Week of 1/17/25
What's Happening at HPA This Week?
Message from the Head of School
Aloha HPA ʻohana,
Looking for Inspiration? It’s everywhere.
Just breaking in my new moleskine planner, and it feels exhilarating. Deeply and undeniably! I am giddy with the blank pages and possibility of it all. Yes — new planners bring me such joy, and my family knows it. They laugh as they watch my excitement and even took the effort to get this one engraved with F.O.S. (Fred of School; The more I fight it, the worse it gets!) They seem to enjoy poking a little fun on my organizational nerdiness. There is something both metaphoric and real about turning the page. The new year always provides a wonderful opportunity to find a fresh outlook on the time ahead. AND to make some lists! I love a good list, and will share a few in the coming editions.
Before we dive into the planning of the new year, I want to reflect on a few recent highlights of connectedness and wonder…A winter break inspiration for me was visiting Kīlauea in its glory during a recent eruption localized to the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park that highlighted its sheer beauty, power, and unique ability to create new life and land. What!? We really get to see this right here in Hawaiʻi County!?!? Yep. And sometimes, a volcano simply needs to remind us all that it is a volcano. Always so humbling.
And then there is taking in Moana 2 at Honokaʻa Peoples’ Theatre. To think just a month ago I got to write about our students visiting with the heroes of Hōkūleʻa, Hawaiʻi’s first voyaging canoe, and then to sit at our local theatre, eating Rolos and sipping a canned fizzy drink, while my family and I experienced Disney’s version of Polynesian wayfinding and global human connectedness. Starring Kohala’s own, Auli’i Cravalho. May we all feel inspired by the cultural and ancestral message of unity, responsibility, and stewardship that the movie depicts.
Probably most moving in the time between semester end and the new year is the time allowed for reflection and human connection. For most, it is family and friends. Whether it is welcoming folks home or journeying to visit them on their turf, there is something special about this time of year. The slowing of pace to just reach out or check in or sit and visit can be fuel to reset and go forward into the coming months. Our kids grow during this time as well. Sometimes noticeable and sometimes less so. But there is surely growth. There is also a transition of sorts — a nod to independence.
Whether you are moved by the aggregation of incremental gains, an extra minute of sunlight everyday after December 21, or the more large and sweeping changes that a new year can present — there is something exhilarating in welcoming the new year for everyone. Let us be motivated and rejuvenated by all that is important to us.
January is the busiest of months for our school calendar, action packed with exceptional learning opportunities on both campuses and all programs. Right out of the gates we hosted our young alumni for a talk story session with our senior class. I love this annual event and tradition. It is the first time our seniors start to switch into an awareness mode of the significant life transition that is quickly approaching come May. They have the opportunity to hear from recent graduates who have successfully navigated the journey, and we are so fortunate that they return to campus to share their trials and tribulations with transparency and a lot of aloha and compassion for their fellow Ka Makani. Hear more from the young alumni themselves below in our All-School section.
Our HPA ʻohana stretches far and wide with alumni and current family connecting us in neighborhoods across the globe. We want to send our thoughts to everyone affected by the devastating California wildfires, including those who are here at school with us right now. The enormity of the tragedy is staggering, and we extend our heartfelt aloha to all those who are impacted.
On Monday, we will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life-work and sacrifices for equality and social justice that continue to inspire us to learn and lead for equity, inclusion and kindness in our communities. He would have been 95 this month. Reflecting on his legacy, and leadership, I am struck by the depth of his humility and faith in the promise of the human race. He was a great patriot. From his 1963 book, Strength to Love he shared this now famous quote, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige, and even his life for the welfare of others.”
As Monday also marks the change of leadership in our United States government, Dr. King’s memories and commitment to non-violence guide the peaceful transition of power that defines the most basic and necessary tenants of democracy.
There will be no classes that day, K-12, and our school offices will also be closed in recognition of Dr. King’s inspiring legacy and leadership. We are proud to mark this holiday with a day of reflection and service for all of our HPA ʻohana.
Welcome back! Happy Aloha Friday!
Gratefully,
Fred Wawner
Head of School
School Bulletins for the Week of 1/17/25
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
Welcome back, Lower School families!
