Week of 12/6/24
What's Happening at HPA This Week?
Message from the Head of School
Aloha HPA ʻohana,
Ka Makani Hoʻokele
In reflecting for a bit on the semester’s work, I move to thinking of what it means to be Ka Makani. What a powerful and inspiring notion! The wind plays such a significant role in both the natural environment and the positive growth of communities — shaping climate by driving rainfall patterns, enabling agriculture, supporting renewable energy, and contributing to healthy ecosystems. We strive to be this element of support, sustenance, and consistency for one another each day. Our voyage together, so far, brings a feeling of immense gratitude. Some time away from our day-to-day work allows time for regenerative thinking and ways to move forward with new ideas while building space for re-commitment to continued growth.
It has been four short months since our youngest were being walked into their classroom by their families, our new students were hesitantly finding their lockers and pathways through their class schedule, and our boarding students were unpacking their belongings in anxious preparation for the semester ahead. Well, we’ve come a long way in a pretty short period of time. Certainly not without a few trials, tribulations, and some good old-fashioned hard work. This is our journey.
In a brief interaction with a kindergartener this week, I finished by saying, “Have a great day!” The response was, “You too, Fred.” They are clearly rooted and thriving in confidence and happiness.
As we narrow our scope in the final days of the semester in order to focus on grade-level assignments, wrap-up assessments, and the everpresent interpersonal relational work, it is important to take a breath and acknowledge the journey with a sense of pride and completion. We’re not done, oh far from it, but getting to halftime and an extended break feels pretty nice right about now.
As I’ve mentioned in a previous note, transitions can be tough, and sometimes, not evident on the surface. While this transition leads to much-needed time away from school, it does carry with it some of its own potential challenges. Holiday energy, unstructured time, maybe your in-laws or some not-so-fun cousins are visiting — lots of distracting and discombobulating elements. Let’s remember to slow down and connect with our young ones around the magic of family and friends and being together.
Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season! I look forward to welcoming you back to campus in the New Year!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Gratefully,
Fred Wawner
Head of School
School Bulletins for the Week of 12/6/24
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!
As we bring our semester to a close, Lower School learners continue to delve deeply into their class experiences, holding culminating events and completing units of study. Publishing writing pieces, end-of-term math assessments, reflecting on progress made, and concluding hypotheses; it is a bustling time. At the end of next week, please be on the lookout for a message from me letting you know when student progress reports will be live and accessible on myHPA, as well as detailed information regarding our rubrics used. Core Learning Skills and Core Learning Characteristics are assessed, with individualized narratives to round out the reports. I hope you find these reports useful insight into the learning progress of your child(ren) at HPA. Please do not hesitate to reach out to teachers with any questions or wonderings you may have. We are always glad to connect about your child(ren)’s academic progress and goals.
Reminders as we close out the semester:
- Waimea Christmas Parade – Saturday, December 7
Don’t miss this beloved community tradition! Please refer to this letter from our ʻOhana Association for details on how to sign up to participate. Mahalo to our ʻOhana Association for coordinating us! - Wā Pilina ʻOhana Series Workshop – Tuesday, December 10
We have one more Wā Pilina ʻOhana series event coming up before the end of this semester, the History of Parker Ranch presentation. Wā Pilina is an invitation for HPA ʻOhana to learn and connect through moʻolelo, immersive experiences, and stewardship opportunities, guided by Kumu Kūwalu and Waimea kūpuna. All families are invited! - Lower School Holiday Festival – Wednesday, December 11
Let’s gather at the Village Campus for a festive musical and lighting ceremony that brings the magic of the season to life. Our 4th and 5th-grade handbell and chimes choir will be featured! Check out the flyer below for more details. This event replaces our annual holiday chapel event as the space undergoes renovations. Bring your entire ʻohana and a gift for the Hawaiʻi Diaper Bank to celebrate with us at the Village Campus! Sign-up here if you are able to help out. - Ugly Sweater Day – Thursday, December 12
Village Campus students celebrate the last day of the first semester in style! Wear your best (or worst!) holiday sweater to spread some cheer as we close out the term. - No After School Program on Thursday, December 12
The last day of After School programming is Wednesday, December 11. - Holiday LEGO Exhibition – Saturday, December 7 – Monday, December 23
We’re excited to invite students to participate in a Holiday LEGO Exhibition at Isaacs Art Center, starting Saturday, December 7, through Monday, December 23. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to showcase their creativity. LEGO creations can be retrieved in January or picked up on Monday, December 23 by 4:00 pm.
