Week of 9/6/24
What's Happening at HPA This Week?
Message from the Head of School
Aloha HPA ʻohana,
Days and weeks seem to be picking up speed, with activities and adventures occurring regularly in each division. From K-5 Enrichment Day to Middle School community partnerships, and the ranging Upper School learning opportunities each week all across the disciplines — Capstone field research, turtle tagging with Marine Studies, and intense classroom exploration in all our courses.
As we have returned from Labor Day — a holiday to honor the contributions of workers across the United States — I want to take this moment to reflect on the values that guide us as a school community. At HPA, our Core Values — Respect, Integrity, Pursuit of Excellence, and Wonder — are more than just words; they are the foundation of our actions and interactions with one another. Our values are verbs. I get to see them embodied daily in our faculty, our staff, and our students.
This year, as we navigate the varying energies, emotions, and complexities of a presidential election season, these values become even more vital. Respect calls us to listen with an open heart to diverse perspectives, understanding that every voice contributes to the richness of our community. Integrity reminds us to approach discussions with honesty and kindness, fostering an environment where truth and compassion prevail.
Our Pursuit of Excellence means striving to be our best selves, even in challenging times. This includes engaging in thoughtful, informed dialogue, and modeling the behavior we wish to see in the world. And let us not forget the value of Wonder—a sense of curiosity and openness that allows us to learn and grow from every experience.
As we make our way through September, Hawaiian History Month, let us also recognize our mission to honor the traditions of Hawaiʻi. In the spirit of aloha — a cultural cornerstone that emphasizes love, peace, and mutual respect — we are reminded of our shared responsibility to care for one another, especially during moments of tension and uncertainty. Aloha is about recognizing the humanity in each other and nurturing relationships that uplift and support. Let this reciprocal relationship guide us over the course of the year ahead.
With national debates and global conflicts reaching heightened tensions and constant media focus, let’s commit to living these values fully — within our classrooms, homes, and broader community. It is also an opportunity to learn, study, and discuss the many aspects of these events. As an educational community we will be doing so with intention.
I would be remiss to not mention and honor the two students and two faculty who lost their lives this week in the senseless school shooting in Georgia. This all-too-common tragedy shocks us into reality again. As a school leader and a parent, my mind goes immediately to our schools and our community. Trying to explain these instances to our own students remains both critical and challenging. Leaning into each other and sharing care and empathy for one another helps. Our hearts go out to the families, to the school, and to the community working through this most challenging time.
We are hard at work, pursuing excellence. In many ways, our energy and enthusiasm for learning and living with passion allows us to find clarity, and push through the many external obstacles that come our way.
Mahalo for your continued dedication to our community and for embodying the values that help HPA strive to be a beacon of positivity and aloha.
Gratefully,
Fred Wawner
Head of School
Links:
Lower School Student-Parent Handbook, 2024-2025
Middle School Student-Parent Handbook, 2024-2025
Upper School Student-Parent Handbook, 2024-2025
School Bulletins for the Week of 9/6/24
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!
It has been a tremendous week of learning and growing at the Lower School! Please review the below for reminders and updates in support of our school programming.
Morning drop-off
Students should not be dropped off when there is no adult present. Morning drop-off starts at 7:40 am and ends at 8:00 am when the first class begins. If an adult is not present at the roundabout, you may check in at the front office with our office staff.
Afternoon dismissal
Arrival for after school pickup should be no earlier than 15 minutes prior to dismissal.
- Lower School dismissal is 3:00 to 3:15 pm; Wednesday Early Release is 2:00 to 2:15 pm
- Middle School dismissal is 3:10 to 3:25 pm; Wednesday Early Release is 2:10 to 2:25 pm
If you need to arrive earlier than 15 minutes prior to dismissal, you may park in the Village Campus Office parking lot, bearing in mind that parking spaces are extremely limited.
If your child needs to be picked up in the middle of the day prior to regular dismissal times, please email the Village Campus office so that we can make arrangements and have your child(ren) packed up and ready for you. Teachers are not always able to check email during the school day as they are teaching.
Finally, Ulumau Garden is a working and learning space with students in the classes often through the end of the school day. Please refrain from walking and touring through the garden when class is in session.
Mahalo for assisting us to continue to run our programs smoothly and safely for our students. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.
Save the Date for our Village Campus ʻOhana Day: Wednesday, September 18!
Mark your calendars and please plan to join us for Village Campus ʻOhana Day: Experience HPA! on Wednesday, September 18, from 2:00 to 6:00 pm. Plan for an afternoon that includes classroom visits to each of your child’s grade-level, advisory, and specialty classes. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with our incredible HPA faculty and see your child(ren) engaged in their daily learning spaces.
