Week of 5/31/24
What's Happening at HPA This Week?
Message from the Head of School
Aloha HPA ʻohana,
Another school year has come to a close, and I find myself wondering as I do each May, where did the time go?! The typical hustle of our vibrant campuses has been replaced by the hush of faculty finalizing grades and staff wrapping up projects as we all collectively bid adieu to this academic year while also beginning to look ahead at what’s coming up in the fall.
For the last few years, I have had the privilege and pleasure of addressing our HPA community during our Commencement Exercises. Last week, I had the opportunity to share my thoughts with our Class of 2024 and reflect on some important lessons I have learned since my family made Hawaiʻi Island our home 15 years ago — specifically, what I have come to understand about the significance of the ʻōhiʻa lehua tree, the foundation of Hawai‘i‘s forests.
The ʻōhiʻa lehua tree exemplifies strength, resilience, beauty, and service. I only sometimes understood or appreciated the immense power and gifts this tree holds. With its wood strong enough to serve as posts and beams to hold structures like our chapel… its leaves used for medicine to heal… its flowers used not only for beautiful ceremonial gifts of lei and adornment but also to sustain large populations of native birds… and its roots, strong enough to break lava rock and play a key role in watershed protection and water conservation. These trees are subtle and strong, both reflective characteristics of this incredible place.
In sharing my observations with the graduating class, I let the Class of 2024 know that the journey they are embarking on will be full of transitions, changes, and challenges — but I truly believe they have an advantage. They have an opportunity to give to people what many don’t have. They can be the ‘ōhiʻa tree — strong and able to support, resilient and able to break through even the hardest of obstacles, rich in sustenance to provide for others, bright and beautiful through times of grey.
Our Upper School academic schedule is named on alternating days for either the lehua ʻula or the lehua mamo — two prominent flower varieties of the ‘ōhi‘a tree. ‘Ula and mamo are colors representative of high esteem and dignity. These lehua have been chosen as a symbol to represent HPA’s pursuit of excellence and to represent alternating days on our schedule.
I gently let our seniors know that pretty soon, ʻula and mamo days will turn into regular Mondays and Tuesdays. They won’t be walking up our infamous hills or gathering together for HPA assemblies and speeches — in fact, attendance will be up to them. But I reminded them that when things get a little unsettling, if they found themselves a little off course or just a little unsure of their way — they need just take a minute. I encouraged them to imagine themselves back here on campus. To find their ʻōhiʻa tree and to be assured it will give them all they need.
Our Class of 2024 is another incredible group of students who leave a special legacy and a strong foundation on which HPA will continue to build. We appreciate them, and all of you, for all the ways they have cared for each other, for this school, and for this place.
It has been a pleasure sharing this space with you all each week. Please be sure to review the final messages of the year from each of our division principals as well, as they include not just their expression of aloha and appreciation but also exciting updates to our Lower and Middle School teams.
Mahalo for another magnificent year. We are so grateful for your partnership, and we look forward to welcoming all our returning students and families back in the fall.
I wish you a wonderful and rejuvenating summer!
Gratefully,
Fred Wawner
Head of School
School Bulletins for the Week of 5/31/24
Lower School
Each week, Lower School Principal Dora Kwong writes a message to K-5 families highlighting joyful moments and meaningful lessons and offering a glimpse into what students and parents can plan for in the weeks ahead.
From the desk of your Division Principal, Dora Kwong
Aloha Lower School families,
As we reach the end of another incredible school year, we reflect on all of the growth, discovery, and countless memorable moments we experienced together. The final school days with students are always filled with great emotion as we look back on all the children have accomplished throughout the previous ten months. Our last day of school was once again marked by our Lower School Gratitude Assembly, which featured 5th graders acknowledging faculty and staff who impacted their learning journeys throughout their time in the Lower School through handmade cards and the gift of song. 5th graders modeling gratitude for the support they received as they reached the culmination of Lower School is an important milestone, as well as a teaching and learning opportunity for all our students. Our rising 6th graders did a wonderful job leading our final assembly of the 2023-2024 school year, and we wish them great success as they head to Middle School.
