Hawaii Preparatory Academy

Hawaii Preparatory Academy (also known as HPA) is a K-12, coeducational, private, day and international boarding school located in Kamuela, Hawaii on the island of Hawaii (also known as the Big Island). In 2024, the school celebrated its 75th anniversary.

While the town is known as " Waimea", the term "Kamuela" is used by the United States Postal Service (USPS) to distinguish it from other locations with the same name.

HPA is divided into a lower school, middle school and upper school. The lower school consists of grades kindergarten through 5, the middle school consists of grades six through eight, and the upper school consists of grades nine through 12.

The upper school is located at the foot of the Kohala Mountains, while the lower and middle schools are located in the center of the town of Waimea. The school is accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

The school hosts many noteworthy science-related educational programs for the benefit of its students, such as Turtle Tagging with NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and The Energy Lab, a partnership with Stanford University The school is also the host of the TED organization's TEDxYouth@HPA event. The school has a signature capstone program for all students in grades 5, 8, and 12.

History

Founded in 1949 by The Right Reverend Harry S. Kennedy, Episcopal Bishop of Honolulu, the school came of age under the leadership of James Monroe Taylor II, who was the school headmaster from 1954 to 1974. The school was originally located on the grounds of St. James Episcopal Church in Kamuela, using buildings that were built as barracks for the United States Marines during World War II.

Campus

Dormitories

The school has three dormitories, which are Carter Hall, Perry-Fiske Hall, and Robertson Hall. Carter Hall is an all female dormitory which houses up to 60 students. Perry-Fiske is an all-male dormitory which can house up to 70 students. Robertson Hall is a co-educational dormitory, and the only one in the school. Each building is supervised by a dorm head, and have 24/7 security.

Upper campus

The upper campus is located on the slopes of the Kohala mountains, and hosts the upper school. The campus was constructed in 1959, with core buildings designed by Vladimir Ossipoff. The campus encompasses a total of 320 acres. Facilities include a weight room, a wrestling room, pool, school library, an indoor tennis facility, baseball field, gym, and a bookstore. Athletic facilities include a repaired football and soccer field, a rubber track, a cross-country course, and a softball field, which was constructed in 2008. The campus also has classrooms, an art building, and a theater. The Davies Chapel was built in 1967. The Chapel features a bell tower, which was taken down in 2015 for restoration. This is an ongoing effort.

The campus hosts an energy lab, in which it is the only school in the world to do so. Constructed in 2010, the energy lab has partnered with a variety of organizations, including NASA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. The building is LEED certified and is classified as a zero-energy building.

Village campus

The village campus is located in the middle of the town of Waimea, and hosts the lower and middle schools. The campus was founded in 1976, with much of the buildings being retained from the former ''Waimea Village Inn''. Campus facilities include a school library, a garden, a playground, and a multipurpose facility built in 2018.

The campus features Isaacs Art Center, which is the only school-owned professional art-gallery in the state. Issacs' hosts a large permanent collection of paintings, furniture, rare books, and Hawaiiana. The building that houses the Isaacs Art Center was built in 1915 as Waimea's first public school structure. The building received the 2003-2004 Historic Preservation Award from the Historic Hawai'i Foundation. In 2005, the building was named on the National Register of Historic Places.

Notable alumni

* Angela Aki, pop singer and songwriter
* Mark Andersen, author, community activist
*Ed Case, U.S. Representative
* Jovan Crnić, Serbian professional basketball player
* Scott Eastwood, actor, model, son of Clint Eastwood
*Sky Feuer: PhD Biochemist, Academic Coordinator of UCSF's California Preterm Birth Initiative Program.
*Matty Hiroto Inaba: Professional speedcuber
* Jeff Hubbard, Bodyboarder, 2006 World Champion
* James C. Kennedy, chairman and CEO of COX Enterprises
* William C. Koch Jr., Tennessee Supreme Court Justice
* Chad Kroski, novelist, playwright, and singer
* Graham Salisbury, award-winning author and screenwriter
* Star Simpson, entrepreneur
* Stephen C. Stearns, evolutionary biologist and professor, Yale University
* Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, NFL defensive end
* Max Unger, Second Round NFL Draft Pick
*Peter Vitousek, Ecologist and Professor, Stanford University
* Iration, Reggae Band
* Bianca Rinehart, Australian Gold Mine Heiress

Traditions

The school has many traditions.
* Olympics: A week-long competition between the four high-school classes, is one of the school's most cherished traditions. It is a bonding opportunity for the whole school that teaches teamwork, competition, rivalry, superiority, chants, cunning, and outright fun, filling students and teachers alike with school spirit.
*The Big Water Slide: A massive water slide setup every spring on the hillside of the HPA Upper Campus.
*The Fall Ball: A festive, Halloween-themed school dance held every year at the Anna Ranch Heritage Center .

Gallery

File:Hawaii Preparatory Academy - Upper Campus Entrance.jpg, Entrance to HPA's Upper Campus
File:Hawaii Preparatory Academy - Village Campus.jpg, At HPA's Village Campus

References

External links

*
{{authority control

Private K–12 schools in Hawaii County, Hawaii
Boarding schools in Hawaii
1949 establishments in Hawaii
Educational institutions established in 1949
Preparatory schools in Hawaii