If you would like to attend Experience HPA!, please RSVP here by Wednesday, September 11 at 11:59 pm (HST).
For more information, please review this email from Thursday, September 5.
Have a wonderful weekend, Lower School ʻohana!
Me ke aloha pumehana,
Dora Kwong
Lower School Principal
Portrait of a Graduate: We need your input!
We are also in the process of developing our school’s Portrait of a Graduate, and we need your help! This process aims to define the qualities and skills we hope all our students will embody upon graduation from HPA. With a foundation in our Core Values of respect, integrity, wonder, and pursuit of excellence, we are asking parents to contribute their ideas on the qualities they would like their children to possess and what they hope our teachers will model for them in the classroom.
To gather your valuable input, we have created a survey that we encourage all parents to complete. Your feedback is crucial in helping us shape a vision for our graduates that reflects our shared aspirations for their future.
We are excited to work together to enrich our students’ experiences and help them grow in multiple dimensions. Thank you for your ongoing support and engagement in our school community.
Kīpona Scholarships
Kīpona Scholarships for the 2025-26 school year are open now through December 1. Offered through Kamehameha Schools, eligible applicants must be entering grade 6 or 9 (current 5th and 8th graders), and be a Hawai‘i resident. (Lived continuously in Hawai‘i for at least 12 months of application date.) More details and the application are available here. Current Kīpona Scholarship recipients must reapply by December 1.
It is with great pride that we officially announce the beginning of a truly momentous occasion — our 75th anniversary! Throughout this school year, we will celebrate together and invite you to join us in remembering that we are all — alumni, students, parents, faculty and friends — Ka Makani. Take a stroll through our historical timeline, meet just a few of the many Ka Makani who make us proud, and read about our vision for the future in the 75th Anniversary feature just launched on our website. There, you will also find information about planned gatherings for the year ahead, and have a chance to pre-order our very special 75th anniversary aloha wear collection. Make sure to follow us on Instagram @HawaiiPrep to stay in the loop about all of the festivities.
Schedule
Our K-5 classes continue with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Monday, September 9.
We encourage all families to check the School Calendar in myHPA for the most up-to-date information. In addition, a list of Key Dates (school opening and closures) can also be located on the Lower School Family Resources tile located in myHPA.
Coming Up
• Wednesday, September 11: School Picture Day
• Wednesday, September 11 at 2:00 pm: Early Release Wednesday
• Wednesday, September 18 at 2:00 to 5:30 pm: Village Campus ʻOhana Day: Experience HPA!
• Wednesday, September 18 at 2:00 pm: Early Release Wednesday
• Friday, September 20: Faculty Work Day, all divisions, no classes K-12
Student Support
Ms. Baydo (K-8 School Counselor) rbaydo@hpa.edu and Mr. Ludes (K-8 Learning Specialist) jludes@hpa.edu are available to discuss and support social-emotional and academic concerns for your child(ren). Please connect with them via email.
After School Program, K-5
Please email our Director of After School Programs, Mrs. Mele DeMille (mdemille@hpa.edu), if you would like your child to attend. You may refer to this email for our Lower School families with more information.
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, 2024-2025.
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.
Middle School
Each week, Middle School Principal Michael Cservenak 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, Michael Cservenak
Aloha Middle School families,
HPA Middle School showcased its strengths this past Friday with our annual grade-level retreats. Our trips to ʻŌhaiʻula Spencer Beach Park and Puʻukohalā Heiau, Kīholo Bay, and Ulu Mau Puanui went smoothly, and students actively engaged with their peers and advisors. In the spirit of the Mālama Kaiāulu framework’s component of pilina, or connectedness, our students explored these places together and with joy.
Student Council was appointed this week based on a combination of thorough student applications and teacher recommendations. The first order of business for the team will be to narrow down themes for the Fall School Dance on Friday, September 27. This year, I will also guide our Student Council in explicit learning about leadership, including how to listen to and represent their peers. Representatives will have kuleana (responsibility) and the opportunity to haʻina (share our story) with the greater community. Congratulations to all of our new and returning representatives!
In the realm of experiential learning, our 6th graders began working with Ke Ala Kahawai O Waimea (the Waimea Trail) and started engaging with the theme of belonging in our social-emotional learning sessions facilitated by our counselor Ms. Baydo. This theme was launched with a performance by Ms. Di Bartolo and Mr. Ludes, featuring a song that sparked deep discussions about belonging and how to foster it within our school community. I am excited to further develop this work and these themes during our experiential blocks throughout the school year. Our 7th graders set up their google sites as the foundation for digital portfolios and our 8th graders went off campus once again for a Capstone community engagement day that Mr. Bernstein, our Capstone Coordinator, will describe in greater detail below.
