The Impact of the Maui Prep Experience

I am so thankful for Maui Prep’s continued support and compassion for my family and me over the years. I have had the privilege of attending Maui Preparatory Academy since Preschool, and I have loved the school from the beginning. Knowing this, my parents have always prioritized sending me to Maui Prep despite financial hardships. Every year the financial aid committee’s generosity and compassion ensured that I was able to attend another year. I am so grateful to have been honored with receiving the Pueo Scholarship.  

Attending Maui Prep has positively impacted every aspect of my life, and has made me the person I am today. 

One of the core beliefs taught at Maui Prep is to explore and nurture your passions. The Maui Prep community always strives to provide its students with a variety of unique experiences and opportunities. This has allowed me to pursue internships based off of my passion for art, these experiences built my skills and gave me insight as to what an art career would resemble. Additionally, the wide range of experiences available has led to me discovering new passions and skills, such as business and foreign travel. The Maui Prep community’s strength, support and guidance is truly unique, and I am so fortunate to be able to attend this school.

Kailea Larsen ‘28
Maui Prep Student since 2014

I am truly fortunate to be a member of the Maui Prep Ohana. I joined in the fall of 2016 and it did not take long for me to feel accepted and valued as a member of the faculty. 

After only a few weeks, I could see Maui Prep was going to be a different experience from the teaching career I had on the mainland. 

I spent 36 years at Parkway West Middle School in Chesterfield, Missouri. Parkway is a large school district in the suburbs of St. Louis. I taught only one grade for nearly my entire career. I would see my students for ten months then they would head off to high school, rarely to ever be seen again. At Maui Prep it is exactly the opposite. I have taught many students for two or more years. Watching our Middle and Upper School students mature over a number of years has been very rewarding for me as a teacher.  

I am grateful for my colleagues at Maui Prep. My wife had some health issues during the 2022-23 school year that required me to be away from the classroom for an extended period. Teachers at Maui Prep stepped in without hesitation to make sure the learning continued in my classes. I was able to care for my wife while feeling secure in the knowledge that my students were getting a quality education. I truly appreciate the efforts of all my colleagues during that time. 

I am grateful for the support I received over the years from the parents, colleagues, and the administration at Maui Prep. When my father passed away, I received many words of kindness from the entire Maui Prep Ohana. The concern expressed for me meant a lot during a difficult time.

Maui Prep is not just a place of employment for me. It is a place where we can all feel welcome. I moved to Maui with a goal of working part-time for three years before “officially” retiring. The 2025-26 school year will be my tenth year at Maui Prep and I can truly say I am excited for the school year the begin. I look forward to continuing the relationships I have built at Maui Prep. 

Joe Lee
Maui Prep Educator since 2016

It is nearly impossible to visit the Maui Prep campus and not feel captivated by the setting. When we first met with Admissions Director Dr. Liz Turcik, before moving to the island, the experience was everything we had hoped for. Children were being called by name and cartwheeling across the grass on their way through the Lower School quad. We immediately felt at peace knowing this would be the right environment for our three children.

Since then, our initial hopes for what Maui Prep could be have been fully realized. We became part of a close-knit, welcoming community of students, parents, faculty, and staff.

Maui Prep offers West Side children so much more than academic excellence. Our children have access to a wide range of athletic opportunities and the chance to explore creative pursuits in the arts. We have deeply appreciated this well-rounded approach to learning and growth. One of our favorite surprises was when our daughter, Anna ’31, decided to audition for the school play. She joined simply to be with her friends but discovered a passion for acting and singing that continues to grow.

As parents, we are also grateful for the school’s commitment to safety and personal connection. In such an intimate environment, every student, parent, and even vehicle is known and recognized. Because each child is seen and valued, the faculty and staff are able to notice when something feels off and provide personal support.

For our family, Maui Prep strikes the perfect balance—offering strong academics while also honoring the beauty and lifestyle of life on Maui. Our children are being prepared for the future, challenged intellectually, yet given the time and space to explore, play, and try new things. We are truly thankful to be part of the Maui Prep ‘ohana.

Alex and Whitney Murray