About the School

Variety School of Hawaii is a nonprofit, non-graded, multidisciplinary school specifically designed for students with challenges in the areas of socialization, communicative and language development, and peer relations, including: high functioning autism, anxiety-related disorders and non-verbal learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders, and mild to moderate cognitive delays.

Specialized teachers and therapists integrate onsite advanced technological aids and therapy equipment with your child’s individualized educational program. Our program is designed to fully support your child’s educational needs throughout their journey at Variety or provide a strong foundation for his or her transition to a traditional school.

The Variety family
At Variety School, we understand that providing an education for a child who requires intensive therapies for learning disabilities may pose severe challenges for families and parents who seek out programs that reach beyond limited special education resources available at private or public schools. Finding the necessary support may require trips to several different therapists that is exhausting for both parent and child. Our job at Variety is to provide families clarity, support, and a safe community for your child to call home, so he or she need only to focus on the joys of learning with their Variety family and friends.

We are dedicated to inspiring confidence and equipping each child with lifelong necessary skills to achieve his or her maximum potential, because every student matters and deserves a well-rounded education.

In January of 1961 Variety School of Hawaii commenced as the Honolulu Day School at the Church of the Crossroads in Honolulu. The school provided educational services addressing an urgent need for young children diagnosed with a “neurological dysfunction.” The diagnosis was later categorized as Specific Learning Disabilities.

In the 1960s children with Specific Learning Disabilites were not understood as we understand them today. Children with average or above average intelligence and diagnosed with a “neurological dysfunction” which limited their participation in the public school system, were sent home with no opportunity to be educated. In 1975 Congress enacted the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, which mandated every State to provide every child a free and appropriate education; regardless of any disability.

In 1967 the school changed its name from Honolulu Day School to Variety Club School for Learning Disabilities. During this time the Variety Club Tent 50 adopted the school and began fundraising to help the school meet its

operational expenses. At the time, there were about 138 members making up the Variety Club Tent 50. Members were from television, radio, movies, newspaper and the music industry. The school also expanded from two children to forty children all between the ages of 5-12 years old. With the need for more space the Variety Club School for Learning Disabilities moved to Central Union Church and changed its name to Variety Club School.

In 1974 Carole Kai started her campaign and commitment to fund the Variety Club School. Her efforts became the school’s biggest supporter and donor. Proceeds from Carol Kai’s Bed Race and the Great Aloha Run benefited the Variety Club School.

In 1976 we moved from Central Union Chuch into a newly built building in the old Fort Ruger area, near Diamond Head. This is our location today. Our new building allowed the school to provide for a greater number of students.

In 1988 the school changed its name to Variety School of Hawaii.

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