Morning drop-off
Students should not be dropped off when there is no adult present. Morning drop-off starts at 7:40 am and ends at 8:00 am when the first class begins. If an adult is not present at the roundabout, you may check in at the front office with our office staff.
Afternoon dismissal
Arrival for after school pickup should be no earlier than 15 minutes prior to dismissal.
- Lower School dismissal is 3:00 to 3:15 pm; Wednesday Early Release is 2:00 to 2:15 pm
- Middle School dismissal is 3:10 to 3:25 pm; Wednesday Early Release is 2:10 to 2:25 pm
If you need to arrive earlier than 15 minutes prior to dismissal, you may park in the Village Campus Office parking lot, bearing in mind that parking spaces are extremely limited.
If your child needs to be picked up in the middle of the day prior to regular dismissal times, please email the Village Campus office so that we can make arrangements and have your child(ren) packed up and ready for you. Teachers are not always able to check email during the school day as they are teaching.
Finally, Ulumau Garden is a working and learning space with students in the classes often through the end of the school day. Please refrain from walking and touring through the garden when class is in session.
Mahalo for assisting us to continue to run our programs smoothly and safely for our students. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.
Save the Date for our Village Campus ʻOhana Day: Wednesday, September 18!
Mark your calendars and please plan to join us for Village Campus ʻOhana Day: Experience HPA! on Wednesday, September 18, from 2:00 to 6:00 pm. Plan for an afternoon that includes classroom visits to each of your child’s grade-level, advisory, and specialty classes. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with our incredible HPA faculty and see your child(ren) engaged in their daily learning spaces.
If you would like to attend Experience HPA!, please RSVP here by Wednesday, September 11 at 11:59 pm (HST).
For more information, please review this email from Thursday, September 5.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Mahalo nui loa,
Michael Cservenak
Middle School Principal
Capstone Update from K-8 Capstone Coordinator, Dagan Bernstein
Aloha mai kākou! The first month of Capstone is an exciting time for our 8th-grade students, looking into their naʻau and focusing on identifying their passions, talents, and personal gifts. They’ve explored different topics and concepts for further exploration, reflecting on how their unique strengths can contribute to addressing community needs. As they start to shape their project ideas, this foundational work will help guide their journey through the Capstone process.
A key part of this phase is the community exploration, where students have the opportunity to visit and learn from various local organizations. This week, students engaged with different community groups around the island to gain a deeper understanding of how these organizations address real-world needs. We mahalo these community partners for creating space for our students to engage more deeply with their chosen area of focus:
- Hui Mālama i ke Ala ʻŪlili (huiMAU) in Paʻauilo
- Donkey Mill Art Center in Holualoa
- Kaloko-Honokōhau National Park and Kona Salt Farms in Kona
- Kona Kat Cafe in Kona and St. James Social Services in Waimea
These experiences will provide valuable insights to help guide students as they continue to refine their Capstone projects. We are excited to see how these interactions will inspire their work moving forward.
Portrait of a Graduate: We need your input!
We are also in the process of developing our school’s Portrait of a Graduate, and we need your help! This process aims to define the qualities and skills we hope all our students will embody upon graduation from HPA. With a foundation in our Core Values of respect, integrity, wonder, and pursuit of excellence, we are asking parents to contribute their ideas on the qualities they would like their children to possess and what they hope our teachers will model for them in the classroom.
To gather your valuable input, we have created a survey that we encourage all parents to complete. Your feedback is crucial in helping us shape a vision for our graduates that reflects our shared aspirations for their future.
We are excited to work together to enrich our students’ experiences and help them grow in multiple dimensions. Thank you for your ongoing support and engagement in our school community.
Kīpona Scholarships
Kīpona Scholarships for the 2025-26 school year are open now through December 1. Offered through Kamehameha Schools, eligible applicants must be entering grade 6 or 9 (current 5th and 8th graders), and be a Hawai‘i resident. (Lived continuously in Hawai‘i for at least 12 months of application date.) More details and the application are available here. Current Kīpona Scholarship recipients must reapply by December 1.
