HONOLULU (KHON2) — DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach, the state’s fastest-growing public charter school, has reached a monumental milestone in its short history with the grand opening of its new, permanent high school campus.
On Saturday, Dec. 7, the school will officially unveil the DreamHouse Center, an innovative space that will serve an estimated 400 students in grades 9-12 by Fall 2025.
For a school that has spent years operating from a series of temporary locations across West Oʻahu, this new campus represents both a physical and symbolic new chapter for DreamHouse.
“This is a huge moment for us,” said Dr. Ryan Mandado, the Chief Education Officer of DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach. “After years of operating our high school from multiple temporary sites, we now finally have a dedicated space to call home. This isn’t just about bricks and mortar. It’s about a commitment to our students, their futures, and our community.”
The DreamHouse Center’s grand opening is a moment of celebration not just for the school’s faculty and students but also for the broader community.
The school’s rapid growth since its inception six years ago demonstrates both its popularity and the demand for a school model that focuses not only on academic excellence but also on community engagement, cultural identity and leadership development.
Building a community-focused educational model
Dr. Mandado’s journey to DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach began as a special education teacher at James Campbell High School. Born and raised in Kalihi, he was a product of Hawai‘i’s public education system.
His deep-rooted belief in the power of public schools and his passion for advocating for students, particularly those who are underserved, led him to pursue a doctorate in education at the University of Hawai‘i.
This commitment to equitable education ultimately brought him to DreamHouse in 2019 where he became a co-founder of the school.
“My background has always been about providing equitable opportunities for students, especially those who are furthest from opportunity,” Dr. Mandado explained. “When I taught at Campbell, I had to think deeply about how to adapt my teaching methods to better serve the native Hawaiian and Filipino populations I was working with. That led me to ask, how can we create an educational model that not only elevates students academically but also celebrates who they are and where they come from?”
This vision ultimately shaped the founding principles of DreamHouse, which places a significant emphasis on leadership development, cultural pride and community involvement.
When the founders of DreamHouse spoke with local families and community leaders about their educational needs, two key desires stood out: 1) parents wanted their children to feel proud of their heritage and 2) they wanted them to be leaders within their own communities.
From these conversations, the school’s mission was born: to empower future leaders of Hawai‘i through identity-based education and community-centric learning.
“We’re not just preparing students to graduate and get a job. We’re preparing them to be active, engaged members of their community, to understand their history, and to contribute meaningfully to the world around them,” Dr. Mandado said.
Innovation and growth: From shopping centers to a permanent campus
DreamHouse’s educational approach, which combines project-based, place-based and problem-based learning, reflects this community-focused mission.
Students engage with real-world issues through collaborative group projects and problem-solving in order to develop critical thinking and teamwork skills along the way.
“Our approach to education is all about giving students the freedom to explore their passions while staying grounded in their local communities. If a student comes to us with a question about something that affects their community, we build lessons around that,” Dr. Mandado explained. “It’s student-centered learning at its best.”
The school’s innovative pedagogical methods have been a key factor in its rapid expansion.
DreamHouse began with just 100 students operating out of temporary locations including a makeshift campus above a Buffalo Wild Wings in Ewa Beach.
In those early days, the school operated in two office spaces converted into classrooms, a testament to the dedication and resilience of both faculty and students.
“For families to choose DreamHouse when the school didn’t even exist yet, that was a big leap of faith,” Dr. Mandado recalled. “We’re so thankful for those families who believed in us from the start. They were part of building this school from the ground up.”
From there, the school’s journey took several twists and turns. They partnered with a private company to create a middle school in Kalaeloa, a region once occupied by the Navy.
When it came time to establish a high school, the team continued their pattern of thinking outside the box and set up shop in an Orangetheory gym in the Copley Shopping Center.
Despite the lack of walls or traditional classrooms, DreamHouse faculty thrived and created a flexible learning environment that encouraged interdisciplinary collaboration amongst students and teachers.
“We learned a lot during that time,” Dr. Mandado said. “We had to get creative with the space. We created what we called the ‘Beehive,’ where all 100 high school students learned in one large room with no walls. Teachers supported each other, and students were encouraged to work together. It was a real challenge, but it taught us a lot about our approach to teaching and the kind of environment we wanted to build.”
The new DreamHouse Center, which opened its doors in Fall 2024, finally brings the school the permanent space it has longed for.
Designed with an open-learning concept, the campus offers state-of-the-art facilities that foster creativity, collaboration and critical thinking. Without walls dividing classrooms, students can interact with each other, explore their interests and solve problems in real time.
Dr. Mandado emphasized that this open concept isn’t just a matter of style. It’s rooted in preparing students for the future.
“If we want our students to thrive in the 21st-century workforce, we have to teach them how to work collaboratively in open, dynamic spaces,” he said. “This is the kind of environment where they can truly become leaders and problem solvers.”
LEAD courses and community engagement
One of the most unique aspects of DreamHouse’s educational model is its Leadership Empowerment Agency and Development (LEAD) courses which encourage students to take ownership of their education and connect directly with local organizations and groups.
Through LEAD, students learn how to identify community problems, ask important questions and come up with potential solutions.
“It’s about giving students the tools they need to be leaders in their own communities,” Dr. Mandado said.
The LEAD curriculum is a defining feature of DreamHouse’s approach to education which sets it apart from traditional schools. While academics are important, Dr. Mandado and his team believe that true education is about more than just passing tests.
It’s about inspiring students to take action, to learn about themselves and the world around them and to make a positive impact.
“Education isn’t just about academic achievement. It’s about creating responsible, engaged citizens who understand their role in the community and in society,” Dr. Mandado said. “When our students graduate, we want them to be ready not just for college or careers, but to be leaders who can help solve the challenges facing Hawai‘i and the world.”
A bright future ahead
As DreamHouse continues to expand its reach, its mission of empowering future leaders is clear. With the opening of the DreamHouse Center and the promise of an innovative, student-centered learning environment, the school is well on its way to becoming a cornerstone of educational excellence in Hawai‘i.
The grand opening on Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. is just the beginning of a new chapter, one that will continue to inspire students and families for years to come.
You can click here to learn more about DreamHouse ʻEwa Beach. You can click here to learn more about Hawaiʻi’s charter schools.
“We’ve come a long way in six years,” Dr. Mandado said. “And while we’ve faced many challenges along the way, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together with our community. This is a school for the future, and we’re just getting started.”