It has been wonderful to see the energy, excitement, and aloha radiating through campus as we return to school. The classrooms are buzzing with enthusiasm, and academics are already well underway. Our first full week of school in 2025 began with our biweekly K-5 assembly, with important reminders of our school expectations as we embark on the second semester, rooted in our core values of Respect, Integrity, Pursuit of Excellence, and Wonder. Students recognize how we show up to school impacts ourselves, our learning, and those around us. Turning to the components of Malama Kaiāulu (haina, pilina, kuleana, and lōkahi), time and again to guide us in caring for our community of spirit, land, and people continues to be an important compass. Thank you for your ongoing support in fostering our vibrant and collaborative learning environment.
Below are some upcoming notes, events, and opportunities for our K-5 community. Mark your calendars!
Upcoming Musical Performance: “Strictly No Elephants”
We’re excited to invite our K-2nd grade families to attend their childʻs upcoming musical, “Strictly No Elephants.” Join us for a heartwarming performance filled with joy and creativity based on the beautiful childrenʻs book, by Lisa Mantchev. (If you canʻt find the book at the library, you can hear a video read aloud here.)
When: Friday, February 21, 2:15 to 3:00 pm
Where: Gates Performing Arts Center
All students, Kindergarten-5th grade, will be dismissed directly from GPAC on this day. We can’t wait to see our young performers shine!
Village Campus Plant Sale
We are thrilled to invite everyone to our now-annual Village Campus Plant Sale! This event supports our efforts to encourage more photosynthesis on our island, leadership from our 4th graders who plan and prepare for this event, and connecting and collaboration among all our students K-8th grade.
When: Friday, February 28, Ulumau Garden, 3:15 to 5:00 pm
Purchase plants, enjoy music, and connect with one another! We look forward to supporting our school garden program while gathering as a community!
New Event: Game Night!!
Join us for an evening of fun, laughter, and friendly competition! Whether you’re looking to learn a new game or share your favorite one with others, there’s something for everyone.
When: First Fridays in February, March, and April from 5:30 to 7:30 pm
Where: HPA Village Campus Taylor Library
Bring your best game face and come ready to connect with your neighbors and friends. See you there!
Mental health support: Talking about the LA fires
The recent and ongoing news about the LA fires may bring up questions or concerns for our students. Our hearts are with all those affected, as well as those triggered by this terrible tragedy. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network offers a helpful guide for families with tips for helping your children that you may download here. If you’re looking for further guidance on how to talk to your children about these events, our school counselor is here to help. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Ms. Baydo for resources or support (rbadyo@hpa.edu).
Message from 8th-grade capstone student, Bellarose
Hello HPA students and families, I’m Bellarose, an 8th grader, my Capstone project is about the importance of cooking and sharing recipes in cultures and communities. I’m creating a website for the school community to use and access shared recipes; for this, I’m collecting recipes from the HPA community. If you would like to submit a recipe, you can use this link to access the form. You may upload as many recipes as you would like. It would be great if you could include any special background information about your recipe or pictures you might have. Thanks for supporting my Capstone project. I will share the published website closer to the end of my project when I have more recipes. Thank you!
Holiday Festival Donation Drive: Mahalo!
We are so grateful for your incredible support of our Holiday Festival back in December, as well as our donation drive to the Hawaiʻi Diaper Bank. While the Waimea power outage was not exactly part of the plan (!), your support, energy, and positivity made it an event to remember. In addition to the great cheer, beautiful music, and holiday spirit, thanks to your generosity, we collected 2,972 diapers, wipes, toys, and hygiene products for babies in our community. Together, we supported 33 keiki this holiday season! Mahalo nui loa!
Campus Safety
We are thrilled to see our students scooting, biking or e-biking to school. Please ensure they are equipped with appropriate safety gear (helmets) and understand they need to walk their scooters or bikes to the rack once on campus.
Finally, a friendly reminder that there is no school this coming Monday, January 20, in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Our dining hall was buzzing today with children sharing about their learnings of this important leader, with reading and activities in some classes continuing into the following week.
Thank you for being such an integral part of our HPA ʻohana. Here’s to a wonderful week ahead!
Me ke aloha pumehana,
Dora Kwong
Lower School Principal
We are proudly marking 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
As a reminder, there are no classes K-12 on Monday, January 20, in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
Our K-5 classes continue with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Tuesday, January 21.
