The name "Laniakea" means "immeasurable heaven" in Hawaiian, from "lani" for 'heaven' and 'akea' for 'spacious or immeasurable.'

Why the name "Laniakea?" 

Our Mission

We believe that our children should be properly introduced to the world in which they live.  Our mission is to empower children to realize their human potential, to journey with them in discovering their unique calling, and to connect them with their sense of purpose. 

Our desire is to support children in becoming open-minded, compassionate people. Laniakea promotes individual rights and the fundamental values of kindness, honesty, generosity, peace and non-violence. We promote an understanding of the "role of rights" as it extends to all of life and creation. 

Our Philosophy

The Montessori method nurtures a child’s love of learning while teaching the importance of respect, an ability to work with others and a strong sense of independence. Montessori teachers are trained to model these positive values as well as teach them.

At Laniakea Montessori, our educators recognize that children learn in different ways. Our role as Montessori educators is to "follow the child."  This means that we guide them in their studies and through their phases of development accordingly. We allow children to select their own learning activities.

Montessori students work in mixed-aged classrooms and as they grow in their skills, the teacher’s role is to guide them in their learning. They can go at their own pace and grow in their own ways, learning through direct experience, investigation and discovery.

Because Montessori programs are based on self-directed and noncompetitive activities, children develop strong self-esteem and the lifelong confidence to face both challenge and change with optimism.