More Than Just A Beauty School
by Linda Dela Cruz
Christine Hall and Malia Sanchez share the values and culture of their Hawaiian heritage and their aloha spirit as a cornerstone of their beauty school, Makana Esthetics Wellness Academy, which teaches students to give facials.
The learning center offers a 600-hour course in 15 weeks where students can take the test to become a licensed esthetician and pass the state of Hawaii Cosmetology Board Examination. Classes start every six weeks. As an esthetician they can work in a salon, hotel spa, dermatologist’s office and department stores. Training includes practice on customers – under the direction of a licensed esthetician – through the school’s spa services, which are offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Customers can book facials and cellulite body treatments as well as arm and hand treatments. Makeup, waxing and lash tints also are available.
“We take the personal development approach,” says Sanchez. “We believe we need to first develop our students so they respect and appreciate themselves, and they in turn will give the best in service to the customers because they are feeling good. We are doing things with integrity, and we want to represent ourselves in the right way with that inner balance. In resorts, when people come to Hawaii, we are representing and we want them to feel the Hawaii that we love.”
In the same spirit of putting the best foot forward to represent, the school also offers hands-on sessions with machines that high-end spas may use, including giving a microdermabrasion treatment that releases toxins from the cells.
“What I want to see is the expression on the customer’s face after they get a facial. I ask them, ‘So, how was it?’” says Sanchez.
For the already licensed estheticians, the academy also offers a professional discount on supplies such as makeup, brushes, wax, equipment and even continuing education courses. It carries skin-care lines from Peter Thomas Roth Clinical Skin Care and June Jacobs Spa Collection.
“We are native Hawaiians and we want to be role models for others to pursue their dreams,” Hall says.
Hall’s husband, Kamu, and Sanchez’husband, Jeff, rolled up their sleeves to help with every inch of the remodeling, from the first paint brush to the last nail, before the first classes started in March 2008.
Sanchez, a Waimea High School graduate, has been in the beauty industry since 1992, and her experience includes working at resorts and department stores. She teaches the classes at the academy.
Hall, who graduated from Punahou, has a background in project management and handles inquiries to the school, orientations and administrative tasks. Guest speakers are invited to help keep the curriculum innovative.
Sanchez pledges to give back to the community by offering facials to women in shelters and offering scholarships to the school.
Makana Esthetics Wellness Academy is located at 1168 Waimanu St. Classes are held from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Spa Services are available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 591-6090 or log onto www.MakanaAcademy.com.