Week of 5/3/24
What's Happening at HPA This Week?
Message from the Head of School
Aloha HPA ʻohana,
Each May, communities across Hawaiʻi collectively pause to recognize May Day — a celebration of the colors, flowers, stories, and songs of each of the Hawaiian islands in a beautiful display of traditional symbols and modern pageantry. Our K-5 Lower School community has honored this cherished tradition at HPA with an annual performance that blends their Hawaiian Studies and Music instruction into a wonderful showcase of their aloha for Hawaiʻi.
This year’s May Day celebrates our wahi pana (sacred, special place or heartbeat) of Waimea by highlighting some of the historical and culturally-significant areas and legendary people of our community. Honoring our past through stories, chants, and songs allows us to appreciate and acknowledge our responsibility to perpetuate the legacies that have been passed down to us. This was skillfully captured by our kindergarten through 5th-grade students in their performances today!
I am always so impressed by the dedication our youngest learners commit to learning their respective class numbers and the courage they demonstrate on stage performing in front of an audience of their peers and loved ones. It’s an inspiring showcase of appreciation and aloha for our Hawaiian language and culture that stands apart amongst the many performances our students put on during their tenure at HPA. It’s not uncommon to hear our Upper School students reminiscing at this time of year about what islands they had the opportunity to represent or what role they were selected to play in the Royal Court during their May Day era.
Congratulations to our Lower School students for their pursuit of excellence on stage, and to all the faculty, staff, and parent volunteers who worked tirelessly in preparation behind-the-scenes to make today possible!
Keeping the abundant May Day spirit alive, next Monday, May 6, we will launch HPA’s traditional May Day Challenge, which is dedicated this year to the HPA Fund. We will strive to raise $50,000 over four days of giving, bringing our families, alumni, friends, and others together in this effort! Many of you have given through the Fund this year – mahalo nui! It’s important. As you know, the HPA Fund impacts every aspect of what we do for our students each day. From enhancing our innovative educational programs to supporting our commitment to environmental stewardship, every gift, big or small, makes a significant difference.
Contributions and gratitude are intertwined always, and both have been overflowing across our campuses as we enter our final month of school. Our Seniors are reflecting and sharing their sincere mahalo for their time here, and they are looking out to new horizons. Friendships, passions, lessons, and hopes will go with them as they become alumni and begin a new chapter. Much like the layers and intricacies of May Day flower lei, both strands of gratitude and giving are an interconnected, beautiful and symbiotic gift at HPA.
We are humbled to work together to ensure that HPA continues to be a place where students are empowered to lead and leave a legacy in tomorrow’s world. Thank you for being part of this Ka Makani experience.
With sincere mahalo and a happy May Day season,
Gratefully,
Fred Wawner
Head of School
School Bulletins for the Week of 5/3/24
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,
Thank you for your support of our keiki! Our Lower Schoolers gathered today to share their May Day hōʻike with you, featuring special stories of our island home. Truly a community event, we could not have pulled it off without all of the love and support of the adults around us – our families, our teachers, our staff, and administration. This year was especially beautiful thanks to our ʻOhana Association as many of us gathered at the Village Campus on Lei Day (May 1) to craft beautiful lei that our children wore proudly on the stage. Every year, families help support our students to harvest and make lei, and every year is special in its own unique way. One could almost see the positive energy and love emanating from each child’s lei, as well as in the stage decor, so lovingly gathered by our ʻohana from our ʻāina. (We are proud to repurpose all the stage foliage at this weekend’s 8th-grade dinner and dance!) For those of you who may have missed our hō’ike or just want to experience it all over again, here is the link to their beautiful performance that can be shared with your loved ones. Mahalo for your aloha, collaboration, and support!
Although we are still catching our breath from May Day, it is the season of culminating events and Mrs. Alexa Hustace, K-5 Art Teacher, is thrilled to announce our K-5 Wā Pilina Artists’ Exhibitiion. Let’s celebrate a year of art-making at our wā pilina artist receptions! On Monday, May 13, your child will showcase a favorite artwork and connect with fellow artists at Isaacs Art Center. Please take note of the different reception times for each grade level on the flyer below. They are paired together in their Wā Pilina partnerships, an opportunity to connect across grade levels, mentor, and learn from one another. Whether younger or older, our students connect together in the spirit of pilina and haʻina. If you are unable to attend on May 13, the exhibition will run from May 6 to 17, so you may also view at your leisure. Isaacs Art Center is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Our K-8 Librarian is also sharing end-of-year news. Please see the most recent newsletter from Ms. Tarnas regarding book-borrowing these final weeks of the academic year, as well as summer reading resources!