It is with great pride that we officially announce the beginning of a truly momentous occasion — our 75th anniversary! Throughout this school year, we will celebrate together and invite you to join us in remembering that we are all — alumni, students, parents, faculty and friends — Ka Makani. Take a stroll through our historical timeline, meet just a few of the many Ka Makani who make us proud, and read about our vision for the future in the 75th Anniversary feature just launched on our website. There, you will also find information about planned gatherings for the year ahead, and have a chance to pre-order our very special 75th anniversary aloha wear collection. Make sure to follow us on Instagram @HawaiiPrep to stay in the loop about all of the festivities.
Schedule
Our Middle School 2024-2025 Daily Schedule continues with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Monday, September 9.
We encourage all families to check the School Calendar in myHPA for the most up-to-date information. In addition, a list of Key Dates (school opening and closures) can also be located on the Middle School Family Resources tile located in myHPA.
Coming Up
• Wednesday, September 11: School Picture Day
• Wednesday, September 11 at 2:00 pm: Early Release Wednesday
• Wednesday, September 18 at 2:00 to 5:30 pm: Village Campus ʻOhana Day: Experience HPA!
• Wednesday, September 18 at 2:00 pm: Early Release Wednesday
• Friday, September 20: Faculty Work Day, all divisions, no classes K-12
Student Support
Please remember that we will be outside as much as possible during lunch and recess, so a rain jacket for light rains and a pareo or small beach towel for picnicking will be great to have at school. Students should also bring a water bottle to school each day.
Ms. Baydo (K-8 School Counselor) rbaydo@hpa.edu and Mr. Ludes (K-8 Learning Specialist) jludes@hpa.edu are available to discuss and support social-emotional and academic concerns for your child(ren). Please connect with them via email.
After School Program, Grades 6-8
Please email our Director of After School Programs, Mrs. Mele DeMille (mdemille@hpa.edu) if you would like your child to attend. You may refer to this email for our Middle School families for more information.
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, 2024-2025’.
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’.
myHPA Tutorials
myHPA is your window to your child’s progress in school. Here you will find their schedules, their assignments, their grade books and so much more. Ms. Monello and our IT team have put together a number of tutorials to help you navigate the myHPA parent portal.
Please note this myHPA Middle School Parent Tutorial, which gives you an overview of using myHPA as a window to your child’s learning in real time.
Upper School
Each week, our Upper School leadership team provides valuable insight into campus culture while sharing updates with 9-12 day and Residential Life students and parents on everything taking place, from academics to athletics and the arts.
From the desk of your Upper School leadership team
Aloha Upper School families,
E ʻonipaʻa i ka imi naʻauao! Be steadfast in the seeking of knowledge!
This week we celebrate the life of our beloved queen Liliʻuokalani, the last reigning monarch of Hawaiʻi. Lydia Liliʻu Loloku Walania Wewehi Kamakaʻeha was born on September 2,1838. She was educated at the Royal Chiefs School and raised from an early age to be a leader of her people. Liliuʻokalani ascended to the throne in 1877 following the death of her brother David Kalākaua.
Our queen was a lover of education, a true scholar and academic. Queen Liliʻuokalani transcribed and translated volumes of ancient stories, chants, and songs to ensure that generations of today and tomorrow would have access to repositories of ancestral wisdom and histories of Hawaiʻi. She founded the Liliuokalani Educational Society which laid the foundation for The College of Hawaiʻi known today as the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
It was her deep love and passion for her people, language, and for the land that we stand upon today that inspired her music. A student of many languages and musical instruments found across the world, Liliʻuokalani composed over 150 songs which continue to embody her messages of aloha for us today.
Her life and reign was challenged with political change and strife in Hawaiʻi. Yet she remained steadfast in her quest to lead her people with grace, knowledge, and fierce aloha. Let us all embrace this motto and charge of Liliʻuokalani this week in honor of her birthday may each of us be steadfast in our quest to seek knowledge whether that be in the classroom, on the football field, on this stage, in the garden, in our communities or within our families.
E ʻonipaʻa i ka imi naʻauao!
E ola loa ka inoa o Liliʻuokalani!
Pualani Lincoln Maielua ’01
Hawaiian Studies, Culture of Belonging, and Capstone Coordinator
Images courtesy parent and student photographers: Henoch Heimana, Kelan K. ʻ26, & Makana L. ʻ28
Portrait of a Graduate: We need your input!
We are also in the process of developing our school’s Portrait of a Graduate, and we need your help! This process aims to define the qualities and skills we hope all our students will embody upon graduation from HPA. With a foundation in our Core Values of respect, integrity, wonder, and pursuit of excellence, we are asking parents to contribute their ideas on the qualities they would like their children to possess and what they hope our teachers will model for them in the classroom.
