Week of 9/5/25

What's Happening at HPA This Week?

Message from the Head of School

Aloha HPA ʻohana,

Say cheese!

Yes, we’re back at it. Post Labor Day for me means that fall is officially here, even though school has been underway for long enough to appreciate the Monday off. The rhythm of school is familiar now: school pictures (with varying degrees of hair cooperation and newly missing teeth), open houses, athletic competitions, camping trips, school dances — all the joyful chaos that means the year is truly underway. It’s that special HPA blend of muddy slippers, early alarms, big smiles and a small meltdown or two every now and then. Every day brings new opportunities for our students to grow, connect, laugh, stumble, get back up, and support each other — and honestly, we adults aren’t far behind…

I had an amazing moment of clarity at picture day this year. One that has never happened and one I will never forget. First of all, let me just say that our youngest Ka Makani could compete for best dressed humans on picture day. The hair gel, big bows, the popped aloha shirt collars, the puffy sleeves, floral prints, headbands, braids, a range of pearly whites beaming with school pride, and even a sport coat for the strictly business approach. It’s exceptional! Honestly, I wish we grown-ups expressed ourselves with the same flair — and yes, I absolutely include myself in that wish. Don’t touch the pleated khaki pants!

What struck me most, though, is how these snapshots capture more than just outfits and smiles. Each picture freezes a moment in time, but together they tell the story of a whole journey—wide-eyed kindergarteners finding their footing, middle schoolers discovering their voice, and high school students stepping into leadership and preparing to launch into the world. Strung together, these portraits reveal not just growth in height or style, but the unfolding of confidence, curiosity, resilience, and joy. They are a reminder that every stage, from those first tentative days to the walk across the graduation stage, is part of the larger story of becoming Ka Makani.

These connections, this growth, the journey, is something I reflect upon often—during quiet moments walking on campus or cooking dinner with my family. How each of us plays a part in the whole, picking up the slack when someone else needs a hand, offering a shoulder to lean on. It is the same spirit that sustains HPA today: none of us carries the work alone, and all of us together make the difference.

That kid I dropped off at college last week is rock solid proof that when we all contribute, however we can, we make the magic at HPA possible for every student. I want to pause to say thank you for reading these weekly notes. It gives me great joy to share ideas and stories in this space.

There are a few times a year that I will share about giving opportunities, why I give and why it matters for our programs at HPA. Many of you received my email on Wednesday about the HPA Fund and its impact. Apparently, if you have a Gmail account, it looked like spam, and not the tasty kind! We are feverishly working on that, and you will know more soon.

Each year, September marks the beginning of our HPA Fund effort and we are called to support aspects and elements of the school we love and value. I believe in this work and this call. I know first-hand how essential it is to making the HPA experience possible every day, across every division. Supporting the HPA Fund is one of the most powerful ways we manifest our connection to this place and to one another.

So whether you’ve been meaning to give, didn’t realize it mattered, or just needed a reminder, please consider this your polite nudge. Participation of any level is extremely valuable. Our collective effort is what turns a school into a community — just like picture day, where one snapshot is meaningful on its own, but when strung together, they reveal something about the full journey. Thank you for showing up in all the ways you do — from early morning drop-offs to late-night homework pep talks – your generous hearts keep this place humming. We truly couldn’t do it without you and I am grateful to be part of it.

Have a picture-perfect weekend,

Fred Wawner
Head of School

School Bulletins for the Week of 9/5/25

Lower School

Each week, K–5 families receive updates highlighting joyful moments, meaningful lessons, and a glimpse into what students and parents can look forward to in the weeks ahead.

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This week's news & notes

Aloha Lower School ‘Ohana!

The past few weeks have been full of joyful learning and collaboration here at the Village Campus. Our students continue to dive deeply into project-based learning, building the habits of curiosity, critical thinking, and creativity that are central to our school mission. As always, our core values — Respect, Integrity, Pursuit of Excellence, and Wonder — shine through in the ways children work together, support one another, and grow in confidence. Through the lens of Mālama Kaiāulu, we see them strengthening their sense of connection and responsibility to our community and place.

In the upcoming weeks, our Lower School Student Council elections will take place in each class from 1st grade through 5th grade (kindergarteners learn about the council this year in preparation for next school year). All students have received a hard copy of the application and may choose to participate in their class elections. Our newly elected leaders (two representatives from each class) will then hold their first meeting of the trimester on Tuesday, September 16.