As we engage in the busy holiday season, some of you may recall a message I have shared in past years while we prioritize the care and stewardship of our ʻāina. The festive season of giving is my favorite time of year and giving gifts is a beautiful way to show our love and aloha to loved ones near and far. However, compared to the rest of the year, Americans generate 25% more waste than any other time, amounting to nearly 3 million more pounds of garbage per week. This includes waste from gift bags, packages, food waste, wrapping paper, and more. While beautiful, most gift wrapping paper is made of mixed materials such as gold foil, glossy coatings, and chemicals — making it nearly impossible to recycle. Let’s make a positive impact on our island home and global community while still celebrating the joys of gift-giving by wrapping even just a few of our gifts in upcycled or reusable materials. Kraft paper, magazine pages, and reusable bags are all great options to share our festive aloha during the holiday season, while also caring for our ʻāina in a simple, but meaningful way. Here are some more ideas to keep your holidays fun and festive! Let us mālama kaiāulu today, and every day, by sharing this example for all our keiki.
I hope you find this respite from our school schedule to be rejuvenating, full of joyful celebrations, and ʻohana time. As always, mahalo for choosing HPA as the school for your keiki. We look forward to reconnecting again in the new year, Lower School ʻohana!
Me ke aloha pumehana,
Dora Kwong
Lower School Principal
Schedule
Our K-5 classes continue with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Monday, December 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
• Friday, December 6, from 3:30 to 6:00 pm: Waimea holiday parade float decorating with the ʻOhana Association; Village Campus
• Saturday, December 7, to Monday, December 23: Holiday LEGO Exhibition at Isaacs Art Center
• Tuesday, December 10, from 3:30 to 4:30 pm: Wā Pilina ʻOhana Series – History of Parker Ranch presentation; Parker Ranch Headquarters
• Wednesday, December 11: Last day of After School Program for the first semester
• Wednesday, December 11, from 5:00 to 6:00 pm: Village Campus Holiday Festival
• Thursday, December 12: Last day of first semester classes, Ugly Sweater Day
• Friday, December 13, 2024, to Monday, January 6, 2025: Winter Break
• Tuesday, January 7, 2025: First day of second semester classes, K-12
HPA’s Portrait of a Graduate
This year, HPA is focused on defining the skills we want our students to develop by graduation, along with the qualities that create outstanding educators. We value your perspective on this work, and we invite you to share your insights by completing this brief PoG/CPE Survey. Mahalo for helping us enrich the HPA experience for all students.
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.
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.
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!
Lono i ka Makahiki! Excellent photos and videos of our Middle School Makahiki Games have been posted to our social media channels (Instagram and Facebook), please take a moment to check them out. This treasured tradition engaged our students as both team members and leaders, and it was truly inspiring to see their enthusiasm and teamwork. A huge mahalo to Kumu Kūwalu for your leadership in organizing this event!
Congratulations to our Middle School performers who shone brightly at today’s Performing Arts Showcase at Gates Performing Arts Center. From captivating handbell performances that wowed the entire school to 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students singing, dancing, and performing Shakespeare — it was an impressive display of their learning and talents. These programs serve as a foundation for outstanding future Upper School performances, where many of our students continue to shine with confidence. Mahalo nui to Ms. Di Bartolo and Ms. Wadlegger for your dedication to fostering the performing arts in our students!
Looking ahead, our extra-curricular performing arts programs are gearing up with auditions for the Middle School production of The Wizard of Oz. Auditions will be held on Monday, December 9, and Tuesday, December 10, from 3:15 to 4:15 pm in our Drama Hall. All Middle School students are eligible to audition, and we’re seeking 20–25 performers and student crew members. Directed by Kelly Wadlegger and with musical direction by Mallory Di Bartolo, performances are set for Saturday, March 1, and Sunday, March 2. Please email kwadlegger@hpa.edu if your child intends to audition.