To gather your valuable input, we have created a survey that we encourage all parents to complete. Your feedback is crucial in helping us shape a vision for our graduates that reflects our shared aspirations for their future.
We are excited to work together to enrich our students’ experiences and help them grow in multiple dimensions. Thank you for your ongoing support and engagement in our school community.
It is with great pride that we officially announce the beginning of a truly momentous occasion — our 75th anniversary! Throughout this school year, we will celebrate together and invite you to join us in remembering that we are all — alumni, students, parents, faculty and friends — Ka Makani. Take a stroll through our historical timeline, meet just a few of the many Ka Makani who make us proud, and read about our vision for the future in the 75th Anniversary feature just launched on our website. There, you will also find information about planned gatherings for the year ahead, and have a chance to pre-order our very special 75th anniversary aloha wear collection. Make sure to follow us on Instagram @HawaiiPrep to stay in the loop about all of the festivities.
Schedule
Our Upper School 2024-2025 Daily Schedule will resume as an ʻUla day with in-person instruction on our Upper Campus on Monday, September 9.
We encourage all students and families to access the School Calendar in myHPA for the most up-to-date information. In addition, a list of Key Dates (school opening and closures) can also be located on the Upper School Family Resources tile located in myHPA.
Coming Up
• Tuesday, September 10 at 8:30 am: Upper School Convocation
• Friday, September 20: Faculty Work Day, all divisions, no classes K-12
Student Support
Should your child need additional learning support, we encourage you to reach out to Amanda Aragon, our Upper School Learning Center Coordinator, by emailing aaragon@hpa.edu. In addition, our counselors are ready to assist any student who needs additional support to navigate these unusual and unprecedented times. Please feel free to reach out to the Upper Campus counseling team of Tiffany Freitas at 808-881-4038 or tfreitas@hpa.edu and Steve Furchner at 808-640-4441 or sfurchner@hpa.edu.
Student Life
Ka Makani Athletics
Another fall season is ready to roll. Let the games begin! Here’s the updated fall athletic schedule and the weekly schedule. GO KA MAKANI! You can also access the athletics schedule on the myHPA calendar.
Back-t0-School Dance: Friday, September 13
The school year is off to a great start, and to celebrate, our sophomore class is hosting a Back-to-School Dance on Friday, September 13, 2024. The decor and refreshments for the dance will be tied to a Glow The Sea theme. We encourage students to join in the school spirit and dress up in theme attire.
Who: HPA students. This dance is only open to currently enrolled HPA students.
When: Friday, September 13, from 6:30 to 9:00 pm.
Location: Kennedy Square and Ko Kākou Hale, student union
Tickets: Free of charge!
Dress Code: Students may opt to dress more formally, but it is not necessary. All attire must adhere to the HPA dress code. If you would like to wear white, it will make the glow-in-the-dark effect more visible.
Refreshments: Light refreshments and snacks will be provided.
Parking; Drof off and Pick up for Day Students: Please enter the first entrance and proceed to the Day Student Parking Lot (in front of Rutgers Tennis Center). Drop off no earlier than 6:30 pm. Please make arrangements to pick up your child no later than 9:15 pm. All sophomore students must be off campus by 9:30 pm. HPA students who wish to drive themselves must park in the Day Student Parking Lot.
Attendance: As this dance is FREE, students must express their intent by signing up ahead of time and completing the conduct form. You will be entered into a raffle for a 20$ Starbucks gift card. If you do not pre-sign up, you may still attend the dance, but you will have to complete the conduct form and sign up when you enter the dance via a QR code. All students must check in no earlier than 7:00 pm. To ensure their safety, students will be asked to sign in upon arrival and sign out before leaving.
Student Council: All HPA dances and proms are drug, alcohol, vape, and nicotine-free. Any student suspected of being under the influence will have parents called, and they will be held for parent pick-up and are subject to an administrative hearing.
- All students who sign up early to attend will be assigned a Dance Student Conduct Form in myHPA that must be completed by noon on Wednesday, September 11.
- Please refer to the Student Behavior Expectations section in the Upper School Student-Parent Handbook, 2023-2024.
- All students must be passing Citizenship ( three or less conduct points) by end of day on Wednesday, September 11.
Leaving the Dance Early: If a student leaves the dance area before the end of the dance (returns to their car, dormitory, etc.), they will not be readmitted. Students must sign out, and HPA will contact the parents of day students to obtain permission for them to leave should they depart before 8:15 pm.
Boundaries: Students must remain in the immediate area of the dance. Other areas of the campus are strictly off-limits.
