Hawai’i Preparatory Academy

Kamuela

Hawaii

United States

Overview

Part of our vision at Hawai’i Preparatory Academy is Ka Makani Ho’okele; the wind that sets you on your course and propels you on your voyage. At HPA we believe that every student embarks on his or her own unique voyage which is why we provide an immense range of exceptional academic athletic and creative opportunities to cater to all kinds of students and interests. During your time at HPA you’ll not only discover exciting new possibilities and ideas but you’ll also come to realize precisely who you are and what you want to be. Each department offers autonomous study and research opportunities and our passionate faculty are committed to providing guidance and support in order to help you succeed as you embark on your own path. At our international award winning Energy Lab you can join forces with NASA scientists preparing a mission to Mars or write an article for the Washington Post. In your English 12 class you can perform your own stand-up comedy routine or write a science fiction novel. As extracurriculars you can get your SCUBA diving certification or star in the fall musical. If you’re an athlete you can catch some waves with your outrigger canoeing crew or help our varsity soccer team take home the state championship for the third year in a row. And you can do all this and more with 80% of the world’s ecosystems and the incredible beauty of Hawai'i Island just outside your door. Discover more about our academics campus life arts athletics and the Energy Lab in the tabs below. As an HPA student you’ll have a leg up when applying to your dream university. Our rigorous curriculum and unique academic opportunities paired with 18 Advanced Placement courses and a distinguished college counseling center make HPA students serious contenders for acceptance into the most prestigious and selective universities around the world. HPA alumni are currently attending schools such as Harvard Yale Brown and Stanford as well as international schools such as the University of Edinburgh McGill University and King’s College London. Check out our College Info section to learn more about why HPA students achieve such outstanding college results. At the core of HPA is our close-knit international residential community that fosters independent happy confident and balanced individuals. We can’t wait for you to join our ‘ohana (family) so visit our website to learn more about this remarkable school we call home.

Academics

Summary: Whether you want to explore the edges of the universe, read great literature, try your hand at standup comedy, learn new languages, or work the land and become an agroecologist, Hawai’i Preparatory Academy can give you the opportunities and tools you need to fulfill your academic potential. At HPA, you can collaborate with NASA scientists preparing a mission to Mars, intern with an editor of the Washington Post, work with some of the world’s top astronomers, write and direct your own one act play, and partner with NOAA to help research and protect sea turtles. Our faculty (90% of which have advanced degrees) are more than just teachers; they are dedicated, enthusiastic mentors, determined to help you succeed, create, lead, and thrive. Here at HPA, the possibilities are limitless. Here are some highlights of our academic program: Joint project with NASA’s HI-SEAS (Hawai’i Space Exploration Analog and Simulation) World-renowned sea turtle research program Digital journalism and internships with The Washington Post Biotechnology projects using DNA PCR Thermocycler and UV Transilluminator Using motor nerves and brainwaves to control missing/damaged limbs Electroencephalogram (EEG) Brain Project Astronomy internships with internationally-recognized observatories Gene splicing with CRISPR Cinematography for PBS Hawaii’s “Hiki No” (the nation’s first student new network) Partnerships with Stanford and Cornell University Environmental studies and sustainability Advanced computer science, robotics, and drones Electrical Engineering Virtual reality projects

Department Director Amy Cole

Student/Teacher Ratio: 10:1

Average Class Size: 12

Summer Programs: Offered

Full Time Teachers: 59

Number of AP Courses Offered: 18

Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 90%

Number of IB Courses Offered: 0

Learning Support

Evening Study Assistance
Learning Differences Support
Peer Tutoring
Study Skills Assistance
Subject Tutoring
Technology Center
Writing Center
ADD/ADHD Support

English

Creative Writing
Honors

History

Honors
United States History
World History

Foreign Languages

Chinese-Mandarin
Japanese
Spanish

Religion / Philosophy

World Religions

Humanities / Social Sciences

Economics

Sciences

Astronomy
Biology
Biotechnology
Chemistry
Earth Science
Marine Biology
Physical Science
Zoology

Math

Computer Studies

Computer Programming
Robotics
Electronics

Music

Choral Music

Performing / Visual Arts

Acting

Special Programs

Community Service
Independent Study
Leadership

Distinctive or New Programs

Sea Turtle Research Program Hula Hawaiian Canoe Paddling Astronomy Sustainable Energy Research Including A New Energy Lab Opening January 2010.

Campus Life

Dorm Life

Number of Dorms: 3

Average Students Per Dorm: 60

Number of Girls Dorms: 1

Number of Boys Dorms: 2

Dorm Amenities

Game Room
Laundry Facilities
Lounge
Wireless Internet

Other Dorm Amenities

Dorm rooms are doubles; and each dorm has a common room with computers and games for students. Laundry facilities in each dorm are free.