As our campus settles down into a different sort of rhythm, our dedicated teachers will embark on writing reports and engaging in professional development activities to enhance their teaching skills, close out the current year, and prepare for the next. We are grateful for their commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in education. Later this week, we will write to inform you when Lower School reports will be available on myHPA. These reports will provide insights into your child’s progress, strengths, and areas for growth as we head into summer. We encourage you to review these reports together with your child to celebrate their achievements and set goals for the upcoming school year.
As we look ahead to fall, I am delighted to share the following new appointments to our Lower School team for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Kristin White, 3rd-grade teacher
Kristin White, P ‘26, ‘31, has served 18+ years in the field of education, with over a decade as a third-grade teacher. Her place-based, project-based approach forms the foundation of her interdisciplinary curricular teaching style while prioritizing a positive climate in which each student feels welcome, engaged, and appropriately supported. This past year, Kristin has been serving at Kōkua Academy, a K-6 independent school in Kona, as both the Head of School and a multi-grade classroom teacher for 4th – 6th graders. At Kōkua, she implemented project-based learning to engage students with assignments centered on personal interests and inquiry. As both a teacher and administrator, she established a schoolwide theme of voyaging in partnership with Nā Kālai Waʻa, integrating Hawaiian sailing traditions and the spirit of wayfinding into daily life. Her past teaching experiences include Volcano School of Arts and Sciences in Volcano, HI, Willow Creek Academy in Sausalito, CA, and 10+ years at Haines School in Haines, Alaska, where she was featured in an Alaska statewide “Teacher Spotlight” for her innovative approaches to third-grade literacy instruction.
Along with her can-do attitude and effective communication style, she is known to organize diverse field trips and guest speakers to complement classroom studies and connect their learning to the local environment. With family roots on Hawaiʻi Island, Kristin has described HPA as her “dream” school and is thrilled to join our ʻohana as a faculty member.
Corbin Doak, Educational Assistant
Our beloved Corbin Doak, P ʻ31, has been an active member of the HPA community for many years in a variety of capacities – regular substitute teacher, After School Program team member, Residential Life faculty member, parent of a rising 6th-grader, and husband to Ms. Vivian He, HPA Middle School Chinese Language teacher. Since Spring Break, Corbin has been working in our 2nd-grade classroom as an Educational Assistant, providing support and stability for our learners under the lead of Mrs. Carolyn White, our 2nd-grade teacher, and we are thrilled he will be continuing with us as an Educational Assistant in the Lower School in the upcoming school year.
Corbin is a writer of children’s books, a creator of after-school programs for kids, and an active graphic and freelance web designer. As an educator, he holds a positive attitude, firm expectations, and a flexible and warm, yet professional demeanor, allowing him to connect well with students and teachers alike. With over 11 years working in international/multicultural environments as a teacher and trainer, over 15+ years of combined experience in photography, graphic design, web design, and layout, and 10 years of experience in the retail field, including customer service, training, management, and leadership, Corbin has a robust background that supports his continued success working with all our students.
Valerie Rivera, Educational Assistant
With nearly two decades of PreK-12 campus office experience, Valerie Rivera is well-versed in the rhythms of school life. While in the important role of supporting a school’s mission, Valerie became increasingly interested in pursuing a career working more directly and closely in the classroom with children. A self-described individual who is “eager to guide and be of service to young explorers and scientists as they discover, learn, and blossom,” Valerie currently works as a Teacher Aide at our neighbor school, The Montessori Education Center of Hawaiʻi (MECH), in the 3/4s class. Prior to moving to Hawaiʻi Island, Valerie was an office assistant and later an accounting clerk in the Island School’s business office for 16 years in Līhuʻe, HI. She is described by colleagues as “very patient,” “efficient and detailed,” “kind, genuine, loving, creative,” and “a ray of sunshine.” Along with her regular full-time office duties, Valerie made it a point to support students in the lunchroom during lower school lunch service, as well as serve as the campus floral designer, creating beautiful floral arrangements weekly for her office and special events utilizing flowers from her very own garden!