As we engage together in these final weeks of school, we want to extend a warm farewell to a few Lower School faculty members who will be pursuing new adventures in the next academic year.
Norbert Larsen has worked as our 5th-grade teacher since the 2022-2023 school year, and also as our 3rd-grade teacher the year prior. Raised in Hilo, Norbert has a true love for the ʻāina and has worked hard to deliver authentic inquiry-based, project-based, and concept-based curriculum to his students. During his time at HPA, he has exhibited his passion for Hawaiian culture and ʻāina-based studies through creative integrated units of studies, with a focus on Mālama Kaiāulu. Kumu Larsen has supported our 5th-grade capstone journeys tremendously — most recently bringing our students to the Hawaiʻi State Fair, where several students placed overall in the competition. A true lifelong learner, Kumu Larsen continues to grow his teaching practice by engaging with other educators and experts in their field to enhance his work with children. As a colleague, Norbert always exhibits great humor and camaraderie and loves to collaborate with others on curriculum design. Please join me in wishing a hui hou to our dear Kumu Larsen as he rejoins his former community at Waiʻalae Public Charter School in Honolulu as a 4th-grade teacher.
Paige Donnelly has been a part of the HPA faculty since 2014. Known for her outgoing personality and direct yet warm teaching style, Paige brought energy and aloha into her work at HPA. As our former Middle School After School Program Director, she carried her prior experience as a middle school teacher into the role, creating and supporting programs to meet the needs of our 6th – 8th graders. Paige worked as a substitute teacher in both the middle and lower schools, and it was when she entered the classrooms of the elementary division, realized her love for “the littles.” Most recently, Paige has been an Educational Assistant in the 5th and 3rd grades. Her students have benefited from her individualized care and attention, and we wish her all the best in her new adventures.
Sal Donnelly has worked in the Lower School as an Educational Assistant for the past four years. Since the 2019-2020 school year, Sal has assisted teachers in various grade levels throughout the division. Most recently, she has worked in the 1st-grade classroom, supporting some of our youngest learners. While early in her career, Sal has expressed a love for connecting with students and an eagerness to learn more about child psychology and counseling. Let us wish Sal an inspiring and fruitful journey ahead!
We are glad to enjoy the final weeks of the school year together. As before, our hiring committees will work hard to confirm dynamic, creative, and dedicated teachers to join our esteemed ranks. As always, mahalo for choosing HPA as the school for your child.
Me ka mahalo nui,
Dora Kwong
Lower School Principal
Schedule
Our K-5 classes continue with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Monday, May 6.
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, May 22: Last day of semester two classes
It’s a very special time of the school year – a time to celebrate our teachers/staff and all they do for our kids. Monday, May 6 – Friday, May 10 is Teacher Appreciation Week.
The HPA ʻOhana Association is organizing a Teacher/Staff Appreciation Party at the Village Campus on Wednesday, May 8, and we need your help to make it extra special!
Please sign up here to donate a lei, small gifts, or contribute food for the staff to enjoy if you are able. Every donation is welcome and appreciated to support our fabulous faculty at the Village Campus.
This is our last ʻOhana Association event of the school year. If you’ve been wanting to participate, now is the time!
Helpful Lower School Contacts & Links
Student Support
- Ms. Rachel Baydo, K-8 School Counselor, rbaydo@hpa.edu
- Mr. Joe Ludes, K-8 Learning Specialist, jludes@hpa.edu
After School Program, K-5
Mrs. Mele DeMille, Director of After School Programs, mdemille@hpa.edu
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, 2023-2024.
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.
Summer at HPA
Ka Makani Keiki Camp
Join us this summer for Ka Makani Keiki Camp! The 1-week sessions begin Monday, June 17, and run through Friday, July 26, 2024.
Middle School
Each week, Middle School Principal Glenn Chickering 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, Glenn Chickering
Aloha Middle School families,
Aloha Middle School families,
It was another exciting week on campus, which got started with a special assembly on Monday with Rachel Miller, who works with the Rozalia Project. Rachel talked about the prevalence and dangers of microplastics in our oceans and water sources. While raising awareness, she also focused on solutions and how we can help reduce the amount of microplastics that enter our water, including the amazing CoraBall, which you can put in your dryer to collect microplastics. You can see her TEDx Talk here: Rachel Miller: We Can Clean the Oceans.