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
• Monday, January 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, no classes K-12, school closed
• Saturday, January 25: Wā Pilina ʻOhana Series – Maunakea trip; space is limited, sign up in advance
• Friday, February 7, from 5:00 to 6:30 pm: Pizza and a play with the Head of School
• Friday, February 7, at 7:00 pm: Opening Night of Ka Makani Players presents Little Women; GPAC, Upper Campus
• Friday, February 14: Faculty Work Day, no classes K-12
• Saturday, February 22: Wā Pilina ʻOhana Series – Waipiʻo Valley work day; space is limited, sign up in advance
• Thursday, March 6 & Friday, March 7: Lower and Middle School Student-led Conferences
• Monday, March 10 – Monday, March 24: Spring Break, no classes K-12
• Tuesday, March 25: Classes resume K-12
• Thursday, April 10, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm: ʻOhana Association Parent Social and General Meeting; Isaacs Art Center, Village Campus
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: Spring term, February 10 – May 16, 2025
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,
A very happy New Year to each and every one of you. This past week, our students have jumped right into the vital learning and activities of the second semester. Having spent considerable time in the Middle School realm, I absolutely love this point in the year when we can clearly see the benefits of our students’ hard work from the previous semester. In particular, it is always moving to witness the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual maturity our 8th graders display as they transition to the application phase of their capstone projects and look ahead toward becoming Upper School students. This past week, two of our 8th graders launched new student-driven clubs, and included in this bulletin is a message from another 8th grader seeking community input. It’s these kinds of initiatives that showcase the very essence of the HPA spirit, and I’m so proud of our students in every grade level who embody our core values in such diverse ways.
In the third quarter, one of our most anticipated HPA Middle School traditions — the Lip Sync Competition — will take place on Friday, February 21. We unveiled our mashup themes last Friday (one 80’s song, one track from a musical or soundtrack, and one “wild card”), and advisories have already begun preparing enthusiastically for a memorable performance. Be sure to save this date so you can join us for the show!
Additionally, our Village Campus Garden program will host the K–12 Plant Sale on Friday, February 28, and our Middle School Musical, The Wizard of Oz, will be performed on Saturday, March 1, and Sunday, March 2. We will wrap up the quarter with Student-Led Conferences on Thursday, March 6 and Friday, March 7. Please keep an eye out for information from our ʻOhana Association, which will be seeking parent volunteers and support for these events. The weeks will fly by!
On the topic of safety, we are thrilled to see our students biking or e-biking to school, but please ensure they are equipped with appropriate safety gear (helmets) and understand they need to walk their bikes once on campus. Also, a friendly reminder that there is no school this coming Monday, January 20, in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Thank you, as always, for your support of our Middle School community. Let’s keep up this wonderful momentum into the rest of the semester! Make sure to read the important message from our 8th grader and find info on a Cubing competition in February below.
Mahalo,
Michael Cservenak
Middle School Principal
Register now for Cubing Competition
Hello HPA students and families,
I’m Bellarose, an 8th grader, and my capstone project is about the importance of cooking and sharing recipes in cultures and communities. I’m creating a website for the school community to use and access shared recipes. For this, I’m collecting recipes from the HPA community. If you would like to submit a recipe you can use this link to access the form. You may upload as many recipes as you would like. It would be great if you could include any special background information about your recipe or pictures you might have. Thanks for supporting my capstone project, I will share the published website closer to the end of my project when I have more recipes. Thank you!
We are proudly marking 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
As a reminder, there are no classes K-12 on Monday, January 20, in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
Our Middle School 2024-2025 Daily Schedule continues with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Tuesday, January 21.
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
• Monday, January 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, no classes K-12, school closed
• Saturday, January 25: Wā Pilina ʻOhana Series – Maunakea trip; space is limited, sign up in advance
• Friday, February 7, from 5:00 to 6:30 pm: Pizza and a play with the Head of School
• Friday, February 7, at 7:00 pm: Opening Night of Ka Makani Players presents Little Women; GPAC, Upper Campus
• Friday, February 14: Faculty Work Day, no classes K-12
• Friday, February 21: Lip Sync competition
• Saturday, February 22: Wā Pilina ʻOhana Series – Waipiʻo Valley work day; space is limited, sign up in advance
• Friday, February 28: K-12 Plant Sale
• Saturday, March 1 & Sunday, March 2: The Wizard of Oz performance; GPAC, Upper Campus
• Thursday, March 6 & Friday, March 7: Lower and Middle School Student-led Conferences
• Monday, March 10 – Monday, March 24: Spring Break, no classes K-12
• Tuesday, March 25: Classes resume K-12
• Thursday, April 10, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm: ʻOhana Association Parent Social and General Meeting; Isaacs Art Center, Village Campus
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: Spring term, February 10 – May 16, 2025
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 about campus culture while sharing updates with 9-12 students and parents on academics, athletics, and arts, and what day and residential families can expect throughout the semester.