We are thrilled to welcome Valerie to our team of Educational Assistants, and she is excited that many of her current students at MECH will also be at the Village Campus in the new school year!
Additional hires
Our hiring committees remain committed to supporting our careful search for a new 5th-grade teacher and an additional Educational Assistant. We look forward to sharing about those appointments when confirmations have been made.
Mahalo
Please accept my warmest wishes to you and yours for a joyful and restful summer. Take this time to relax, enjoy new adventures, and create lasting memories with your little ones. We look forward to welcoming you back in the fall, ready for another year of learning and growth.
Mahalo nui loa for your continued partnership. It is an honor to work together with you in support of your beautiful children.
Have a fantastic summer!
Me ka mahalo nui,
Dora Kwong
Lower School Principal
Past Email Communications
All past email communications can be accessed by visiting the Lower School Family Resources tile on myHPA and scrolling down to Past Parent Email Communications, 2023-2024.
myHPA
In addition to Seesaw, many important resources can be located on our community portal, myHPA. Check the Lower School Family Resources tile for the most up-to-date information.
Summer at HPA
Get ready to make a splash
Summer at HPA is excited to offer a variety of swimming classes tailored to different skill levels. Our ‘Bubbles, Floats, and Glides’ program introduces beginners to water safety and basic swimming techniques. More advanced courses, like Swimming 101,
102, and 103, progressively build skills from freestyle and backstroke techniques to more complex skills such as bilateral breathing and flip turns. For our youngest swimmers aged 3-4, we also offer Parent & Tot Swim Lessons, ensuring fun and safety in the water from the start. Join us to make a splash this summer!
Middle School
Each week, Middle School Principal Glenn Chickering pens a note to 6-8 families reflecting on the activities and accomplishments of the week and previewing what students and parents can look forward to in the coming days.
From the desk of your Division Principal, Glenn Chickering
Aloha Middle School families,
I hope you were able to catch the beautiful closing to our school year — the 8th-grade Transition Ceremony, last week Wednesday. It was such a wonderful program! Mahalo to the ʻOhana Association for their work in decorating the stage and to Kumu Kūwalu for her work with the students and for helping us honor the traditions of Hawaiʻi. My apologies to those who came for the 11:00 pick-up time; lesson learned for next year.
If you didn’t get to see it or just want to relive the experience, you can watch it here: 8th-grade Transition Ceremony.
There are also photos of the ceremony on this link: 2024 8th-grade Transition Ceremony photos
As we wrap up another year and my final year at HPA, I want to express a heartfelt mahalo to all of you. I have greatly enjoyed meeting and working with the HPA ʻohana. Over the past five years, I have learned so much from the students, colleagues, parents, and all members of the HPA community. While my time here included the pandemic years that were so disruptive to schools around the world, I have many fond memories of that period. We came together as a community, overcame obstacles, focused on a shared vision, and found ways to stay safe and in school. It was an honor to be part of a community dedicated to finding ways to work together in the best interests of our children. Keep trusting each other and working together, and our students will continue to thrive.
One of the most important lessons I will take away from HPA is the Mālama Kaiāulu model for sustainability. This model, rooted in Hawaiʻi’s traditional ways of living in harmony with each other and with nature, provides a wonderful lens for us to live our lives. It teaches us to embrace our kuleana to recognize our interconnectedness, strive for harmony, and share our stories. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. captured the importance of haʻina beautifully when he said:
“People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.”
I hope to keep the lines of communication open with all of the HPA ʻohana. Thank you for everything you have shared with me.