Our Capture the Flag tournament took place throughout the week. This was our last lunchtime sports tournament of the year, and the games were well contested. …….. were poised to meet in the finals as of press time.
Our grade 8 students continue to share their stories with a wider audience. Chiku Raul’s podcast project recently aired on Hawaiʻi PBS’s podcast, The Conversation. On the podcast, Chiku explores the dangers some of Hawaiʻi Island’s native birds are facing while interviewing people who are working on helping to protect them.
This Saturday, May 4, promises to be a night to remember for 8th Grade students, as we will host the 8th Grade Dinner and Dance at Anna Ranch from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. The dress for this event is semi-formal, Black and White. Italian food, appetizers, and desserts will be catered, with a big mahlo going to the ʻOhana Association for their support of this event.
Next week, we’ll turn our attention toward our Performing Arts Showcase, which will take place on Friday, May 10, at Gates Performing Arts Center. Showtime starts at 2:00 pm and will end by 3:10 pm. All are welcome to attend. There will be a number of performances, including our Grade 6 performing arts students’ World Cultures and Musi unit and a number of original skits. The Musical Theater students will perform The Prom. Our ʻukelele ensemble playing some of their favorites, including a special collaboration with the Spanish class.
Please note that pick-up for all Middle School students on Friday, May 10, will be at Gates Performing Arts Center. There will be a bus to take students who are involved in the After School program back to the Village Campus.
As we begin to wind down the year, Ms. Tarnas would like to share some Lynn Taylor Library News. This week will be the last week of book checkouts, so we are putting out an all points bulletin for library books. We have quite a few still checked out, so please take a look around your house to see if there may be any library books to return.
Mahalo,
Glenn Chickering
Middle School Principal
Schedule
Our Middle School 2023-2024 Daily Schedule continues with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Monday, May 6.
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
• Saturday, May 4, from 6:00 to 9:00 pm: Grade 8 Dinner and Dance, Anna Ranch Heritage Center
• Friday, May 10 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm: Middle School Performing Arts Showcase, Gates Performing Arts Center
• Wednesday, May 22: Last day of semester two classes
• Wednesday, May 22: 8th Grade Transition Ceremony
It’s a very special time of the school year – a time to celebrate our teachers/staff and all they do for our kids. Monday, May 6 – Friday, May 10 is Teacher Appreciation Week.
The HPA ʻOhana Association is organizing a Teacher/Staff Appreciation Party at the Village Campus on Wednesday, May 8, and we need your help to make it extra special!
Please sign up here to donate a lei, small gifts, or contribute food for the staff to enjoy if you are able. Every donation is welcome and appreciated to support our fabulous faculty at the Village Campus.
This is our last ʻOhana Association event of the school year. If you’ve been wanting to participate, now is the time!
Helpful Middle School Contacts & Links
Student Support
- Ms. Rachel Baydo, K-8 School Counselor, rbaydo@hpa.edu
- Mr. Joe Ludes, K-8 Learning Specialist, jludes@hpa.edu
After School Program, Grades 6-8
Mrs. Mele DeMille, Director of After School Programs, mdemille@hpa.edu
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, 2022-2023’.
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.
Summer at HPA
Summer Academies
Do you have a passion you want to pursue? Check out our specialized four-week Academies. These full-day Academies are designed for day and boarding middle/high school students, ages 11 to 17, to focus on an area of passion while working with experts in the field.
We are offering the following academies:
• Young Authors Academy
• Arts Academy
• Sustainability Academy
• Marine Explorations Academy
• English Language Learners Academy
Upper School
From the desk of your Poʻo Kumu (Division Principal), Kaʻai Spencer
Aloha e nā maka o ka ʻupena a ka makani!
This Monday, we gathered in Davies Memorial Chapel for our Senior Gratitude Assembly, led by our incoming Student Body President and Vice President. It was a heartfelt tribute to our departing senior class, with faculty and students sharing memories, gratitude, and advice.
As we reflect on this assembly, it’s essential to acknowledge the fears and uncertainties that may accompany transitions, especially in the midst of turbulence in the world. Yet, in these moments, embracing change, staying connected, and prioritizing self-care becomes even more critical.