From the desk of your Upper School leadership team
Aloha Upper School families,
I am very excited for the second half of the school year, as several upcoming events allow our students to showcase the results of their hard work.
Capstone highlights: Science
Last week, HPA hosted 14 students from the University of Mississippi and the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, as part of the “Study USA: Lava to Life, Microbes and Symbiosis in Action” program to complement our Upper School capstone work. The students were accompanied by Dr. Erik Hom, a biology professor from the University of Mississippi, and Mr. Ethan Hill of Iolani School’s Aina Informatics Community Science Program, who, together with Dr. Johanna Anton of HPA, led the students, along with students from HPA, in an investigation of the microbial components of soil that support the growth of ʻōhiʻa, koa and koaiʻa trees on Hawaiʻi Island. HPA students participated in college lectures and laboratory experiments and worked alongside students to do cutting-edge metagenomics research. In addition to the science, students also learned from Kumu Kaʻai and Kumu Pua about the critical roles that these specific trees play in Hawaiʻi. Our students were welcoming, and each reflected on how much they enjoyed learning from the visiting students, teachers, and professors. We are anxiously awaiting the results of the experiments that are still in progress due to the laboratory procedures we executed last week!
The group from the University of Mississippi is highly interested in ongoing research collaboration and would like to make returning to HPA an annual event. We share their enthusiasm. We also want to recognize the efforts of Ms. Laura Jim and her support and involvement in the program.
Substance counseling
Ian Groves was on campus this week to work with our students. He addressed the entire student body at assembly, worked directly with the ninth-grade health classes, and was available for consultation by appointment with students. He also met with faculty who had questions about how to support their students.
MLK Holiday
On Monday, January 20, the school recognizes the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
Mahalo,
Mark Noetzel
Assistant Head of School for Upper School
We are proudly marking 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
As a reminder, there are no classes K-12 on Monday, January 20, in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
Our Upper School 2024-2025 Daily Schedule will resume as a Mamo day with in-person instruction on our Upper Campus on Tuesday, August 21.
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
• Monday, January 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, no classes K-12, school closed
• Saturday, January 25: Wā Pilina ʻOhana Series – Maunakea trip; space is limited, sign up in advance
• Friday, February 7, from 5:00 to 6:30 pm: Pizza and a play with the Head of School
• Friday, February 7, at 7:00 pm: Opening Night of Ka Makani Players presents Little Women; GPAC, Upper Campus
• Friday, February 14: Faculty Work Day, no classes K-12
• Saturday, February 22: Wā Pilina ʻOhana Series – Waipiʻo Valley work day; space is limited, sign up in advance
• Monday, March 10 – Monday, March 24: Spring Break, no classes K-12
• Tuesday, March 25: Classes resume K-12
• Thursday, April 10, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm: ʻOhana Association Parent Social and General Meeting; Isaacs Art Center, Village Campus
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
Upcoming Student Life Events
- Friday, January 24 – Upper School students are invited to attend our Winter Wonderland Dance. This dance is free of charge! More information will be sent to parents and students next week.
- Monday, January 27, 8:30 am – Assembly will be held in Davies Chapel as a Senior Speaker Series.
- Friday, February 7 – International Day. This is a day filled with fun and interactive ways for our students to share their culture formally through special workshops in the morning and a showcase of talented performances in the afternoon. With the supervision of FLIK, students will also serve a delicious variety of ethnic foods for lunch for the whole school community.
- February 26 to 28 – HPA Olympics. We are in the process of planning one of the biggest events of the year. This annual event is one of our school’s most productive interpersonal activities, where classes compete against one another in fun-filled games and events to become crowned the winner! This has been a beloved tradition since the 1970s.
Ka Makani Athletics
Another winter season is ready to roll. Let the games begin! Here’s the latest winter athletic schedule and our updated weekly schedule. GO KA MAKANI! You can also access the athletics schedule on the myHPA calendar.
Ka Makani Travel
Ka Makani Travel, HPA’s student travel program, is offering
- Spring Break 2026 – The Alps and the Mediterranean Coast with EF Tours: March 2026, $200 early booking discount applied, available for enrollments before February 2025.