As we look ahead to fall, I am delighted to share the following appointment to our Middle School team for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Michael Cservenak, Middle School Principal
We are pleased to announce Michael Cservenak as HPA’s new Middle School principal. Michael grew up in a working-class town in the Chicago area, eventually pursuing theater and education at DePaul University. He started his career teaching on Hawaiʻi Island nearly 17 years ago at Honokaʻa Intermediate as an English Language Arts teacher. From there, Michael went on to teach AVID and English Language Arts at Kohala High before taking an exciting opportunity to teach IGCSE English and Drama at a boarding school in Shanghai, China. It was also during this time that Michael attained his M.A. in Educational Leadership and completed his principal internship.
After two years of living abroad, Michael and his wife returned to southern Colorado to be near family while they expanded their own. For the past 11 years, Michael has been teaching and leading in Pueblo, Colorado, for Roncalli STEM Academy, an innovation school that not only used STEM programming to engage learners but also to connect with the local community. As principal, Michael facilitated partnerships between teachers and the Pueblo Food Project that resulted in students learning more about the local agriculture in Pueblo. He also supported and led the creation of a drone technology class that helped students pursue getting a remote piloting license. He believes that project-based learning and engaging instruction can truly change the course of a young person’s life.
Michael has been a part of the University of Virginia Partnership for Leaders in Education program, which focuses on engaging principals in the creation of transformation teams and effective 90-day planning protocols that drive schools via big rocks for improvement. He has learned that when one has the opportunity to have power in an organization, it must be driven by values, even when that is hardest.
At HPA, Michael hopes to enter his next leadership phase and deeply explore the potential that place-based learning holds for our Middle School learners. The focus on culture at HPA is especially exciting for him. He feels a reemerging connection to this special place and its people and wants his sons to spend the second half of their childhood immersed in this world.
Michael joins us, along with his wife Kestrel, whom he met during a Hamlet production in the Waimea Community Theater, and his two sons, Wesley and Lucas. Wesley will be joining our 6th grade, and Lucas will be in the 8th grade. Michael also loves the NBA (go Denver Nuggets!), running, playing ʻukulele, and exploring nature with his family. He reads extensively and brings a love of learning and wonder to everything he does.
Please be sure to extend a warm welcome to Michael and his family when you see them on campus. They will be joining us in July.
Mahalo nui and a hui hou,
Glenn Chickering
Middle School Principal
For a full gallery, click here.
Past Email Communications
All past email communications can be accessed by visiting the Middle School Family Resource tile on myHPA and scrolling down to ‘Past Email Communications, 2022-2023’.
myHPA
myHPA is where you can find all the resources related to your child’s learning. Two key resource boards that we would like to draw your attention to are the ‘Middle School Family Resources’, and the ‘Middle School Student Resources’.
Summer at HPA
Summer Academies
Do you have a passion you want to pursue? Check out our specialized four-week Academies. These full-day Academies are designed for day and boarding middle/high school students, ages 11 to 17, to focus on an area of passion while working with experts in the field.
We are offering the following academies:
• Young Authors Academy
• Arts Academy
• Sustainability Academy
• Marine Explorations Academy
• English Language Learners Academy
Upper School
From the desk of your division Poʻo Kumu, Kaʻai Spencer
Aloha Upper School families,
Haʻina ʻia mai ana ka puana. This line, and its many iterations, is often used to start the final verse of Hawaiian songs. It tells the listener that the story has been told and the song is coming to a close. Grades are being finalized, our commencement ceremonies have concluded, and the teachers’ focus has turned to debriefing the year and looking ahead. Endings can be tough. However, transitional moments like the closure of a school year can also be seen as new beginnings.
Sticking to the theme of utilizing Hawaiian phrases, I would like to share one often used to close a chapter of a long-running story that would be shared in Hawaiian language newspapers, where a chapter would be published weekly, and the author needed to keep the reader on the hook for the following week’s addition. The phrase used is pīpī holo kaʻao. This phrase lets the reader know the story is not finished. It keeps the reader engaged and lets them know that while the current chapter may be coming to a close, the story is not over, and more is to come. That said, you might be asking what’s next. We shall see.