To our graduating seniors, as you prepare for college and beyond, remember to embrace the opportunities for growth and learning that lie ahead. Take initiative in pursuing your passions, seek out diverse perspectives, and prioritize your well-being amidst the challenges you may face.
Above all, remember that you are not alone. Lean on the support of your HPA community and draw strength from the bonds you’ve formed here. Together, we will navigate these transitions with resilience and grace.
Wishing you all a week filled with reflection, gratitude, and optimism for the future.
Ke aloha nō,
Kaʻai Spencer
Upper School Poʻo Kumu
Schedule
Our Upper School 2023-2024 Daily Schedule will resume as an ʻUla day with in-person instruction on our Upper Campus on Monday, May 6.
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, May 13: Upper School Awards Ceremony, Gates Performing Arts Center
• Monday, May 6 to Friday, May 17: Upper School AP Exams
• Sunday, May 19: ʻAha Hoʻokuʻu Senior Sunset Cultural Ceremony, Kalaemanō, Kaʻulupūlulehu
• Wednesday, May 22: Last day of semester two classes
• Thursday, May 23: Baccalaureate Services and Senior Awards and Slideshow
• Friday, May 24: 73rd Annual Commencement Exercises
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.
Class of 2024 – Seniors and Families
Mahalo to those of you who were able to join us on Zoom on December 7, for our Commencement and End-of-Year Celebrations informational meeting. For those of you who missed it, here is a recording of all the information that was shared. Please also be sure to visit the “Upper School End-of-Year Events” Resource Board on myHPA, which will be updated over the next several months with new details.
We are thrilled to celebrate all of the achievements of the Class of 2024, including their culminating event — the 73rd Annual Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 24, 2024, at 10:00 am in Castle Gymnasium. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at graduation@hpa.edu.
Residential Life
As the school year nears completion, we are going through many “lasts” in our schedule- this past Monday evening, students gathered in their last Hall Meeting of the year to celebrate and affirm the many memories they have made as a group this year. This coming Sunday, May 5, we will conclude our annual Dorm Wars competition with many games, music, and a BBQ dinner served right at the dorms. This coming Monday, May 6, we will host our final Formal Dinner for the year, which will include a special A Hui Hou for the seniors and a menu prepared by our dining hall team of recipes straight from their homes! Each of these gatherings and traditions is an integral part of our program, and knowing that we are gathering in these ways for the last time this school year makes them particularly special.
However, we are also trying out new traditions at the same time! Today, we are delighted to host Manuela Malasadas on campus on Friday afternoon. If everything goes well, it could be the start of a new tradition for the years ahead, and we hope that students are excited for the opportunity to cap off the week with access to a special treat that they can purchase for themselves to end the week!
Student Life
AP attendance on test days:
- Morning exams: Students must attend afternoon classes, assuming there is still instruction/review that is beneficial for upcoming final exams.
- Afternoon exams: Students may skip morning classes to further prepare for an afternoon AP exam. Parents/guardians must email attendance@hpa.edu to excuse students from morning classes.
After the final AP test day:
- Seniors: If the senior is passing conduct, and a parent has signed the senior privilege form, they may be excused from attending further AP classes after completing the AP exam.
- Freshmen – Juniors: Students must continue to attend classes through Thursday, May 16. Teachers are not required to conduct further assessments and may use the time to cover topics that are difficult to include in an AP curriculum.
Student Council Elections
With the voting of the Class of 2026 Class Reps and the Executive Dorm Representative last week, we now have the Student Council for the 2024-2025 academic year—and what an amazing and diverse team of student leaders:
Executive Student Council
Lily Hodges – President
Zane Van Natta – Vice President
Ella Forrest – Secretary
Matty Inaba – Treasurer
Holden Lahey – Exec. Dorm Rep
Class Representatives
Class of 2025
Margot Lewis
Mya Pinkert
Wynter Radey-Morgan
Class of 2026
Charlie Chen
Nina Cipriano
Pemma Norbu
Class of 2027
Jasmine Larson
Robert McIntosh
Liliana Negulescu
Class of 2028
In October 2024, we will elect three Class Representatives for the Class of 2028. Until then, please join me in congratulating the 2024-2025 Student Council.
Mahalo for all the student participation in our elections!
