Here at HPA there are so many different countries represented. That’s a pretty amazing experience. I’m very interested in languages, and I can talk to Ricardo about Italian, I can talk to Kate about Hungarian—and I get to learn all about the cultures they come from.”
—Alicia Chow ’17; UC Berkeley
Hawai‘i Island and HPA offer you an uncommon and globally-minded community in which to study world languages. To begin, we are surrounded by a wide variety of languages that can be heard while traversing our beautiful campus. Within our own school community, you’ll meet international students from many countries around the world. Hawaiʻi has long been a gathering place of many cultures and languages, making it the perfect place to experiment with a new language or deepen your fluency with a language you’ve already started. We offer courses in Hawaiian, Japanese, and Spanish.
Regardless of which language you choose, you’ll find yourself in a dynamic classroom, where assignments go far beyond memorizing vocabulary words. Instead, the experience of studying a new language will come vividly alive. While learning a language, you’ll also be learning art, geography, history, and culture. By delving into a different culture, you’ll discover a better understanding of your own, as well. Every spring at the Upper School, we celebrate the languages and cultures within our own ‘ohana at HPA through International Day.
International Day
As an annual school tradition, International Day provides a space to honor the students who form such an integral part of the HPA experience. With 24+ different countries represented on campus, students have a unique view into the life of a global citizen.