Summer is here! I would like to take a moment to wish everyone a great summer break. Please use the time to explore new hobbies, connect with friends and family, and prepare for the next chapter of life’s journey. We all deserve a good reset from time to time. And remember, when one chapter closes, another one opens. Pīpī holo kaʻao…
Mahalo,
Kaʻai Spencer
Upper School Poʻo Kumu
Class of 2024 – Seniors and Families
Congratulations again to our Class of 2024! We are so proud of your many achievements and look forward to keeping in touch with you as the newest members of our alumni ʻohana!
We have compiled a graduation playlist of the speeches and performances from the Baccalaureate Service and Commencement Exercises, which you can watch here.
If you would like to watch the entire graduation ceremony, you can do so here:
73rd Annual Commencement Exercises – Friday, May 24, 2024.
Official, professional photos from all of the Class of 2024 End-of-Year celebration events are available for download, free of charge, here.
Residential Life
Aloha Residential Life families,
As your children returned to you this past weekend and our campus emptied out, a hushed silence fell across our normally vibrant, busy campus. The usual shouts, cheers, giggles, and other joyous sounds replaced with the somewhat less joyous sounds of construction, groundswork, and quiet meetings among adults. In short, your children are already missed, and we thank you for entrusting us with the care of your children, our students, for the last 10 months. Life in a boarding school can be challenging at times, filled with opportunities for growth, some intentional, some just the accidental challenges of adolescence. But so much more often, it is filled with good friends, successes, achievements, and fond memories that will last them for the rest of their lives. As faculty, we cherish every opportunity to be there for our students to celebrate their successes and support them in their challenges. Your trust in our program and in the care of your child means a great deal to us. We hope that they return to you for the summer full of stories of friendship, accomplishments, overcoming challenges, and, ultimately, a community that cared for them. For the next few months, we will be engaged in the important work of preparing for their return in August. And while this time can be simpler, quieter, and ultimately very productive, the absence of our students is always keenly felt. We wish all of our students and their families a restful and rejuvenating summer and the best of luck to our recent graduates for whatever adventures await them. We look forward to seeing our returning students back at school in August, and thank you once again!
Student Life
Back-to-School – Important Opening Days & Orientation Dates
Residential Life students
New and returning residential students are expected to arrive on campus to move into their dorms on Friday, August 9, 2024.
FAMILIES: On Friday, August 9, we will host campus tours, family information sessions, Ka Makani Showcase (highlighting programs at HPA), and an E Komo Mai (Welcome) dinner with other families, parents, your child’s advisor, and administrators.
A series of orientation sessions and fun activities (on and off campus) have been planned for our residential students from Saturday, August 10, to Monday, August 12.
Day students
New and RETURNING students are expected to be on campus for a mandatory orientation session on Tuesday, August 13
FAMILIES: On Monday, August 12, we will host campus tours, family information sessions, and our Ka Makani Showcase (highlighting programs at HPA).
Ka Makani Travel
We are happy to confirm the following travel opportunities for the 2024-2025 school year!
- Spring Break 2025 – Japan: Land of the Rising Sun with EF Tours
- Spring Break 2025 – The Alps and the Mediterranean Coast with EF Tours
- Spring Break 2025 – Heights of Peru with EF Tours
EF’s Global Citizen Scholarship Fund offers $1000 scholarships on a quarterly basis.
We plan to offer a Thanksgiving Break trip to New York City and/or Washington, D.C. Details will be available when school resumes in August. Please contact Ka Makani Travel Coordinator Adrienne White (awhite@hpa.edu) for information on registration and eligibility.
Ka Makani Athletics
Mahalo for an incredible 2023-2024 year!
