Week of 5/9/25
What's Happening at HPA This Week?
Message from the Head of School
Aloha HPA ʻohana,
Heroes, Heroes, Heroes.
This week in May honors our truest heroes. Our teachers, our nurses, and our mothers.
Oxford Languages defines selfless as concerned more with the needs and wishes of others than with one’s own. Our heroes run toward the problem, looking to solve it. When examining the roles of teachers, nurses, and mothers — the selfless qualities that go into each of these critical areas of work and life are so similar and interwoven.
I think about our great teachers, who spend time working directly with our students. In so many ways the time they spend thinking about, caring for, and seeking connection with our students to stretch and grow their intellectual limits is similar to parenting. Each student, each mind, each way of being is a little different. It requires a teacher to balance the consistency of delivering a concept while ensuring the information lands and connects with every student. This takes experience, patience, a special amount of care, and a keen eye on others’ needs. Our teachers do this so well. Seeing an individual need while also moving a larger group toward a larger goal is the magic we see here from our teachers. Albert Einstein agreed stating, “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”
We can apply this same lens to the nurses in our lives. Mostly in the background, ready to serve, their impact is always so helpful. Preventative, responsive, and thoughtful to a level that delves into another dimension of care — they monitor our physical and mental well-being with extraordinary compassion and confidence. This career of service is a path for individuals special enough to, without thinking about it, put others first, every time. They possess the power and perspective to immediately identify our circumstances, potential risks, and potential for healing and growth. The brain and the heart are connected in this work in such a way that outcomes are achieved with a well-balanced blend of science and art. Maya Angelou said it best, ”As a nurse, we have the opportunity to heal the heart, mind, soul and body of our patients, their families and ourselves. They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”
And then, our mothers. A word too small for the magnitude of roles they actually fulfill. Our teachers, nurses, protectors, counselors, supporters, and nurturers all rolled into one. Their selflessness is immeasurable. As with our teachers and nurses, there is the time on task, and then the incalculable time spent thinking, worrying, and caring for others. Our mothers see things coming because they have spent the time considering all of the potential pitfalls, speedbumps, and setbacks that come with the growth and development of young people – heck, us adults, too. Pretty sure I still give my mom plenty to worry about! Trying to put words to the devotion a mother has for a child is so challenging — and in many ways from my male perspective, impossible. However, I often witness the special care that mothers provide. While a day in May is the smallest of gestures for the endless gifts mothers provide everyone else, it is still important to call it out on Sunday. THANK YOU! “No language can express the power and beauty and heroism of a mother’s love.” —Edwin Chapin
We are rolling through the “100 days of May”! I hope you get a chance to slow down and enjoy company, dig deep into your connections, and commit to sharing gratitude for one another as these days go by.
Happy Aloha Friday and Happy Mother’s Day!
Gratefully,
Fred Wawner
Head of School
School Bulletins for the Week of 5/9/25
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
Aloha Lower School families!
Last week’s May Day performance was nothing short of magical. It’s truly incredible what we can accomplish when we come together to uplift our students. A huge mahalo to Kumu Kūwalu, Mrs. Mallory Di Bartolo, Uncle Badger, and all our K-5 teachers, whose heart, creativity, and dedication made this event unforgettable. And of course, my heartfelt gratitude to you, our families. Whether you helped with practicing, harvesting, lei-making, stagecrafting, stage breakdown, or cheering on our keiki, your support absolutely made all the difference.
A special shoutout to our ʻOhana Association! This past week, you outdid yourselves with a beautiful art experience, generous gifts, and delicious treats for our K-8 team in honor of Faculty Appreciation. We are so grateful for your kindness, thoughtfulness, and unwavering support.
Today’s Rainbow Day was a shining reminder of the beauty of our diverse community. Our Lower School Student Council led a variety of stations—from creating bottle cap art and edible rainbow bracelets to campus cleanup and kindness rock making. And of course, our annual human rainbow tradition was a joyful, colorful highlight. It was a day full of smiles, connection, and celebration of what makes each of us unique.