Facilities

All-Weather Track
Baseball Field
Basketball Court
Fitness Center
Football Field
Indoor Basketball Court
Pool
Technology Center
Volleyball Court

Other Facilities

Athletic Training Room
Cross Country Course
Horse Jumping Field
Locker Rooms
Outrigger Canoe
Polo Field
Soccer Field
Softball Field
Tennis Center
Wrestling Room

Clubs & Organizations

Chess Club
Debate Club
Drama Club
Environmental Club
Habitat for Humanity
International Club
Math Club
Model UN
Outing Club
Peer Tutoring
SADD
Student Government

Arts & Athletics

Summary: With the ever-present Ka Makani (wind) at our backs and our state-of-the-art sports facilities, our campus is the ideal place to train for any athletic venture. Athletics is an integral part of the HPA experience, and you’ll have the support you need from your teammates, friends, and coaches to help you shine athletically. Everyday after classes, all students take part in a sport or extracurricular of their choice; horseback riding, cross-country, outrigger canoeing, surfing, swimming and tennis are just some examples. If you are not the athletic type, you are still involved in sports, perhaps managing a team, getting your SCUBA diving certification, writing for the sports section of the school newspaper, or cheering on your friends and classmates from the stands. HPA’s arts program also has access to cutting edge facilities. You can perform on stage in our fall musical in Gates Performing Arts Center (previous productions have included “Singin’ in the Rain”, “Beauty and the Beast” and “42nd Street”), or practice piano, drums, guitar or singing in the Davenport Music Center. If you lean more towards visual arts, photography, ceramics, sculpture, drawing, painting and digital media courses and clubs are in abundance. Produce a TV episode for PBS’s Hiki No, the nation’s first statewide student news network, present the ceramics you’ve made at our annual art show, or build beautiful sets for our theater productions. Whatever your artistic passion, HPA has the facilities, tools, guidance and support you need to allow your creativity to come to life.

Arts Department Director: Jared Terpak

Athletics Department Director: Stephen Perry

Notable Achievements: 10 Hawaii High School Athletics Association Titles; 10 HHSAA Individual Titles ; 35 Big Island Titles in the past 5 years.

Arts

Acting

Interscholastic Sports

Baseball
Basketball
Canoeing
Cheerleading
Cross Country Running
Diving
Football
Golf
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball
Water Polo
Wrestling

Recreational Sports

Aerobics
Dance
Equestrian
Lacrosse
Polo
Rugby
Tennis

Graduates

Summary: As an HPA student, you automatically have an upper hand when applying to selective universities. Our seniors are consistently accepted into some of the most prestigious schools across the country and around the world such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford and the University of Edinburgh. You might wonder how a small high school in the middle of the Pacific can achieve such outstanding college results. The College Counseling program at HPA is the key to this success. Close relationships with university admissions’ deans and directors, paired with individualized college planning allow our college counselors to know precisely how to highlight your unique strengths and interests so that you make an exceptional and lasting impression on the universities of your choice. Our college counselors are more than experienced in guiding students through the sometimes difficult transition between high school and university. Every day you visit the college counseling center, you can be sure that Mr. Kelsey and Mrs. Montgomery will be there to welcome you with encouraging smiles, hot coffee, snacks, and fresh baked pastries, keeping you motivated and excited about your future at university. Visit hpa.edu/academics/college-counseling to read more about our counselors and hear recent HPA alumni describe their college counseling experience.

College Information

Percentage of graduates who attend college: 100%

Middle Percentile of SAT Scores	Reading	Math	Writing
25th percentile
75th percentile

Notable Alumni

Becky Worley

Class of 1988

Correspondent at ABC/Good Morning America

Merit

Merit Scholarships: Offered

Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 4%

Average Merit Scholarship: 17,000

Current Endowment Amount: $51,000,000

Interested in Hawai'i Preparatory Academy?

Vital Information

Student Body Type: Coed

Total Boarding: 143

Total Day: 420

Total Enrollment: 563

Boys: 266

Girls: 297

Boarding Grades Offered: 9-12

Day Grades Offered: K-12

School Type: Elementary, Middle, High School, Post-grad

Dress Code: Casual

Applications Accepted: SAO

Application Deadline: Rolling

Tuition & Financial Aid

7-Day Boarding: $53,000

5-Day Boarding: $47,900

Day Tuition Fee: $26,800

Need-Based Aid: Offered

Payment Plans: Offered

Students Receiving Aid: 50%

Average Awarded: $15,000

School Finances