including robotics, art, music, dance, and sports programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mary, Star of the Sea School provides a Catholic K-8 co-educational program on a 14-acre campus in Honolulu's Waialae-Kahala neighborhood, combining faith-based instruction with core academics, ESL support, enrichment programs, before/after school care, and a STAR Summer Academy. The school also offers Catholic Schools League sports, standardized testing (TerraNova/STAR Renaissance), and a Partners in Faith religious education program for non-Catholic students.

Product overview

Mary, Star of the Sea School is a K-8 Catholic elementary and middle school offering a comprehensive educational program with differentiated learning. The core offering is the K-8 Catholic Education Program, supplemented by the ESL Program for international students. Additional offerings include STAR Summer Academy (seasonal summer programming), before/after school care, enrichment programs (robotics, FabLab, arts), Catholic Schools League sports, standardized testing services, CCD religious education, and annual spring musical productions. The school operates on a year-round calendar with quarterly intersessions. Third-party services include Kama'aina Kids childcare and Matalino Music lessons. The school partners with FACTS for tuition management, Calendly for tour scheduling, and Beehively for parent portal access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• K-8 Catholic Education Program Core co-educational K-8 academic program integrating Catholic faith formation with core subjects for kindergarten through 8th grade students on the Waialae-Kahala campus.
• ESL Program English language acquisition support services for K-8 students who are non-native English speakers, integrated with the standard Catholic curriculum.
• STAR Summer Academy Summer enrichment and academic program engaging students during the school summer break with academic and enrichment activities.
• Before/After School Care Care and supervision services provided to enrolled students before and after the regular school day to accommodate working families.
• Enrichment Programs Supplemental programs including arts, music, and other enrichment activities designed to broaden student learning beyond the core curriculum.
• Catholic Schools League Sports Competitive team sports program offered through affiliation with the Catholic Schools League, available to enrolled students.
• Partners in Faith (CCD) Program Religious education program through which non-Catholic students participate in faith formation alongside Catholic students.
• Standardized Testing Program Administered academic assessments using TerraNova and STAR Renaissance tools to measure student progress and academic achievement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% acceptance rate into private high schools
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Diocese of HonolulucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by the Diocese of Honolulu in 1946. The Diocese provides canonical oversight and alignment with Catholic educational standards.
• Mary, Star of the Sea ParishcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShares campus with the Parish. Fr. Frankie serves as pastor. Students participate in weekly Mass with parishioners and Catholic traditions.
• Blessed Sacrament CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurrently administers the Parish and Schools, providing leadership and operational oversight.
• Hawaii Catholic SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiocesan network of Catholic schools. MSOS participates in Catholic Schools Week and follows diocesan standards.
• Catholic Schools League (CSL)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAthletic league for Catholic schools providing competitive sports including volleyball, basketball, and track & field for Grades 4-8.
• Hawaii Association of Independent Schools (HAIS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud member providing networking and professional development resources for independent schools.
• Mary, Star of the Sea Early Learning CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreschool-K program sharing the campus. Sibling discounts available between ELC and MSOS.
• Kama'aina KidsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAfter school care provider offering extended childcare services on campus. Contact via email or phone for registration.
• Matalino MusicminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMusic lesson provider for piano, clarinet, and saxophone lessons offered at the school.
• FabLab HawaiiminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor3D printing and fabrication lab enrichment program for students Grades 4-8.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• 'Iolani School: Elite private K-12 school in Honolulu with strong college-preparatory outcomes. Competes head-to-head with MSOS for Honolulu families seeking rigorous private education, though 'Iolani operates at substantially larger scale and broader grade span.
• Le Jardin Academy: Independent K-12 school in Kailua on Oahu's windward side. Comparable to MSOS as a private K-12 school serving Oahu families at similar tuition tier, though located in a different Honolulu submarket.
• Sacred Hearts Academy: Catholic all-girls K-12 school in Honolulu operated by the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts. Directly comparable as a Catholic K-12 institution in the Honolulu market, sharing Diocesan and faith-based identity with MSOS.
• Saint Louis School: Catholic all-boys K-12 school in Honolulu with strong athletic tradition. Comparable to MSOS as a Catholic K-12 school under Marianist/Christian Brothers tradition serving Honolulu families.
• Mid-Pacific Institute: Independent K-12 school in Honolulu with progressive and college-preparatory tracks. Comparable to MSOS as a private Honolulu K-12 school competing for similar family demographics and tuition tier.
• Punahou School: One of the largest and most prestigious independent K-12 schools in Honolulu, serving families across Oahu. Directly comparable to MSOS as a private K-12 school competing for Honolulu families seeking premium education, though at significantly larger scale.
• Hawaii Baptist Academy: Faith-based (Protestant) K-12 school in Honolulu. Comparable to MSOS as a religious-affiliated private school in the same Honolulu market competing for faith-oriented families, though Baptist rather than Catholic.
• Hawaii Preparatory Academy: Independent K-12 boarding/day school on Hawaii Island with rigorous college-prep focus. Comparable to MSOS as a private K-12 school serving Hawaii families seeking premium education, though geographically distant.

Broad incumbents

• Kamehameha Schools: Large Hawaiian-focused K-12 institution with substantial endowment and statewide footprint. Competes for Honolulu families at scale, though admission is restricted by Hawaiian ancestry criteria, making it a broader incumbent in the same private K-12 market rather than a direct competitor.

Others

• Star of the Sea Catholic School (other locations): Other Catholic schools named 'Star of the Sea' exist in other U.S. Dioceses. These are thematically related as Catholic K-8 schools sharing Marian devotion naming conventions, though they are unrelated institutions serving different markets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/msos.hawaii
• Instagraminstagram.com/msos.hawaii
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mary-star-of-the-sea-school-honolulu

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mary, Star of the Sea School - Honolulu