Mahalo: Mahalo to the sophomore student Class Representatives Jasmine Larson, Robert McIntosh, and Lili Negulescu Class Dean: Robyn Brewer, and the Class of 2027 Class Leaders: Willie Quayle & Vaipuarii Tapiero-Kight for working together and with us to put this dance together. Other chaperones for the dance will include members of the Class of 2027 advisory team.
Safety is our primary concern for students, particularly those driving at night. Please note the dance will end promptly at 9:00 pm, and all-day students must be off campus no later than 9:30 pm.
Day Student Check-in and Check-out
Starting Monday, September 9, students may stop checking in at the Student Life Center once they are able to show that they have downloaded the app Safe2SpeakUp. Until the app is downloaded and they have logged in successfully, day students will still be required to check in before attending their first commitment of the day, even if they are running late to class. Students must sign out at the Student Life Center if they are leaving campus before their last commitment of the day, including athletics and co-curriculars. If a student is returning to campus during the academic day, they must sign in at the Student Life Center before heading to class along with a note from their appointment.
As a reminder, HPA is a closed campus, so if a parent or guardian wishes to come to campus during the academic day, they will need an appointment with one or more of the following:
- Upper School Office (upperschool@hpa.edu)
- US Administrative Assistant, Līhau Wengler-Ioane (lihau@hpa.edu)
- Assistant Head of School for Upper School, Mark Noetzel (hpaus@hpa.edu)
- Curriculum & Instruction Coordinator: Dr. Amanda Aragon, aaragon@hpa.edu
- Capstone Program Coordinator: Pualani Lincoln Maielua ‘01, plincolnmaielua@hpa.edu
- Athletics: Steve Perry (sperry@hpa.edu)
- Extra-curricular programs: Kaʻai Spencer (jspencer@hpa.edu)
- Student’s Advisor
- Student Life Center (studentlife@hpa.edu)
- Health Services (infirmary@hpa.edu)
Day Student Attendance Protocols
A parent or guardian must email attendance@hpa.edu before 9:00 am if they need to excuse their child for that day. Please note that students will only be excused for appointments or family or medical reasons. Unexcused absences will result in conduct points which can result in the student being restricted to campus for boarding and/or ineligible for academic awards, i.e. the Dean’s List. Students are responsible for checking their conduct points and attendance records and should reach out as soon as possible if there are any errors.
For long-term absences, please also reach out to the Upper School Office and the student’s advisor to coordinate a plan for the missing classes.
If a day student is ill, please do not send them to school, but email attendance@hpa.edu and include Health Services (infirmary@hpa.edu), and a nurse will follow up with the proper return-to-class procedure. If a student already on campus begins to feel ill, they must report to the infirmary, where the nurses will take care of them. If a student fails to do so and is absent to a class, the absence will be unexcused.
Ka Makani Travel
Ka Makani Travel, HPA’s student travel program, is offering four trips for the 2024-25 school year:
- Thanksgiving 2024 – New York City: An Urban Adventure (tentative itinerary & cost); the deadline to enroll is September 3, 2024 → waitlist is open
- Spring Break 2025 – Japan: Land of the Rising Sun with EF Tours, the deadline to enroll is November 8, 2024 → limited space available
- Spring Break 2025 – The Alps and the Mediterranean Coast with EF Tours; the deadline to enroll is November 8, 2024 → available
- Spring Break 2025 – Heights of Peru with EF Tours; the deadline to enroll is November 8, 2024 → available
Please contact Ka Makani Travel Coordinator Adrienne White (awhite@hpa.edu) for information on registration, eligibility, and travel grants.
Outdoor Programs
HPA’s Outdoor Program is planning a trip to Kauaʻi from Wednesday, November 27 through Sunday, December 1, 2024. It is a five-day adventure trip packed full of outdoor activities including hiking along the famous Nā Pali Coast, surfing lessons in Hanalei Bay, ziplining adventures, mountain tubing, kayaking, visiting waterfalls, and more. We will be staying in rustic beachside yurts. The cost of the trip is $1,600 and is inclusive of flights, transportation and accommodations, all meals, activities and gratuities. Click here for additional trip details.
Spots are limited! The deadline to apply is Friday, September 20: Thanksgiving on Kauaʻi Student Application 2024
Prospective students are invited to attend the following informational sessions for additional details:
- Tuesday, September 10 at 11:15 am in the Outdoor Program Office
- Thursday, September 12 at 11:15 am in the Outdoor Program Office
Whom to Contact at HPA
If you are unsure who to contact regarding a specific question or issue, please refer to our Whom to Contact guide.