This weekend, many Middle School students will participate in the 64th Waimea Twilight Christmas Parade, walking alongside the HPA float with Lower and Upper School students and families. Please come out to cheer us on and enjoy the holiday spirit! Continuing the celebrations, our Lower School will host a Village Campus Holiday Event on Wednesday, December 11, from 5:00 to 6:00 pm. This event will feature performances from the Lower and Middle School Handbell ensembles. We invite you to bring an item for the Hawaiʻi Diaper Bank — diapers of any size or a new, unopened children’s toy — to support families in need this holiday season.
As Semester 1 wraps up, here are some important reminders:
- The last day of the semester is Thursday, December 12, and it is Ugly Sweater Day, so wear your best or worst holiday sweater. As a reminder, there will be no After School Program activities on this day.
- Winter Break runs from Friday, December 13, 2024, through Monday, January 6, 2025.
- Students return for second-semester classes on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.
- Teachers will finalize and submit all final comments and semester grades by Monday, December 16, with grades and comments available to families on Tuesday, December 17.
Over Winter Break, I encourage you to review the Advisor Comments carefully. These thoughtful reflections— crafted using teacher feedback, observations, and academic progress — are key to understanding your child’s growth and goals in Middle School.
On a personal note, I want to express my deepest gratitude to our HPA Middle School community for your support and aloha during my first semester as principal. Whether we’ve connected during pick-up, chatted at school events, worked together to find solutions, celebrated your child’s progress, or collaborated on ʻOhana Association events — your aloha and positivity have been invaluable. I am honored to serve this incredible community and remain committed to fostering excellence, integrity, respect, and wonder in the new year.
Wishing you and your ‘ohana a joyous and restful holiday season!
Me ka mahalo nui,
Michael Cservenak
Middle School Principal
Schedule
Our Middle School 2024-2025 Daily Schedule continues with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Monday, December 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
• Friday, December 6, from 3:30 to 6:00 pm: Waimea holiday parade float decorating with the ʻOhana Association; Village Campus
• Saturday, December 7, to Monday, December 23: Holiday LEGO Exhibition at Isaacs Art Center
• Tuesday, December 10, from 3:30 to 4:30 pm: Wā Pilina ʻOhana Series – History of Parker Ranch presentation; Parker Ranch Headquarters
• Wednesday, December 11: Last day of After School Program for the first semester
• Wednesday, December 11, from 5:00 to 6:00 pm: Village Campus Holiday Festival
• Thursday, December 12: Last day of first semester classes, Ugly Sweater Day
• Friday, December 13, 2024, to Monday, January 6, 2025: Winter Break
• Tuesday, January 7, 2025: First day of second semester classes, K-12
HPA’s Portrait of a Graduate
This year, HPA is focused on defining the skills we want our students to develop by graduation, along with the qualities that create outstanding educators. We value your perspective on this work, and we invite you to share your insights by completing this brief PoG/CPE Survey. Mahalo for helping us enrich the HPA experience for all students.
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.
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.
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,
This is a tremendously busy and exciting time in our school life. Exams begin next week with the schedule as listed below. When day students do not have exams, they are permitted to leave campus with parental permission and proper sign out with Mr. Moltz at his office in the lower student union. Please talk with your child if you want them to stay on campus. HPA will not be monitoring vehicles. The library, student union, cafeteria, and other areas will be open for individual and group study.
Students have had presentations in Assembly about grit and the opportunities during upcoming exams and next semester to fortify their capacity to be challenged academically. It takes practice to become grittier. Seniors are preparing for the challenges presented as they continue their journey beyond the white fence line of the upper school (May 23 will arrive quickly!). For underclasspersons, working on grit will demonstrate not just to themselves that they can endure hard work but also to their teachers, who they may be asking for recommendations for Honors or AP courses.
Here’s the exam schedule for next week, which can also be found by logging into your myHPA account.
Monday, December 9
A: 8:30 – 10:30 am
Lunch: 11:10 am
B: 12:30 – 2:30 pm
Varsity and JV sports: 3:30-5:30 pm
Tuesday, December 10
C: 8:30 -10:30 am
Lunch: 11:10 am
D: 12:30 – 2:30 pm
Varsity and JV sports: 3:30-5:30 pm
Wednesday, December 11
E: 8:30-10:30 am
Lunch: 11:10 am
F: 12:30 – 2:30 pm
Varsity and JV sports: 3:30-5:30 pm
Thursday, December 12
G: 8:30 – 10:30 am
Varsity and JV Sports TBD by coach
On behalf of the Upper School faculty and staff, I would like to wish you a very restful and enjoyable Winter Break. In a world that is often chaotic and out of sync, I hope you and your family can have a peaceful time together filled with joy, lots of smiles, hugs, and laughter. We look forward to seeing the students in classes beginning on January 7, 2025.