This leadership team supports our community in many ways, embodying our core values and Mālama Kaiāulu. Their work is an important part of learning how to be involved, take ownership, and grow as leaders in the Lower School. Our entire student body also learns to share their ideas and opinions with their elected leaders as an integral component of the community. Leadership development in the Lower School is about more than holding a title — it’s about learning how to participate in the democratic process, share ideas, solve problems, and have your voice heard.

Through Student Council, our keiki practice responsibility, collaboration, and service to others. Many of our favorite traditions, from Rainbow Day to campus cleanups, fundraisers, and Spirit Week themes, have grown directly from the creativity and initiative of our student leaders and their classmates.

Mahalo to our many student leaders (and the adults supporting them!) throughout the years for their pursuit of excellence, wonder, integrity, and respect for our entire HPA community!

A few notes as we look ahead:

• Football Fundraiser (September 17): A portion of sales at Uila Records and Pau Pizza will directly support HPA’s football team. Mahalo for showing your spirit and patronizing these local businesses on September 17.

• Lower School Swim Unit: Beginning next Monday, during each class’s regularly scheduled PE time, all LS students will start their first swim unit of the year. Please see Coach T’s note for details on what to bring, and mark your calendars for our annual Keiki Triathlon on Sunday, September 28, at the Upper Campus.

• Park for Coffee: We invite all families to join us in Ulumau Garden on Monday, September 8, from 7:45 –8:30 am for our first Ohana Association Park for Coffee gathering of the year. It’s a simple way to connect with other families and enjoy time together at the start of the week.

Mahalo for the many ways you nurture and celebrate learning alongside us. It is a privilege to walk with your children as they grow. As always, thank you for choosing HPA as the school for your child. Have a wonderful weekend!

Me ka mahalo nui,

Dora Kwong
Lower School Principal

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4.9.26 Lower School with UC Capstone_Dylan Vincent_Gyotaku Painting Demo

Schedule

Our K-5 classes continue with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Monday, September 8.

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, September 8: Park for Coffee, Village Campus Garden Classroom, all parents welcome, 7:45 – 8:30 am

• Friday, September 12: Village Campus Flu Clinic 3 – 5 pm

• Wednesday, September 17 to Thursday, September 18: Scholastic Book Fair

• Friday, September 19: Faculty Work Day, all divisions, no classes K-8

• Wednesday, September 24: ʻOhana Day: Experience HPA

• Wednesday, October 15: 3rd-5th Grade Musical Performance, GPAC

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, 2025-2026.

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, 6–8 families receive updates reflecting on recent activities and accomplishments, along with a preview of what students and parents can look forward to in the coming days.

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This week's news & notes

Aloha Middle School Families,

It has been an incredible and productive first month back at the HPA Middle School. Our theme for the year, ‘Aʻohe hana nui ke alu ‘ia, translated as “no task is too big when done together by all” or “many hands make light work,” has already come alive in our classrooms, retreats, and most recently during our Capstone Exploration Huakaʻi.

Our teachers have committed to strengthening collaboration through professional learning communities and increasing the use of cooperative structures in daily instruction. From the very start, they have designed lessons that draw on the knowledge, creativity, and passion of our students. The Capstone Exploration Huakaʻi is one such example. With notebooks and guiding questions in hand, our 8th graders traveled across the island, examining ecosystems and the impact of birds and mosquitoes, learning from artists at Donkey Mill in Holualoa, studying coastal resources at Kaloko and the salt farm, and connecting with community partners at Keck Observatory and Tūtū’s House. These experiences are helping our students shape their Capstone projects and identify community needs they can address.

Our 7th graders took a different kind of journey by exploring identity and self-expression. They created well-scripted and practiced “about me” videos, an important milestone in their middle school experience and a reflection of our core values in action.

Today in assembly, Mr. Greg McKenna, Director of Sustainable Operations, engaged our Student Council and student body in updated aspects of our Mālama Kaiāulu Sustainability framework, with a focus on improved recycling practices on our campus. This framework, gifted to us by our kūpuna, continues to guide how we design our academic lens and the projects that connect us to our island home.

Looking ahead, please mark your calendars for our ‘Ohana Day: Experience HPA on Wednesday, September 24, beginning at 2:15 pm in Hale ‘Īnana. This event offers families the chance to visit classrooms, meet teachers, and celebrate the beginning of our school year together. Soon after, our Welcome Back Dance will take place on Friday, September 26, with the theme being finalized by our Student Council.

Thank you for your partnership and support. I look forward to all that we will continue to build together in the weeks ahead. Have a wonderful weekend.

Michael Cservenak
Middle School Principal

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