Residential Life
This week, our residential community engaged in some representative democracy by electing the representatives of each dormitory to the Student Council. Dormitory Representatives work to plan events for boarding students in their dorms, and for the whole community, as well as plan and execute Dorm Wars, and work with the Administration on initiatives to positively impact the the lives of their fellow boarding students. We are proud of all of the students who ran for these important positions, and would like to acknowledge the elected Dormitory Representatives for the 2024-2025 school year!
- Executive Dormitory Representative: Holden Lahey
- Carter Hall Representatives: Haruno Murakami & Kennedy Ferry Ordonez
- Perry-Fiske Hall Representatives: Zane Van Natta & Jiho Yoo
- Robertson Hall Representatives: Serah Jones & Mei-Chi Maggie Lu
Please be sure to carefully review the email sent out on Thursday, September 5, regarding our procedures for signing out using Orah when our Residential Life students wish to leave campus. It also reiterates HPA travel dates, which are when HPA provides transportation to and from the Kona airport for scheduled school breaks. If you have any questions, please contact HPA’s Student Life and Travel Coordinator, LeeAnn Ganley, at travel@hpa.edu.
College Counseling
College Visits, September 9 – September 13, 2024
Monday, September 9: Whitman College (Walla Walla, WA) 8:00 – 8:30 am
Monday, September 9: University of San Diego (San Diego, CA) 11:45 am – 12:15 pm
Wednesday, September 11: Chapman University (Orange, CA) 11:45 am – 12:15 pm
Thursday, September 12: Seattle University (Seattle, WA) 11:45 am – 12:15 pm
Junior Parent Night is Coming Up!
Junior Parent Night: Tuesday, September 10, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm (HST)
College Counseling will provide families with an overview of their junior year at HPA. Topics we will discuss include important dates, standardized testing, individual counseling sessions, key assignments, and how to use our online college planning resources. Click here to join the Zoom meeting.
Senior Parent Night: Recording and Slides
Mahalo to those who joined us this week for our Senior Parent Night presentation. For those who were unable to attend, here are the presentation slides, as well as a recording of the meeting.
The Parent Input Form that we referenced is also attached here. Mahalo for completing this by October 1, if you have not already done so.
To access the resource tiles we highlighted in our presentation, please log into your myHPA account, open the “Groups” tab where you will see “College Counseling 12.” If you are having trouble accessing your student’s Scoir account, email college@hpa.edu.
Important: All new seniors and any seniors planning on applying Early Action, Restrictive Early Action, or Early Decision are required to schedule their first appointments with Mr. Kelsey and Ms. Montgomery by the end of the August. Before your appointment, please review our list of tasks below that you should try to complete in advance of your first senior meeting.
Schedule an Individual Check-in Meeting
Mr. Kelsey and Mrs. Montgomery are available for individual check-in meetings. Please click below to select a 30-minute time slot for an individual appointment with your assigned counselor. All meetings will be in the College Counseling Center.
If you are a new senior, or are unsure of your assigned counselor, please contact us directly at college@hpa.edu.
Register for the SAT and/or ACT and Test Prep (if appropriate)
We will offer the following SAT and ACT tests at HPA. Seniors register and pay for these tests by logging on to their College Board or ACT accounts and paying with a credit card. Listed below are the fall test dates that will be offered on the HPA Upper Campus this fall.
SAT Dates – Fall 2024
- Saturday, August 24
- Saturday, October 5 (registration deadline September 20)
- Saturday, November 2 (registration deadline October 18)
- Saturday, December 7 (registration deadline November 22)
ACT Dates – Fall 2024
- Saturday, September 14 (late registration deadline is August 25)
- Saturday, October 26 (registration deadline September 20)
- Saturday, December 14 (registration deadline November 18)
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, 2024-2025’.
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’.
All-School
Need to know information for our entire Ka Makani ʻohana.
Admissions
Our application for the 2025-2026 academic year is now available! We are excited to welcome the new season of admissions! Be sure to apply for a sibling and share it with your friends and family.
If you are a current family applying for a new child for the 2025-2026 school year, go to myHPA and find the “To apply a new child to HPA” resource tile.
Our admissions team is on the road in a variety of locations locally and around the world to meet up with prospective students, parents, alumni, and more! We look forward to many good times together as we dive into the new school year. Mahalo for your partnership and enthusiasm for HPA!
Advancement & Alumni
As we kick off the new school year, we are filled with gratitude for your incredible generosity in support of our outstanding students and programs.
Looking ahead, we are excited to work together with our HPA community of families, alumni, and friends to carry last year’s extraordinary momentum forward with purpose and aloha for HPA.
