Welcome to Hawaii Driving Institute

What some students had to say.......

Young Adult Mom

Yelp Review

Brandi K.

Pearl City, HI

12/4/2011

Ron Aoki is great teacher i strongly recommend him!

He's very patient with you, he doesn't get angry or frustrated, and he explains things to you in different ways if you can't get it the first time. He is very dedicated to his job and to helping other people. Before i took his behind the wheel classes i was a very nervous driver, i sucked at driving and i wasnt confident at all. But Ron helped me step by step and assured me that by the end of my lessons i would pass. And i did! My first try!

Trust me, he is such a great teacher I'm so happy i found him!

Foreign Professional

Yelp Review

Sian S.

Kapolei, HI

2/9/2011

I highly recommend Ron Aoki as a driving instructor.

I am an adult foreign driver and although I had taken some lessons in the UK I had not taken my driving test. I am not the most coordinated person and I was extremely nervous about driving on the different side of the road, under different road rules but I had no need to be worried, Ron was a wonderful teacher.

Ron was incredibly patient and never once showed an ounce of frustration even when I made the same mistakes over and over again. He always explained things to me in a simple and logical way, and if I didn't get it the first (or second time) he would try to explain things in a different way until I finally got it. This was one of the things that most impressed me about Ron, he clearly puts a lot of thought and personal attention into each student and adapts his teaching methods to each individual. He carefully planned lessons that allowed me to practice things that I was struggling with in a variety of driving environments. This allowed me to gain invaluable driving experience of more difficult situations and really helped to boost my confidence.

I would not hesitate to recommend Ron. The best proof is that I passed my test on the first attempt.

High School Student

Google Review

Looking for a great driver instructor...‎

By xoxoshashababy - Oct 25, 2009

Hi My name is Shasha Aguinaldo and I am one of Mr. Aoki's current students, being in his classroom and behind the wheel sessions has broaden my knowledge on driving. Everyone thinks that when driving as long as you don't get into an accident of any kind it's safe but what you don't know there is a right way to drive. You'll learn things that you wouldn't know if it wasn't for Mr. Aoki, if you're a concerned parent looking for an instructor for your teenager I highly recommend Hawaii Driving Institute being that I am a teenager of experience from the types of techniques and methods learned. You do not just learn the right way to drive but you learn the safe way. Being in the classroom, you will build strong relationships with your instructor as well as your classmates not wanting to leave but missing all the memories. Mr. Aoki is a kind, understanding teacher who sacrifices his time to make sure that you comprehend what it is like to be on the road having considerations for other drivers, pedestrians, bicyclist, motorist, animals, and yourself. He teaches you how to handle all types of situations preventing you from getting into an accident. His curriculum will give you a greater chance of passing your road test, he does not only teach teenagers but adults as well. So if you want to learn how to drive correctly Mr. Ron Aoki is the best teacher to learn from. His teaching is quality and you won't regret taking his classes. For more information go to www.hdihawaii.com If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about my review please email me at xoxoshashababy@hotmail.com I'll be glad to answer your questions. -Shasha Aguinaldo

College Student

August 29, 2009

I had the pleasure of taking six hours of behind-the-wheel driving lessons with Mr. Ron Aoki, and I can definitely say I owe the passing of my license test to him. Based on my opinion and friends who have also had other instructors prior, Mr. Aoki’s experience and knowledge of driving and of the road tests surpasses all other driving instructors. From the years of experience teaching many people of diverse learning techniques/abilities, he has developed a successful method of teaching that is suitable to each individual. He was able to assess my driving and immediately know what the problems were and how to correct them. Also, because he talks to several license examiners at the different DMV’s, he knows exactly what they look for depending on the location of your road test.

Not only is Mr. Aoki a very experienced, knowledgeable driving instructor, but he genuinely cares about his students and possesses an exceptional characteristic of patience. It is this passion to help, regardless of how long it takes, that sets him apart from the others. One day after I apologized for not being a coordinated person, he told me not to apologize because he believes everyone can learn coordination with practice; coordination is not an innate ability. His words of faith and encouragement gave me confidence that I could and would be able to pass. No matter what the person’s coordination level is, no matter how many times they have failed the road test, no matter how many driving instructors they’ve consulted with no results, and no matter what the circumstance, Mr. Aoki is more than willing, if not grateful, to teach them.

I highly recommend everyone to take driving lessons with Mr. Aoki. I was more than satisfied with my behind-the-wheel driving lessons with him, and I guarantee you will be too.

-Katelyn

Foreign Professional

December 19, 2009

Learning to drive has been a life changing experience to me as a foreigner. Ron has been a wonderful instructor and was always there to encourage me and instill hope when I failed to believe in myself. He is not only a great instructor who adapts lessons according to your level of experience and your way of understanding things but he is also a wonderful human being. Of course I finally got my license but more than that the whole experience has made me a better person, improved my self esteem and taught me to believe in myself. If you are looking for a similar kind of experience you have come to the right place and you are in the right hands.

