The Honolulu Waldorf School is a self-governed organization. The full-time faculty members comprise the Collegium, which is responsible for the philosophical, educational and future vision of the school.  The Collegium works collaboratively with the Board of Trustees, and the Administrative Staff manages the administrative tasks that support the teachers, parents, and Board.

Small groups are mandated to implement major areas of responsibility, including, but not limited to, curriculum development, hiring, mentoring, evaluation, and when necessary, dismissal of teachers and administrative staff members.

Full-time faculty and staff members comprise the Collegium and are committed to the principles of Waldorf education and the Honolulu Waldorf School. The Waldorf teacher works with each child and class using this principle as the basic foundation. Each individual teacher and administrative staff member is responsible for fulfilling his/her particular task, and in joining with colleagues in the Collegium, is responsible as part of a group for the integrity of the educational foundation of the school. The foundation holds Waldorf education as a spiritual impulse based on Anthroposophy, the name given to the science of the spirit initiated by Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Waldorf education.


While the Collegium works as a whole, the departments, Early Childhood, Lower School, and High School, each have their own focus on the developing human being. The departments meet weekly to discuss the children, the festival life, curriculum needs, and relevant business pertaining to the department.

To ensure the integrity of the spiritual and pedagogical foundations of the school, a group has been established to prepare and facilitate the study and deepening of the Collegium work at its weekly meeting. 


The Leadership Team is the executive committee of the Collegium and is charged with the day-to-day leadership and management of school operations, to ensure healthy communication between departments, faculty members and the parent community. The Leadership Team affirms the decisions of the mandate groups and makes other decisions as needed. Its leadership policies are informed by the work of the Collegium and mandate groups and implements business policies set by the Board of Trustees.


Administrative Staff members function in vital roles of support for the Collegium, parents, and Board of Trustees. Administrative staff see to the details of the daily running of the school so that students can learn, teachers can teach, and parents and Board members can be assured that the school is functioning well. The Administrative Staff members are present and accessible at each campus. The Administrative Staff is led by the Administrative Director and currently led by the Interrim Executive Team.


Mandate Groups are given the responsibility to make decisions in the areas assigned. All decisions are affirmed by the Leadership Team. Mandate Groups include, and are not limited to: Personnel Committee; Professional Development; Festivals; Accreditation; Outreach and Development; Buildings and Grounds.


The Board of Trustees is the legal entity of the school and is responsible for financial and legal matters; it oversees the corporate functioning of the school. The board consists of parents, faculty, and community members who are committed to the school’s mission and vision. The Board works closely with the Leadership Team and the Collegium to set long range goals for the school.