As we prepare for the final stretch of the school year, here are a few important updates:
Library Book Returns
Next week, it will be time for students to return all library books to school. Please help your child by gathering any remaining books and bringing them back to the Lynn Taylor Library. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Kristin Tarnas, K-8 Librarian (ktarnas@hpa.edu).
Join Our Robotics Team!
Calling all inquisitive minds! Does your child love to create, build, and meet challenges? We’re excited to invite all interested keiki in grades 4-8 to join our Robotics Team this fall! Check out this flyer and attached form from Ms. Mellon Monello, K-8 EdTech Specialist, for more details.
Summer Opportunities at Kahilu Theater
Check out the exciting summer programs available at Kahilu Theater. These opportunities are a wonderful way for students to stay engaged and explore their interests during the summer months.
Yearbooks Are Out!
Letters were sent home this week with a reminder of our respectful signing expectations. Students will receive their yearbooks on Monday, May 19th, to take home and preview with families before signing. Mahalo to our amazing Yearbook Team, led by Mrs. Mellon Monello, K-8 EdTech Specialist. If you have not purchased a yearbook (or are unsure if you have) and would like to, please reach out to Aunty Lynn in the office directly (lkakugawa@hpa.edu).
Rising 6th Grade Families – Message from Mr. Michael Cservenak, Middle School Principal
Please see the attached letter from our Middle School Principal, which includes important information about upcoming transition events for our rising 6th graders and their families. You will also find a link at the end of his letter with details about purchasing books for summer and the upcoming school year.
The Last Full Week of School
Next week marks our final full week of classes, and in true HPA Lower School fashion, our learning continues without pause. Students are completing projects, publishing writing pieces, sharing computational strategies, and engaging in book talks. Core academic assessments in reading and math are also underway, while our specialist studies come to a close. Please support our learners by reminding them that each day counts, and their pursuit of excellence continues to be essential as we wrap up this incredible year. As a reminder, the last day of classes is Wednesday, May 21, with 2pm dismissal. There is no After School program on this day.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Let’s make this final stretch a wonderful experience for our students!
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
Our K-5 classes continue with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Monday, May 12.
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
• Tuesday, May 13 from 12:30 to 3:00 pm: HPA Garden Community Work Day; Village Campus, Ulu Mau Garden
• Wednesday, May 21: Last day of school, 2:00 pm dismissal; no After School Program
Food Feedback Survey
Please help us by completing this FLIK feedback form about this year’s food service.
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.
Summer at HPA
Ka Makani Keiki Camp
Lock in your summer plans! Open to grades K-5 — limited spots available!
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,
The days are flying by as we move through the final stretch of an incredible school year. HPA truly is a one-of-a-kind place to learn and grow, and our middle school experience calls our students to rise with courage and a deep Pursuit of Excellence. In these final weeks, performances, projects, field trips, and memorable moments await every student. Please read this week’s bulletin carefully for important updates and opportunities.
A huge congratulations to our Performing Arts students on a remarkable showcase! The event featured a beautiful mix of student expression and collaboration:
- A vocal and instrumental performance by the 7th and 8th-grade Spanish language classes, coordinated by Ms. Wilson and Ms. DiBartolo, highlighted the intersection of language and music through Spanish songs that added cultural depth and meaning to the event.
- A separate ʻukulele ensemble, also led by Ms. DiBartolo, performed selections from the Ragtime Era, alongside musical pieces inspired by Queen Liliʻuokalani and Chopin, celebrating historical and musical diversity.
- Ms. Wadlegger’s Drama classes performed their original work, “Keiki O Ka ʻĀina”.
- Themes explored included identity, the diversity of cultures in Hawaiʻi, Hawaiian mythology and values, and stories rooted in places like Hilo, Kona, Waimea, Kohala, Alaska, the Philippines, and Brazil.
It was a rich celebration of voice, place, and creativity. Mahalo to our students and faculty for bringing this to life with such heart and depth!