Good Luck!

Tessi

Retired Librarian

Friday, March 14, 2008 3:29 PM

Thank you for having the courage to help me with merging with traffic today on the freeway. I would like to become confident in any situations. Concerning ' vertical parking ' I do not need to be perfect all the time but it would be good to be able to know how to do it well both from the left and right side. If possible I would also like to know how to back up into one too.

Wednesday, April 02, 2008 12:41 PM

Thank you for your patience and teaching me to become a better driver in every way. I hope I don't make the 2 mistakes again at the intersection as I did today - not counting 2 secs at a STOP sign and rolling out more to see in BOTH directions.

Thursday, April 17, 2008 7:20 PM

Thank you again for all your patience and tips on how to become a better driver. While all the information did seem overwhelming today I do realize that I am lucky to have been exposed to all of it because unless someone points them out to you one lives in ignorance. I am sure that as you keep reminding me it will hopefully eventually sink in.

I am looking forward to learning more during my lessons next week and am grateful that I have someone who can teach me these things. I wish my son could have learned how to drive from you too.

Friday, April 25, 2008 3:08 PM

Thank you for assisting me with the rescheduling of my road test. I'll only feel confident if I can practice with you as many times before 15 May. What day and times would be available before 15 May. What I had in mind was doing eye coordination lane changing on Monday and then on Tues practicing around Dillingham to improve my street driving skills. Then we could think about Wahiawa again.

I know you are busy if you could inform me of the times of availability I would appreciate it very much.

Thank you for today. I am not dejected about this at all and if it takes longer then so be it! At least I feel more confident about freeway driving after having gone to Wahiawa a few times.

Monday, April 28, 2008 8:13 PM

Thank you for today's lesson on ' lane changing '. Today was an example of ' It takes awhile for old dogs to learn new tricks!'.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008 5:28 PM

Thank you again for your patience. I wonder if I'll every be able to master the fundementals of ' lane changing ' well!

Monday, May 05, 2008 10:22 AM

Thank you for this morning's lesson on left turns and how to exit driveways. I know I still have to ingrain those habits but I am amazed at how much knowledge you impart to us. Those who are willing to learn are very fortunate.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 6:23 PM

I thank you for your patience and I am sorry that I'm such a SLOW learner. Whatever happens tomorrow is my doing. Thank you for coming so early to take me to Wahiawa and to practice for a bit before the test.

Friday, May 16, 2008 10:05 AM

I thank you so very much for having taught me so much so that I could get this far. From your schedule it seems that I was fortunate too in being able to get so many lessons in before summer. I'll go over the topics which I would like to become more proficient in addition to merging and lane changing.

Sunday, May 18, 2008 4:46 PM

Thank you again for having taught me so well that I was able to pass the driving test on the first try. While I still need more practice to perfect my skills, thanks to your patience in helping me to master the basic skills I was able to accomplish the required tasks for the test adequately enough so that the examiner inquired about who was my driving instructor. I think that this is the highest complement a teacher can receive when someone asks who was your instructor because the examiner felt that whoever had taught me was a very good person whom they could recommend to a friend who was seeking their advice on this matter.

Thank you Ron also for encouraging me to keep on trying despite set backs and tailoring your instruction to help me overcome my individual weakness. I also appreciated that in addition to teaching me the essential driving skills you also helped me to learn how to become more aware of the broader traffic conditions so that I would know how to avoid accidents.

I look forward to having a few more lessons so that I can become a better and more aware driver.

Regards

Gertrude

Husband of a Foreign Wife

November 29, 2002

Marilyn Kali Administrative Assistant for Public Affairs Hawaii State Department of Transportation 869 Punchbowl St., Rm 506 Honolulu, HI 96813

Subject: Letter of Appreciation – Hawaii Driving Institute: Ronald Aoki

Dear Marilyn

I am writing of my own volition, on behalf of both my wife and myself, in a spirit of gratitude for the kind and professional services of Ron Aoki, as a Driving Instructor from the Hawaii Driving Institute. My wife, who has only been in this country for a few years from the Philippines, recently took a series of driving lessons from Ron Aoki and has now succeeded in obtaining her driving license. Ron’s sensitivities to the particular challenges which had to be overcome by my wife, who is not from a culture where most people drive, and his responsible awareness of proper driving habits, made this a positive and gratifying experience for both my wife and I. I will highly recommend his services for others seeking similar training.

Very truly yours,

Paul H.

Haleiwa, HI

*Information Last Updated on: May 1. 2011

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