Sincerely,
Mark Noetzel
Assistant Head of School for Upper School
This week’s gallery features images from the Digital Storytelling Class, which includes a historical and visual study of our Davies Memorial Chapel, along with vignettes of moments in time that our student photographers captured this semester. Mahalo to the following student photographers for their contributions: Uriel A. ’26, Chenery E. ’27, Athena F. ’26, Sam F. ’26, Keegan H. ’25, Justin K. ’25, Kekai L., Matteo L. ’26, Edward L. ’26, Willow M. ’27, Dustin P. ’26, Coleson P. ’26, Luca S. ’25, Owen S. ’27, & Dylan V. ’26.
Schedule
Our Upper School 2024-2025 Daily Schedule will resume with in-person final exams on our Upper Campus on Monday, December 9.
Final Exam Schedule
- Monday, December 9 – A Block (8:30 – 10:30 am) and B Block (12:30 – 2:30 pm) finals
- Tuesday, December 10 – C Block (8:30 – 10:30 am) and D Block (12:30 – 2:30 pm) finals
- Wednesday, December 11 – E Block (8:30 – 10:30 am) and F Block (12:30 – 2:30 pm) finals
- Thursday, December 12 – G Block (8:30 – 10:30 am) and Make-Up Block (12:30 – 2:30 pm) finals
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
• Friday, December 6, from 3:30 to 6:00 pm: Waimea holiday parade float decorating with the ʻOhana Association; Village Campus
• Saturday, December 7, to Monday, December 23: Holiday LEGO Exhibition at Isaacs Art Center
• Tuesday, December 10, from 3:30 to 4:30 pm: Wā Pilina ʻOhana Series – History of Parker Ranch presentation; Parker Ranch Headquarters
• Wednesday, December 11: Last day of After School Program for the first semester
• Wednesday, December 11, from 5:00 to 6:00 pm: Village Campus Holiday Festival
• Thursday, December 12: Last day of first semester classes, Ugly Sweater Day
• Friday, December 13, 2024, to Monday, January 6, 2025: Winter Break
• Tuesday, January 7, 2025: First day of second semester classes, K-12
HPA’s Portrait of a Graduate
This year, HPA is focused on defining the skills we want our students to develop by graduation, along with the qualities that create outstanding educators. We value your perspective on this work, and we invite you to share your insights by completing this brief PoG/CPE Survey. Mahalo for helping us enrich the HPA experience for all students.
Please join the 75th anniversary celebration!
The HPA alumni office invites you to contribute to our archive of Ka Makani voices from across campus and around the world! Help us document HPA’s 75th anniversary for the future. Click below to share your thoughts and reflections on HPA with our alumni and Ka Makani who will follow in your footsteps. These archival surveys are very brief. Mahalo nui for sharing your voice!
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.
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
We’re gearing up for our winter season! Here’s the winter athletic schedule and the current fall weekly schedule. GO KA MAKANI! You can also access the athletics schedule on the myHPA calendar.
Student Life
All students who wish to walk with our HPA ʻohana in the Waimea holiday parade on Saturday, December 7, need to have their parent/guardian complete this waiver form. For additional details, please review this email sent on December 2.
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
The final weekend of the semester is here! By this time next week, exams will be done, and your children will be on their way home to you! As we head into this final weekend with exams next week, we wanted to share with you some of the resources available to our students in the lead-up to Final Exams to help them balance their time studying, good mental health, rest, and healthy habits, all designed to assist our students in achieving their best results on their exams.