End-of-Year Activities
Yearbooks will be distributed to students in Advisory on Friday, May 16 and signings will take place during passing, recess and lunch on Monday, May 19 along with an all school signing on Kohala field on Tuesday, May 20th. The yearbook is gorgeous and we are very grateful to Ms. Monello and her student photography team.
Parents were able to purchase yearbooks during registration and student lead conferences. If you did not purchase a yearbook but would like to, please email lkakugawa@hpa.edu .
8th-grade Transition Events
- Monday, May 19: 8th Grade Hula Practice and Hapuna Beach trip
- Tuesday, May 20: 8th Grade Transition Practice @ GPAC
- Wednesday, May 21: Transition Ceremony @ GPAC (All Middle School students attend, pick up at GPAC @ 11:30 a.m.)
6th & 7th Grade “All Classes Day” – Monday, May 19
6th & 7th Grade Retreats – Tuesday, May 20
Please check your email for retreat details from your child’s advisor.
Textbook Return and Digital Access
All physical textbooks, including English novels, will be distributed or returned during intake conferences. Digital textbooks will be available at hpa.ecampus.com. If you are working ahead on supply lists for next year, that site will be your go-to source for digital materials.
Mahalo to Our ʻOhana Association!
A huge thank you to our ʻOhana Association for the thoughtful craft and art experience they created for Faculty Appreciation Week. Our teachers were treated to some well-deserved relaxation and creative joy—true art therapy during a busy season!
Upcoming Opportunities & Reminders
First Lego League – Fall Registration Opening Soon
Get ready! Registration for Fall First Lego League sessions is just around the corner. Please see the flyer for details.
Summer at HPA – Academies & Enrichment Programs
Spots are still available for HPA’s Summer Programming! From academic enrichment to creative exploration, our Summer Academies offer an engaging way for students to continue learning and growing during the break. Check out the lineup on our website.
These final weeks are packed with meaningful experiences for our students — let’s finish strong together!
Aloha always,
Michael Cservenak
Middle School Principal
Calling all budding designers! A free 4-H Fashion Camp will be held from June 2 to 6, 2025, at Honoka‘a High School for students ages 12-17. In this one-week 4-H fashion camp, students will learn about the business of fashion design and practice basic sewing skills to create clothing. This program will teach how to use a sewing machine and introduce topics like styling, fabric & fibers, branding, and entrepreneurship with guest speakers from the community and UH Mānoa’s Fashion Design and Merchandising Program.
Students can register for the camp at https://go.hawaii.edu/8kQ or scan the QR code on the flyer. For more information, please contact hamptonm@hawaii.edu.
The camp is free to attend, but participants need to bring their own lunch.
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
Our Middle School 2024-2025 Daily Schedule continues with in-person instruction on our Village Campus on Monday, May 12.
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
• Tuesday, May 13 from 12:30 to 3:00 pm: HPA Garden Community Work Day; Village Campus, Ulu Mau Garden
• Thursday, May 15, and Friday, May 16: Hoʻonanea Spring Arts Showcase; Upper Campus
• Wednesday, May 21: 8th-grade Transition Ceremony & the last day of classes
Food Feedback Survey
Please help us by completing this FLIK feedback form about this year’s food service.
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.
Summer at HPA
Summer Academies at HPA
Do you have a passion you want to pursue this summer? Our specialized four-week academies are designed for day and boarding middle and high school students.
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,
We are entering our final two weeks of school, and the excitement among our seniors is gathering steam. There’s still a great deal of work to be done as we enter the second week of AP exams and finish with our final exams and projects.
We hope you are having a great second semester. Graduation is only a few weeks away, and to help plan for the remainder of the school year, we would like to provide you with some upcoming key dates and events.
Upper School Awards Ceremony
Monday, May 12, 2025
The Upper School Awards Ceremony is an annual end-of-year event to celebrate our student body’s academic and athletic achievements and recognize those who contribute to our school through sound character, community service, and embodying our Core Values. The Ceremony will be held on Monday, May 12, at 3:15 p.m. at the Gates Performing Arts Center (GPAC). Parking is available near the theater for invited guests. The gate arms near the student parking lot will be open at 2:30 pm. Attendance is mandatory for all students, and aloha attire is required.