Hoʻonanea, HPA Upper School Spring Arts Showcase
HPA’s Upper School Art Department is proud to present Hoʻonanea, our Spring Arts showcase, on Thursday, May 16! This day-long celebration of art begins with an Open Studio Exhibition in the Gerry Clark Art Center showcasing works from Ceramics, Drawing, Mixed Media, Painting, and Photography. Please join us at the morning reception, where refreshments will be served from 8:00 to 9:00 am! Then, join us in the Davies Memorial Chapel at 11:45 am for a lunchtime open rehearsal of works presented by the Instrumental Ensemble. In the afternoon, a performing arts showcase will be held at Gates Performing Arts Center at 4:00 pm, featuring works from Acting Through Song, Comedy 101, Instrumental Ensemble, and Musicianship. Hoʻonanea encompasses everything art does for humanity and means to enjoy, satisfy, entertain, absorb, pleasure, and be content. We hope you can attend, enjoy HPA student art, and hoʻonanea pū mai me mākou!
Ka Makani Travel
We are happy to confirm the following travel opportunities for the 2024-2025 school year!
- Spring Break 2025 – Japan: Land of the Rising Sun with EF Tours $6159
- Spring Break 2025 – The Alps and the Mediterranean Coast with EF Tours $5339
- Spring Break 2025 – Heights of Peru with EF Tours $5409
The prices reflect an EF Tours early booking discount of $200. The offer expires on Friday, May 31, 2024. EF’s Global Citizen Scholarship Fund offers $1000 scholarships on a quarterly basis.
We plan to offer a Thanksgiving Break trip to New York City and/or Washington, D.C. Details will be available when school resumes in August. Please contact Ka Makani Travel Coordinator Adrienne White (awhite@hpa.edu) for information on registration and eligibility.
Ka Makani Athletics
Here’s the spring athletics schedule and weekly schedule for our spring sports season. GO KA MAKANI! You can also access the athletics schedule on the myHPA calendar.
College Counseling
AP Testing
AP tests are kicking off on Monday, May 6. We wish all the best to our many AP students. For details on AP exam regulations, dates, and times, please reference this email sent out on Wednesday, May 1, from the HPA Academic Office. Contact us at testing@hpa.edu with any questions.
SAVE THE DATE: College Shirt Photo Day on May 22
The annual college shirt photo will take place on Wednesday, May 22, in the gym immediately after graduation practice. Seniors who wish to participate in the photo should plan to wear their college logo shirt or sweatshirt that day. Shipping can take a while, so don’t delay if you still need to order your college logo gear!
College Resources for Senior Families
A heartfelt congratulations to our seniors on completing their Capstone projects! It was inspiring to see the breadth and depth of topics that our Class of 2024 Ka Makani tackled, and the professionalism and passion with which they presented their final projects.
The month of May brings many significant milestones for our seniors, including deciding which college to attend. We know it can be a lot to navigate for students and parents alike. We are here to help, whether by talking through college options, offering support and guidance, or helping to interpret financial aid packages. Please reach out to us at college@hpa.edu if you need us.
For your reference, we are including two articles that we hope you will find useful.
Helping Your Teen Make a College Decision
College Rejection: How to Take the Sting Out of Difficult News
We also recommend Karen Coburn’s Letting Go: A Parents’ Guide to Understanding the College Years as an excellent parent resource for processing the transition to college.
We look forward to our continued work with you!
Which College Should I Choose?
If your student has received acceptance letters from multiple colleges, the next step will be deciding which college is the best fit. Don’t worry about choosing that one “perfect” college — there’s no such thing. We have lots of tools for helping students decide where to attend, so please reach out to us. We’re happy to help. For more details, you can also reference this email sent earlier this week.
College Financial Aid
College affordability is a major part of the picture for many HPA families. If this is the case for you, you are not alone. Please talk with your family about which college option(s) work best for you financially. The College Board has a good resource for helping families compare financial aid awards.
We realize this year is uniquely challenging owing to delays with the FAFSA. Many colleges and universities are offering deposit deadline extensions, so please check the websites of your individual colleges. If you have any questions about financial aid or how to interpret or compare financial aid awards, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
I’ve Chosen my College! Now What?
Once your student has decided which college to attend, follow the instructions for depositing and enrolling by the applicable deadline. After your student has committed to their college of choice, it’s a nice courtesy to send a simple decline email to the other colleges that accepted you. This allows them to free up that spot for other deserving students. The email can be sent to the generic email address for each college’s admissions office or to a specific person in that office if you worked directly with an admissions counselor.