Throughout the weekend, the library will be open for most hours of the day and night for students to use as a focused, quiet study space. Student leaders will proctor the space to ensure that it does not become a social venue, and that messes are not left behind. Additionally, on Sunday, we have a variety of different events on campus for students to refresh, focus, and vary their study spaces, which is proven to help improve retention. There will be a study session at the beach in the morning, an all-day de-stress event in the Wellness Center hosted by our school counselors, and a free yoga and meditation session on Sunday afternoon in the lecture hall for students to reset their minds and bodies before the final push. If your child expresses an excess of stress this weekend, please encourage them to partake in any or all of these opportunities to help them re-center and focus!
Travel Reminders
A friendly reminder to review the Winter Break Travel Reminder Letter sent to you on November 20. Please ensure that you have shared your child’s return travel itineraries with our Travel Office (travel@hpa.edu) so that we can plan transportation back from the airport in January!
College Counseling
Important reminders over Winter Break for Seniors
Attention all seniors! Please be sure to carefully review this email that was sent on December 4, with details on what you need to complete over the Winter Break.
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, December 7 (registration deadline November 22)
ACT Dates – Fall 2024
- 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
Mahalo to everyone who helped spread the word about our HPA Open Houses for all three divisions. We have several additional virtual offerings! If you know families interested in more information, please share this link www.hpa.edu/admissions-center/ for future events being hosted by the HPA Admission Office.
Our application is now open. HPA’s priority application deadline is January 15, 2025. After the priority deadline, applications are welcomed on a rolling basis. For those who are interested in applying for our Residential Life (boarding) program in grades 9-12, the priority application deadline is February 10, 2025.
Advancement & Alumni
Mahalo to everyone who supported Alu Mai, our festive evening gala in suppport of Financial Aid! The vibrant energy of our guests – champions for Financial Aid, one and all – helped to honor the powerful legacy of beloved trustee Anna Lindsey Perry-Fiske, who started this tradition to ensure that Waimea’s kids had a place at HPA. The legacy lives on! The evening raised an outstanding $508,350! We hope to see you next year, and in the meantime — you can join in by making a gift in support of Financial Aid during this season of giving and gratitude. E Alu Mai!
Auxiliary Services
We’re excited to announce that enrollment for our summer programs is officially open! This summer, we have a wide range of activities and learning opportunities designed to inspire, engage, and create lasting memories for your child. You can register here for Summer at HPA courses. We will be offering Ka Makani Keiki Camp for children ages five to ten, Enrichment Camps (ages vary), and Summer Academies for students ages 11 to 17.
There are a few more spots in the Winter Break Intensive Driver Education course! For students aged 15.5 to 17 with a Hawaiʻi Learner Permit. The course will be held on December 16, 17, 19, 23, 26, 27, and 30, from 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm. There is a mandatory parent and student orientation on the first day from 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm. Attendance to all classes is required to receive a Department of Transportation yellow classroom certificate. The blue Behind the Wheel certificate will be issued after 6 hours of behind-the-wheel lessons with the instructor. No certificates are issued until six weeks from the start of the course. Please reach out to Mrs. Emmons at hemmons2@hpa.edu for details.
For students who ride the Hele-On Bus to school each day, HPA will offer a shuttle for the Route 76 Green Line bus that arrives at approximately 8:20 am. The shuttle will be parked at the bus stop just past the Waiaka Bridge on Kawaihae Road. For questions or more information, you can contact Auxiliary Services at 808-881-4041 or email auxiliary@hpa.edu.
Health and Wellness
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
Wā Pilina ʻOhana Series
We have one more Wā Pilina ʻOhana series event coming up before the end of this semester:
History of Parker Ranch presentation
Wā Pilina is an invitation for HPA ‘Ohana to learn and connect through mo’olelo, immersive experiences and stewardship opportunities, guided by Kumu Kūwalu and Waimea kūpuna.
Through attending the Wā Pilina series, HPA parents will:
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Share in learning of their children about Hawaiian culture and place
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Visit and connect to the special places within and surrounding Waimea in a manner that is rooted in respect
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Learn the history of Waimea and Hawai’i
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Connect with other HPA parents and the wider community
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Develop the skills and practices to integrate more deeply in the community
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!
Isaacs Art Center
Holiday LEGO Exhibition
We’re excited to invite students to participate in a Holiday LEGO Exhibition at Isaacs Art Center, starting Saturday, December 7, through Monday, December 23. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to showcase their creativity. LEGO creations can be retrieved in January or picked up on Monday, December 23 by 4:00 pm.
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.