AP Exams: May 12 – 16, 2025
AP attendance on test days:
- Morning AP Exams: Students must attend afternoon classes, assuming there is still instruction/review that is beneficial for upcoming final exams.
- Afternoon AP 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.
- Sophomores & Juniors: Students must continue to attend AP classes through Thursday, May 15. 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.
Final Exams Review Day – Thursday, May 15, 2025
This will be a review day for all classes with the following schedule:
| 8:30 to 9:10 am | Block A |
| 9:20 to 10:00 am | Block B |
| 10:10 to 10:50 am | Block C |
| 11:00 to 11:40 am | Block D |
| 11:45 am to 12:35 pm | Lunch |
| 12:40 to 1:20 pm | Block E |
| 1:30 to 2:10 pm | Block F |
| 2:20 to 3:00 pm | Block G |
Final Exams
Friday, May 16 – Wednesday, May 21, 2025
The exam schedule is listed below:
Friday, May 16
| 8:30 to 10:30 am | Exam G |
| 11:00 am to 12:25 pm | Lunch |
| 12:30 to 2:30 pm | Exam F |
Monday, May 19
| 8:30 to 10:30 am | Exam D |
| 11:00 to 12:25 pm | Lunch |
| 12:30 to 2:30 pm | Exam C |
Tuesday, May 20
| 8:30 to 10:30 am | Exam B |
| 11:00 am to 12:25 pm | Lunch |
| 12:30 to 2:30 pm | Exam A |
Wednesday, May 21
| 8:30 to 10:30 am | Exam E |
| 11:00 am to 12:25 pm | Lunch |
| 12:30 to 2:30 pm | Conflict Exams |
Hoʻonanea Spring Arts Showcase
Thursday, May 15 & Friday, May 16
HPA’s Upper School Art Department proudly presents Hoʻonanea: Our Spring Arts Showcase! Join us for this joyful two-day celebration of the arts on Thursday, May 15, and Friday, May 16, 2025.
The festivities begin Thursday, May 15, with an Open Studio Exhibition at the Gerry Clark Art Center, featuring student work in Drawing, Collage, Painting, Sculpture, and Photography. Don’t miss the morning reception with refreshments from 8:00 to 9:00 am! On Thursday afternoon, head over to the Gates Performing Arts Center at 4:00 pm for a dynamic Performing Arts Showcase, highlighting performances from Acting, Arts Fundamentals – Performing Arts, Comedy 101, Instrumental Ensemble, and Musicianship. Then on Friday, we close the celebration with our 6–12th Grade Music Concert at 5:00 pm in the Davies Chapel.
Hoʻonanea means to enjoy, to delight, to be pleased, and to be at ease — all the things that art brings to our lives. We hope you’ll join us to enjoy the incredible creativity of our students and hoʻonanea pū mai me mākou — come relax and celebrate with us!
Lockers
All Lockers must be cleaned out by Tuesday, May 20, 4:00 pm, with locks returned to the Academic Office located in the Science building between classrooms 41 and 42. All items left in lockers after May 21 will be donated to charity. Students who do not return their locks to the Academic Office will be charged $15.00.
End-of-Year Student Commitments
It is HPA’s tradition to have our younger Upper School students assist with our graduation celebrations after classes have ended.
All students are required to participate in the end-of-year student commitments. Class Deans and Leaders are in charge of the events. If travel has already been booked or students have an appointment, please contact your child’s Class Dean (below) and the Attendance Office at attendance@hpa.edu.
- Freshmen Dean, Class of 2028, Crystal Sebastian, csebastian@hpa.edu
- Sophomore Dean, Class of 2027, Robyn Brewer, rbrewer@hpa.edu
- Junior Dean, Class of 2026, Cindy Montgomery, cmontgomery@hpa.edu
Students excused from end-of-year student commitments will be assigned responsibilities for the 2025-2026 class retreats.