Health and Wellness
Magnus Health forms are now overdue. Please log into your child’s Magnus Health portal, via your myHPA parent account, to complete outstanding items. Students will not be allowed to attend classes if these items are not completed. If you have any issues logging in, reach out to infirmary@hpa.edu for assistance, as soon as possible so we can help.
We are asking that everyone routinely assess themselves for symptoms of illness — which can be mild, so please pay close attention. If you or your child(ren) develop any symptoms of illness, contact your healthcare provider and HPA Health Services at vcinfirmary@hpa.edu (Village Campus) or infirmary@hpa.edu (Upper Campus). Please keep your child(ren) home until they are no longer sick.
ʻOhana Association
We hope you had the opportunity to review our welcome letter from ʻOhana Association President Annette Hodges.
Our ʻOhana Association hosts a variety of events and activities for our school community throughout the year. As parents of HPA, you are automatically part of the ʻOhana Association. There are many ways to participate, and we encourage everyone to get involved. It is a great way to meet your fellow parents and support our amazing Ka Makani community. Mark your calendar for these upcoming events, and be sure to email ohana@hpa.edu with any questions, or to find out what volunteer opportunities are available!
Save the date for our first ‘Ohana Association General Meeting and Parent Mixer on Thursday, September 19. All are welcome to attend! Come meet your fellow Ka Makani parents, and learn more about what the ‘Ohana Association is all about! The event will be held at the Isaacs Art Center adjacent to the Village Campus. More details to follow.
Isaacs Art Center
We hope you had the opportunity to read the welcome letter from our Isaacs Art Center Director Mollie Hustace.
Become a Docent at the Isaacs Art Center
As we continue to grow and expand our outreach, we are looking for passionate individuals to join our team of volunteer docents. We are particularly in need of docents on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you or someone you know has a love for art and education and would like to contribute to our mission, we would be thrilled to have you on board.
This is a unique opportunity to engage with the art and culture of Hawai‘i, connect with our community, and make a meaningful impact.
If you’re interested or know someone who might be, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We would love to discuss how you can be a part of this special endeavor.
Thank you for considering this opportunity to support the Isaacs Art Center and the Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy community.
Isaacs Art Center is free and open to the public, Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, and on Saturdays from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. 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.
Safety Protocols
Campus Access
During this time, campus access is limited to current students, employees, essential contractors, and approved guests — all of whom have completed a daily thermal/symptom check and a screening questionnaire. Guests to campus will have had their hosting faculty or staff member fill out the appropriate form and will have received permission from their supervisor.
Should a family member of a student need a meeting with a faculty, staff, or administrative team member, kindly contact them so that they can apply to have you come to campus. From that point, security team members will be alerted to your appointment date and time and let you onto campus.
At the Upper School, please do not park and walk onto campus without an appointment. Similarly, at the Village Campus, kindly call or email for an appointment so that arrangements can be made. Mahalo, for your understanding and respect for this process.
If you See Something, Say Something
We ask all families to join HPA in keeping our campus safe. While on the HPA campus, if you see anything out of the ordinary, we ask that you please report it to the school or local authorities immediately. This will help us maintain the safest campus for our students.
- Imminent threat to life or property: call 911 immediately and email Mark Noetzel at mnoetzel@hpa.edu
- Anything out of the ordinary: email Mark Noetzel at mnoetzel@hpa.edu
CrisisGo for Parents
It is important that all families are set up with CrisisGo, HPA’s school emergency communication tool. To set up CrisisGo SMS/Email subscription, please click on this invitation link and complete the form by adding your name, email, and cell number (this is an important step if you would like to receive an SMS message) and click on the Subscribe button. Should an emergency occur, you will be alerted by email and SMS messaging. You can also locate these instructions by logging into myHPA, clicking on the resource tab, and selecting the CrisisGo Safe2SpeakUp tile.
Safe2SPeakUp for Middle and Upper Students
Similarly, Middle and Upper School students received instructions during orientation on how to upload the Safe2SpeakUp app. This is a companion app to CrisisGo. It will allow the school to alert students of emergencies that happen on or off campus and enable students to communicate with us about their safety status. They can also use the app to alert the school about any behaviors they are concerned about. Students can also locate instructions on setting up Safe2SpeakUp in myHPA, and they were also emailed the video shown at orientation which walks them through the process of uploading the app and registering, step-by-step.
All students can also submit an Online Bully/Harassment report by clicking on this link, which can also be located on the CrisisGo Safe2SpeakUp tile on myHPA.
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.