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, 2023-2024’.
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.
Summer at HPA
Summer Academies
Do you have a passion you want to pursue? Check out our specialized four-week Academies. These full-day Academies are designed for day and boarding middle/high school students, ages 11 to 17, to focus on an area of passion while working with experts in the field.
We are offering the following academies:
• Young Authors Academy
• Arts Academy
• Sustainability Academy
• Marine Explorations Academy
• English Language Learners Academy
All-School
Need to know information for our entire Ka Makani ʻohana.
Summer at HPA
Join us for Summer at HPA! Students come from Hawai‘i Island and around the world to expand their academic potential and discover learning adventures within our extraordinary ecosystems, landscapes, and culture.
Our Ka Makani Keiki Camp (ages 5-10) offers arts, sports, hiking, and enrichment to fill the summer days on campus and around our island. Summer Academies (ages 11-17) are specialized four-week academies designed for day and boarding middle and high school students. Academies offered include Young Authors, Arts, Sustainability, and Marine Explorations. Enrichment Camps will also be available in June and July, focusing on specific topics like baseball, basketball, swimming, and more!
Admissions
With the majority of HPA enrollment season coming to a close and classes filled with new and returning students, we thank you for your partnership. In the event you have any friends or family interested in HPA for the 2024-25 school year, please contact our office as we have a few remaining spaces in our DAY program in select grades in K-12 as well as open spaces in our boarding program. We can work personally with applicants to assist them in the process.
Health & Wellness
We are seeing an increase in illness amongst our student body. Please keep your keiki home if they are sick. We understand there is a push to be present in classes at the end of the year, but health should always come first. A rested body does better at school than an unrested one!
Kapiʻolani Medical Center’s Sex Abuse Treatment Center Web Chat: 24 Hour Hotline: (808) 524-7273
Hawaiʻi Cares: Free support service for help with crisis, mental health, and substance use. Call, text or chat: 988
Ulumau & Ulu Mālama Gardens of HPA
Join us in the garden! We have planned several upcoming community workdays to learn and grow together. All are welcome, please use this link to sign up or email wquayle@hpa.edu or lprutow@hpa.edu with any questions.
ʻOhana Association
Lower and Middle School Teacher Appreciation Week: Monday, May 6 – Friday, May 10
It’s a very special time of the school year – a time to celebrate our teachers/staff and all they do for our kids. Monday, May 6 – Friday, May 10 is Teacher Appreciation Week.
The HPA ʻOhana Association is organizing a Teacher/Staff Appreciation Party at the Village Campus on Wednesday, May 8, and we need your help to make it extra special!
Please sign up here to donate a lei, small gifts, or contribute food for the staff to enjoy if you are able. Every donation is welcome and appreciated to support our fabulous faculty at the Village Campus.
This is our last ʻOhana Association event of the school year. If you’ve been wanting to participate, now is the time!\
Wā Pilina ʻohana series
We invite you and your family to join us on Saturday, May 11, for a work day at Ulu Mau Puanui, an ahupuaʻa which is part of the Kohala field system. Ulu Mau Puanui hosts groups in support of their mission to perpetuate Hawaiʻi’s culture through land-based education and culturally-driven science.
This event is part of HPA ʻOhana Association’s Wā Pilina ‘Ohana Series, a thoughtfully curated series of gatherings for HPA families who want a deeper understanding of place and connection to culture. These events have all been popular and fun!
Before the event:
- Sign up here to participate. All ages are welcome.
- Complete the attached waivers for Kamehameha Schools (land owner), Parker Ranch (leases from Kamehameha Schools), and Ulu Mau Puanui. These will be emailed to you after you sign up.
Schedule for Saturday, May 11:
• 8:20 am: Meet at Ulu Mau Puanui off Kohala Mountain Road, approximately 20 minutes from Waimea.
• 8:30 am: Greetings and introductions; hike; brief talk about the Kohala; Q&A; work in the mala; closing
• 12:30 pm: Visit ends
If you would like to join us, please sign up here. No previous experience is necessary! We recommend that you wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a water bottle.
If you have any questions, please email ohana@hpa.edu. Otherwise, your contact on Saturday, May 11, will be Kolby Moser at 808-394-7989.
Mahalo and aloha,
HPA ʻOhana Association
Isaacs Art Center
Isaacs Art Center is free and open to the public, Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, and on Saturdays by appointment. 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 student’s family member 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 a 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.