Hawai'i Preparatory Academy was founded on March 12, 1949, when Episcopal Bishop Harry Kennedy and a group of Big Island citizens signed the Articles of Incorporation for Hawai'i Episcopal Academy. The school has grown from five boarding students in a World War II building in Waimea to about 600 students on two campuses encompassing more than 220 acres in the midst of the world-famous Parker Ranch. While HPA is known for the things that make us unique, you will find much in common with great schools around the globe:
But, our differences make all the difference. Nowhere else will you be able to experience all of the above, and more, in an environment this diverse, and in a community that will challenge and help empower you like we will. We blend these basic ingredients into a shared, often-magical journey of life, work and play in surroundings of otherworldly beauty. As you will learn from exploring this site, our island is home to a surprising, unique, and accessible world of landscapes, climates, cultures, and communities, providing tailor-made opportunities for you to discover passions that will inspire you for a lifetime. Our windy perch in Waimea’s ranching country, a 2,500-foot saddle between the Kohala Mountains and majestic Mauna Kea, forces us to become deeply rooted in sustaining values, while giving us the opportunity to see what Hawai‘i Island and the world beyond has to offer and build it into your experience.
The mission of Hawai'i Preparatory Academy is to provide exceptional learning opportunities in a diverse community honoring the traditions of Hawai‘i. Our school community encompasses both day and boarding students. Together, they create a vibrant community where learning takes place everywhere—in class, across campus, and out into our stunning island and ocean. Our local students forge international friendships; our boarding students discover people, places, and ideas that will forever feed the soul and the imagination.
We value our students as individuals with immense potential. We take the time to understand different learning styles. Our ultimate goal is to empower each student toward an individual sense of purpose, giving them the tools to thrive in careers that will expect innovation, creativity, global perspective, and a pioneering mindset.
We combine a rigorous, college-preparatory curriculum with the chance to design and conduct your own high-level, real-world research or creative projects. Through the Energy Lab, capstone projects, outdoor adventures, and many other programs, we support and empower you to explore your sense of purpose in the world as you prepare for college and for life.
All your learning takes place within a global school community that is unlike any other. Day students from Hawai‘i are joined by boarding students from 17 other U.S. states and 25 countries to build a diverse, international ‘ohana (family). From the moment you step on campus, you will feel accepted and appreciated in this safe and welcoming environment where everyone “lives aloha.”
Hawai'i is traditionally known as a melting pot of cultures and peoples. At HPA, we are proudly local and international. Thanks to a mix of day and boarding students from Hawai‘i, the U.S. mainland, and 25 nations, HPA is able to offer synergies in learning and living that no other school can currently offer.
When you join our ‘ohana (family), you will enjoy strong relationships with your teachers, coaches, and staff. You will discover lifelong friendships with fellow students. These relationships with people from every corner of the Earth will challenge and transform your view of the world and help you discover the person you are meant to be. Our school community comes together regularly through activities and traditions that include athletics, dorm events, open-mic nights, outdoor adventure, and our annual all-school, four-day Olympics.
At graduation, whether you leave HPA for Waimea or a distant country, you will be ready to foster your own version of ‘ohana—to reach across cultural, social, or other divides and find connection. These lessons grow more precious every day in our diverse, competitive, and often conflicted world. Here where the sea surrounds us, the land supports us, and the heavens are arrayed above us, we learn to honor and enjoy our place in the greater human family.
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The education at Hawai'i Preparatory Academy is top-notch. The American curriculum has provided my child with a well-rounded education. The staff is incredibly helpful and supportive. I have seen great progress in my child's academic and personal growth since attending the school.
By James (Sep, 2023) |
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Hawai'i Preparatory Academy has transformed my child's learning experience; the dedicated staff and innovative programs have ignited a passion for knowledge and remarkable academic growth.
By E.J. (Jul, 2024) |