Hawaii’s Only Accredited Esthetics Academy

Nestled in Honolulu, Makana Esthetics Wellness Academy stands as Hawaii’s premier esthetician training academy, committed to nurturing excellence in esthetics education.

Our handpicked esthetic instructors provide students with a superior education. Our team of highly skilled teachers have a passion and love for sharing their experience. This commitment to our students sets Makana Esthetics Wellness Academy apart from other institutions.

Malia Sanchez was born and raised on the Island of Kauai in a home rooted in traditional Hawaiian values, where the concepts of ohana and respect were always present. As the daughter and niece of a cosmetologist and hairstylist, Malia was practically raised in the industry as she cultivated her skills in her aunt’s salon. She learned that to nurture clients, you must first be “Pono” and nurture yourself.

After graduating from high school, she moved to Oahu and earned her cosmetology license in 1993, where she began her career as a cosmetologist and eventually specialized in the field of esthetics. She worked for several years at spas in the visitor industry, where she observed a disconnect between the spas and the visitors that they were serving. The product was excellent, but the nurturing environment she needed was missing. As she moved on as a trainer for various skin and cosmetics accounts, that thought stayed with her, and she found her passion in not only teaching and training but also doing so with the values that shaped her as a youth.

Thus, in 2007, Makana Esthetics Wellness Academy was born. Like the lotus flower emerging from a murky pond, Makana surfaced from humble beginnings in a renovated warehouse loft in the heart of Kakaako, where the rough exterior hid the gem of what was to be found inside. What started as a small operation built by family and friends soon blossomed into a full-time venture. Supported by a team of talented instructors, Makana soon developed a reputation for fostering quality students.

In 2015, an opportunity arose to move the school to our present location to better serve our students and clients. We purposefully designed and built our new location to create an effective and efficient learning environment. While the location has changed, the spirit and core values that have guided our Academy have not. We continue to not only provide a quality education to our students but also develop the student as a whole. We at Makana Esthetics Wellness Academy are proud of the “gift” that we contribute to our industry by adhering to excellence in teaching and guidance and promoting a stable environment for learning and advancement in esthetics.