Please contact Ka Makani Travel Coordinator Adrienne White (awhite@hpa.edu) for information on registration, eligibility, and travel grants.
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.
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.
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)
Residential Life
The Spring semester is off and running, and things are moving fast! We are delighted to welcome eight new members to our residential life program, and look forward to seeing how they add to the fabric that is our community! Last Friday, we kick-started the semester with the Dorm Wars Spring Opening, with Robertson Hall taking a clean sweep of all of the events! They now move into first place, with many more competitions to come throughout the semester!
Looking ahead, our international students are hard at work preparing for our annual International Day! International Day is a whole-day celebration of the students in our community who come from countries all around the world, with cultural workshops led by the students, a massive international buffet of food prepared by our students and served at lunch, as well as an international talent show to cap things off! This year’s International Day will be on Friday, February 7, and we can’t wait!
College Counseling
ACT/SAT Test Prep Boot Camp–Register Now!
For students who would like help preparing for the ACT and SAT, we will once again be partnering with Tutors Across America to provide a discounted Online ACT/SAT Prep Boot Camp on Friday, February 14 through Sunday, February 16, 2025. All Upper School students are welcome to attend. Please review this email from Thursday, January 9, for more information.
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 need any help with scheduling appointments, please contact us directly at college@hpa.edu.
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.
HPA Today
Young Alumni Day 2025
Recent Ka Makani graduates return to share their journeys, lessons, and advice at Young Alumni Day
Admissions
The Spring term of the admissions season brings a lot of action! New families are continuing to apply to HPA for the 2025-26 academic year with much anticipation and excitement. With an array of virtual and in-person events over the next three months, the admissions team is poised to support all applicants and their families throughout their journey toward enrollment at HPA.
For our returning families, Re-enrollment will begin starting February 1 and run through February 15 whereby all eligible students will be offered to return to HPA for the following year and secure their space before new students receive their admission decisions. More to come on that process soon!
Advancement & Alumni
Calling all Ka Makani alumni! Be sure to check out the latest edition of Kūpaʻa that was delivered to your inboxes this week. It’s got details on our upcoming 75th anniversary Alumni Reunion celebration and the launch of The Buzz, which kicks off Thursday, January 23. If you’re on-island please join us for alumni coffee hour on the 3rd Thursday of every month from 8:30 to 9:30 am at the new Ka Makani Cafe at Kō Kakou Hale (student union) at the Upper Campus.
Auxiliary Services
Summer at HPA registration is open. Visit the Summer at HPA New Enrollment form to register for summer enrichment camps, swimming lessons, Ka Makani Keiki Camp, or Summer Academies.
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
We have several amazing events planned for this Spring semester. Please be sure to review the latest email from our ʻOhana Association president, Annette Hodges, that went out earlier this week.
Our Wā Pilina ʻOhana Series continues on Saturday, January 25, with a trip to Maunakea, the tallest mountain in the world from seafloor to peak. This wahi pana (sacred site) holds a special place in Hawaiian culture, and we are honored to visit the area with the esteemed Kumu Pua Case, a local educator and longtime advocate of protecting Hawaiian sacred spaces, as our guide. Sign up here to participate and please read through all the details to ensure you are properly prepared. Space is limited.
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
The 39th Invitational Masters Show is now underway through Friday, February 28, 2025, with extended viewing possible through March. All items in the show are available for purchase. The exhibit 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 with appointments welcomed.
Isaacs Art Center has hosted the Hawaiʻi Wood Guild’s annual Invitational Masters Show since 2009. This year’s exhibition includes pieces by noted island artisans Tai Lake, Michael Felig, David Gomes, Michael Patrick Smith, Greg Pontius, David and Doni Reisland, Scott Hare, Paul Schürch, Mats Fogelvik, Alex Franceschini, Nicole Gomes, Scott Zuziak, Duane Millers, Jr., Marcus Castaing, Tom O’Connor, John Mydock, Robert Woodward, Kelly Dunn, Piergiorgio (Peter) Barbarich, Jimmy Wray, Llosh Winne, and Leslie Pedersen. The exhibition features turned and carved bowls, platters, demi-lune tables, and furniture accented with intricate designs in marquetry, pyrography, and careful bookmatching of beautiful wood. Locally sourced curly koa, mango, milo, and pheasant wood, along with old-growth fir, western red cedar, mahogany, Norfolk, and Cook pines are among the woods highlighted.
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.