As a reminder, the following team sports are offered in the fall:
- Girls JV and Varsity Volleyball
- Girls and Boys Cross Country
- Football
- Cheerleading
More information regarding team sports and try-outs will be sent in July.
College Counseling
A heartfelt congratulations to the Class of 2024, Ka Makani! Transcripts for all recent graduates will automatically be sent in early June to the college the student has designated as their “attending college” in Scoir. To request an official transcript, email transcript@hpa.edu. Please reach out to college@hpa.edu with any questions.
Past Email Communications
All past email communications can be accessed by visiting the Upper School Family Resources tile on myHPA and scrolling down to ‘Past Email Communications, 2023-2024’.
myHPA
myHPA is where you can find all the resources related to your child’s learning. Two key resource boards that we would like to draw your attention to are the ‘Upper School Family Resources and the ‘Upper School Student Resources.
Summer at HPA
Summer Academies
Do you have a passion you want to pursue? Check out our specialized four-week Academies. These full-day Academies are designed for day and boarding middle/high school students, ages 11 to 17, to focus on an area of passion while working with experts in the field.
We are offering the following academies:
• Young Authors Academy
• Arts Academy
• Sustainability Academy
• Marine Explorations Academy
• English Language Learners Academy
All-School
Need to know information for our entire Ka Makani ʻohana.
Admissions
Mahalo to all of our students and parents for a fabulous 2023-2024 academic year! We are excited about the future of our recent graduates! Bubbles UP!
As we turn our sights on the upcoming year, welcoming our returning students back to school, we are excited to welcome all of the new students who will join them. Families will become fast friends and have more opportunities to engage with life at HPA. We are still filling a few final spaces in our day and boarding student categories, so please send any friends our way whom you think we can assist in the process for admission for the 2024-2025 academic year or even early birds who are eager to join the HPA ohana for 2025-2026!
Have a wonderful summer!
Advancement & Alumni
Congratulations Class of 2024 graduates!
We are thrilled to welcome our graduates as the newest members of our HPA Alumni ʻohana! What a beautiful ceremony they had! Mahalo Senior families for your support and aloha – we are honored to have your child(ren) as Ka Makani!
Ka Makani Giving and Gratitude
Our families, alumni, and friends came together across generations to support HPAʻs students and our community through generosity and giving. Together we raised over $3 million dollars for programs, financial aid, our endowment, capital improvements, and more! Mahalo nui for all that you do to make HPA such a wonderful place to live and grow.
Alumni Reunion 2024 Weekend is Upon Us! For our alumni current families, please check out the schedule and join in the fun. We hope to see you on campus for the festivities – Lūau and more! We celebrate special benchmarks of the classes of 9s and 4s this year! Welcome Home Ka Makani!
Health & Wellness
The time of year for updating student health records has arrived. Returning students should havealready begun to receive weekly email reminders from Magnus Health SMR. Please log-in and complete the requirements as soon as possible. Once the requirements are complete, the reminder emails with stop. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Health Services at infirmary@hpa.edu (Upper Campus) or vcinfirmary@hpa.edu (Village Campus).
ʻOhana Association
Back-to-School Bash — Save the Date!!
Our annual Back-to-School Bash is coming up on Sunday, August 11, 2024, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Mark your calendars and please plan to join us for an afternoon of reconnecting with old friends and making new ones! An email with additional details will be sent this summer — including more information on how you can volunteer to help with this event and future celebrations!
Isaacs Art Center
Isaacs Art Center is free and open to the public, Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, and on Saturdays by appointment. Gallery works for sale may also be viewed on our website. Be sure to also visit our Instagram and Facebook pages for highlights from ongoing exhibitions. Sales from gallery artwork have supported the HPA Financial Aid program since its opening in 2004.
myHPA Resource Boards
Past HPA communications and other important information can be found on myHPA. We are continuing to make updates to our student and parent resource boards, so please be sure to visit them regularly.