Online Japanese Classes · Honolulu, Hawaii

Let's learn
Japanese together!

Small live classes on Zoom for adult learners, beginner through intermediate — taught by a Tokyo-trained instructor, with visual lessons, real conversation practice, and replays you can revisit anytime.

See class levels Email to enroll →

8–12 students per class

2015 teaching in Hawaii since

5 levels, beginner → intermediate

Why Aha'Aina

A friendlier way into Japanese

No giant lecture halls, no rote memorization alone. Just a small group, real materials, and a teacher who's done this before — in Tokyo, in Canada, and now in Hawaii.

Tokyo-trained teacher

Born and raised in Tokyo, certified through a 420-hour Japanese teacher-training program, with years of classroom experience.

Small classes, on purpose

Every class is capped at 8–12 students, so you actually get to speak, ask questions, and be noticed.

Visual, real-life lessons

Lessons lean on pictures and everyday topics — food, travel, daily life — alongside a proper grammar foundation.

Never miss a class

Every session is recorded and posted privately, so a missed week never means falling behind.

ʻAHA ʻAINA

"Feast"

A Hawaiian word, traditionally used for a gathering and a shared meal — borrowed here to mean something a little bigger.

Where the name comes from

Taste life, in another language

Learning Japanese isn't only about passing a test or memorizing a list of words. It's a way of tasting a different culture — a different way of seeing the world, told through its language.

"Life is short, and everyone has the right to enjoy it. Seek out what you love, and go taste it."

That idea is why this school borrows a Hawaiian word for "feast" to describe a Japanese class. Two island cultures, one simple belief: language is meant to be savored, not just studied.

Yui, instructor at Aha'Aina Japanese Language Class

Yui Solomon

Founder & Instructor

Meet your teacher

From Tokyo to Hawaii, teaching with aloha.

Yui was born and raised in Tokyo. She graduated from Kyoritsu Women's University, then went on to complete a separate, certified 420-hour Japanese language teacher-training program. From there, her path led to Canada — and eventually, Hawaii, where she founded Aha'Aina in 2015.

Education — Kyoritsu Women's University, Tokyo
Teacher training — 420-hour certified Japanese language teacher-training program, completed at a specialized teacher-training school in Japan
Vancouver, Canada — Japanese teacher at Ninagawa Japanese Language Center
Vancouver School Board — Japanese instructor, Continuing Studies program
University of British Columbia — Assistant Japanese teacher (volunteer)
2015 — Founded Aha'Aina Japanese Language Class LLC, Hawaii

The path

Five levels, beginner to intermediate

Each level builds on the last. Most students move through them one at a time, one class per week — though you're welcome to join wherever fits your level.

Beginner

Starting from zero

Level 16 sessions · 6 weeks

Greetings, self-introductions, counting objects, asking for things, making requests, and your first 46 hiragana characters.

2–4

Basic

Real conversation begins

Level 28 sessions · 8 weeks

Particle usage, verb and adjective conjugation, everyday conversation, expressing intention, and the progressive form.

Level 39 sessions · 9 weeks

The potential form ("can do"), hearsay expressions, expressing desire, describing states of being, and more.

Level 412 sessions per part

Part 1 · 12 weeks Part 2 · 12 weeks

The focus here is on smoother, more natural everyday communication. You'll learn connecting words that link sentences together, relative-clause structures, and polite expressions suited to the listener and situation — and kanji study begins.

Part 1 and Part 2 are scheduled and billed separately — see Schedule & Tuition below.

Intermediate

Polish & precision

Level 515 sessions per part

Part 1 · 15 weeks Part 2 · 15 weeks

Sentence patterns expand from everyday situations into more social topics. You'll pick up more variations for reason, contrast, and conditionals, plus sentence-ending expressions that carry the speaker's own nuance and opinion.

Part 1 and Part 2 are scheduled and billed separately — see Schedule & Tuition below.

Schedule & tuition

Pick a level, pick a time

Classes are designed for adult learners (18+) and meet once a week. A digital textbook is included in every level.

Level	Length	Tuition
Level 1	6 weeks	$155 + tax
Level 2	8 weeks	$205 + tax
Level 3	9 weeks	$230 + tax
Level 4, Part 1	12 weeks	$305 + tax
Level 4, Part 2	12 weeks	$305 + tax
Level 5, Part 1	15 weeks	$380 + tax
Level 5, Part 2	15 weeks	$380 + tax

· Classes meet once a week, with 8–12 students per class
· A digital textbook is included at every level
· Designed for adult learners, ages 18 and up

Class times (Hawaii Standard Time)

Weekday evenings — 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Saturday mornings — 9:00 am to 11:00 am

For the current schedule, email mataraishuu@gmail.com.

How online class works

Class is held live over Zoom. Every session is recorded and posted to a private YouTube link, so you can catch up if you miss one — videos stay up for one month and are only visible to enrolled students.

How to join

Four steps to your first class

Email to reserve your seat

Write to mataraishuu@gmail.com with the level and schedule you're interested in.

Pay securely with PayPal

You'll receive a PayPal payment link. Your spot is confirmed once payment is received.

Receive your digital textbook

Your textbook is emailed to you ahead of your first session — full of color and pictures, genuinely enjoyable to flip through, not just black-and-white drills. No need to order anything separately.

Join class on Zoom

Log on at your scheduled time each week. Can't make it? The recording will be waiting for you.

Cancellation policy

48+ hours before class: full refund
The day before class: 50% refund
The day of class: no refund

Ready to taste a little more life?

Send an email and Yui will help you find the right level and the right schedule — no pressure, just a friendly reply.

Email Yui to enroll →

mataraishuu@gmail.com

Let's learnJapanese together!