About
Jikoen Hongwanji Lumbini Preschool, founded in 1964 and based in Honolulu, HI, is a nonprofit, state-licensed group child care center in the Kalihi neighborhood. Established by the Jikoen Hongwanji Mission (temple established in 1938), the school serves children ages 2–5 through Honey Bee (2–3), Curious Kitten (3–4), and Panda Bear (4–5) classes. The program offers an English/Japanese-friendly environment grounded in Buddhist values to support healthy growth and early learning.
Licensed by the Hawaii Department of Human Services, the preschool maintains a student–teacher ratio that exceeds state requirements. It provides daily hot meals prepared on site in a Department of Health certified kitchen, with menus monitored by the Hawaii Child Care Nutrition Program.
Jikoen Hongwanji Lumbini Preschool welcomes international and multilingual students and accepts short-term students from Japan. School hours are 6:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The preschool is led by Director Suzue Nishiyama, a preschool educator for over a decade and director since 2011, who holds an early childhood education certificate from Honolulu Community College. School tours and enrollment information are available for interested families.