Mission Statement:
The mission of the Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy is to provide exceptional learning opportunities and a diverse community honoring the traditions of Hawai‘i.
School Description
Founded in 1949, Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy (HPA) is an independent, coeducational college-preparatory boarding and day school, offering a full range of academic and extracurricular opportunities for 600 students in grades K-12. The school is located on two campuses encompassing 228 acres in the heart of Parker Ranch on the Island of Hawai‘i. HPA offers a boarding option for students in grades 6-12, and draws its diverse student body for 2007-2008 from the Hawaiian Islands, 14 other states and U.S. territories, and 15 other countries. Our ratio of boarding students to day students is 50-50 for the Upper School (grades 6-12). HPA has a standardized dress code, but no required uniform.
Opportunity is the hallmark of the HPA Experience. At HPA, students have opportunities to participate in a range of “big school” programs in a small school setting while meeting and making lifelong friendships with peers from around the world, living and studying in one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. There is a special synergy at HPA that is hard to describe; it is a place where young people and adults from around the world converge to work toward common goals and strive together toward excellence and fulfillment. At the core of the “HPA Experience,” HPA students are afforded exceptional support from committed educators for whom teaching is not just a career, but a lifestyle.
HPA students pursue an ambitious, well-rounded course of studies in small classes supported by the latest in educational technology. Instructional and co-curricular programs take advantage of Hawai‘i’s geographic and social setting to provide students access to the beauty and culture of our island state. For example, the marine science program, in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, offers unrivaled encounters with the Hawai‘i Island’s remarkable ocean environment. Partnerships with its high-tech neighbors such as the Mauna Loa Observatory enable HPA’s students to participate in cutting edge research.
Other unique academic opportunites include courses in environemtnal science, a Sea Turtle Research Program, and Wilderness First Responder certification. ESL courses are offered for grades 6-12, and several foreign languages (French, Spanish, and Japanese) are available for study. Students have their choice of seventeen Advanced Placement courses are offered in a variety of subjects covering science, mathematics, fine arts, and social science. A summer school program is also available for students between the ages of 11 and 18.
HPA features a full complement of fine arts at both of its campuses, including drama, choral and instrumental music, two- and three-dimensional visual art, digital media, and ceramics. Competitive athletics are an important part of the HPA Experience at the Upper School. More than 80 percent of the faculty coach and teach. Although the emphasis is on participation and sportsmanship, HPA teams have earned many state and league titles. Sports offerings (both interscholastic and recreational) include baseball, basketball, cross country, equestrian, football, golf, scuba certification, soccer, softball, swimming, water polo, tennis, track, volleyball, wrestling, and yoga. Students can participate in a variety of annual school activities and events, including Ho'olaule'a and Ho'ike (traditional Hawaiian celebrations), community service projects, an Olympic competition, and International Day.
Students also look forward to the diverse schedule of weekend activities, including:
- Excursions to various locations around the island, such as Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Mauna Kea Observatories, local rainforests, historical sites (e.g., Lapakahi State Park, Puako Petroglyphs).
- Diving with manta rays
- Beach camping
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- ATV rides on local ranchlands
- Cultural activities, such as hula competitions, ukulele festivals, rodeos
For more information about Hawaii Preparatory Academy, please contact:
Hawaii Preparatory Academy
65-1692 Kohala Mountain Road
Kamuela, Hawaii 96743
Phone: (808) 881-4008
Fax: (808) 881-4287
Web: http://www.hpa.edu/