Two people were in favor of Waldorf's plan, but the board sided with the majority and voted 12-1 against the school's plans. Neighborhood boards do not have power over such issues but their votes are considered by City Council and other bodies.

Residents said the school is a bad neighbor and its parents are rude. Parents often park their cars on street corners or partially block driveways, and drop their kids off in the middle of the street, they said. They also complained about school activities on nights and weekends.

Marty Plotnick, who lives three doors from the school, said there's a lack of parking on campus for teachers and parents. In addition, she said, the school doesn't seem to anticipate problems; it just responds to them.

"There is a deep-seated, deep-rooted anger in the community and it's not going to be assuaged by promises that you'll do something in the future," Plotnick said. "You don't seem to have any long-term plans to deal with the problems. We need a commitment from the school."

School administrators acknowledged they've had complaints from residents and have tried to deal with them by giving reminders to parents and devising a drop-off and pickup plan.

The school announced recently that it was considering moving its high school to the 2.4-acre campus in Niu Valley on Ulua Street.

Waldorf wants to move its high school from a storefront on Hunakai Street in Kahala to a facility it would build on its Niu campus, where about 220 children from preschool through eighth grade attend.

"It would be more effective in terms of administration and gives a better experience for the students to have more room," said Don Clegg, a consultant hired by the school to present its plans.

The school is looking at two options, Clegg said. One would place a two-story, 12,000-square-foot building in the back of the property and include more parking. Another would also include a preschool activity center.

"The school recognizes it hasn't been the best neighbor in terms of parking and outreach to the community," Clegg said. "We're trying to reach the community now rather than it hearing about our plans from someone else."

Waldorf's high school plans became the topic of discussion last month when the school sent out a letter to 200 of the 700 homes in Niu Valley letting them know that the school was considering a move. The school is allowed to build a high school, according to city ordinance, but would need a conditional use permit. The school will have to make a more formal presentation to the neighborhood board after it files its permit application, Clegg said.

Kim Payton, Honolulu Waldorf School board president, said the school is aware of the problems with parking and traffic. He apologized to the community.