Freshmen
Wednesday, May 21: Campus Beautification
The freshmen class is vital in beautifying the HPA campus in preparation for visitors and families coming for Commencement. Freshmen report to Castle Lecture Hall at Noon on May 21 to gather into advisor groups. Each advisory group will clean a specific campus area in preparation for welcoming guests to celebrate the Baccalaureate and Commencement.
Students excused from end-of-year commitments can arrange to do campus clean-up before departing. Students should let their advisor, class leader, and Mrs. Sebastian know, and alternative work will be assigned.
9th-grade day students can be picked up from the Tennis Center parking lot after 2:30 p.m. This is the final requirement for our freshmen this academic year.
Sophomores
Assisting with the Baccalaureate Celebration Brunch on Thursday, May 22
The sophomore class will serve the Baccalaureate Celebration Brunch to seniors and their families on Thursday and help clean up afterward. Sophomores will be assigned shifts for one of these two service activities. Students who sign up to help with the Baccalaureate Celebration Brunch must wear long pants (navy or black preferred), their HPA Olympics class t-shirts, and closed-toe shoes.
10th-grade day students can be picked up after 2:00 pm from the Tennis Center parking lot.
Juniors
Decorating Castle Gymnasium for Commencement on Thursday, May 22
Who better to prepare the gym for the graduation event than our new school leaders? Therefore, the junior class will take on the yearly tradition of decorating Castle Gymnasium for Commencement. There will be TWO shifts for Juniors, and students will be assigned to one of the two shifts.
Mahalo,
Mark Noetzel
Assistant Head of School for Upper School
The Waimea Athletics College Scholarship 2025 application is now live!
Seniors who were born and raised in Waimea on Hawai‘i Island, have participated in four years of high school sports, and have played at least two years of middle school community sports are eligible to apply.
Eligible seniors must currently attend Honoka‘a High School, Kanu o Ka ‘Āina, Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy, Parker School, or Kamehameha Schools – Hawai‘i. We are proud to offer three scholarships of $1,000 each.
The application deadline (including all supporting documents) is May 11, 2025.
Calling all budding designers! A free 4-H Fashion Camp will be held from June 2 to 6, 2025, at Honoka‘a High School for students ages 12-17. In this one-week 4-H fashion camp, students will learn about the business of fashion design and practice basic sewing skills to create clothing. This program will teach how to use a sewing machine and introduce topics like styling, fabric & fibers, branding, and entrepreneurship with guest speakers from the community and UH Mānoa’s Fashion Design and Merchandising Program.
Students can register for the camp at https://go.hawaii.edu/8kQ or scan the QR code on the flyer. For more information, please contact hamptonm@hawaii.edu.
The camp is free to attend, but participants need to bring their own lunch.
Mahalo to Conor C. ’26 for submitting his favorite photos of the year for this week’s ASB.
Conor is a student photographer known for capturing compelling moments of HPA student life. Inspired by legendary photojournalists James Nachtwey and Robert Capa, Cavens admires their dedication to visual storytelling and their courage in documenting human experiences around the world.
His favorite image this year features classmates Lily H. ’25 and Cameron R. ’25 at Fall Ball. “The composition, lighting, and emotion really tie the scene together,” he says. “I’m really happy with how the image turned out.”
Looking ahead, Cavens hopes to photograph a protest — aiming to capture its raw emotion and intensity. He aspires to use photography as a tool for change — the highest calling of the craft, in his view.
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
Our Upper School 2024-2025 Daily Schedule will resume as a Mamo day with in-person instruction on our Upper Campus on Monday, April 28.
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 12 to Friday, May 16: AP Exams
• Monday, May 12 to Friday, May 16: International Science Fair; Ohio
• Monday, May 12: Upper School Awards Ceremony; GPAC
• Tuesday, May 13: All Classes Final Exam Review Day, grades 9-12
• Tuesday, May 13 from 12:30 to 3:00 pm: HPA Garden Community Work Day; Village Campus, Ulu Mau Garden
• Thursday, May 15, and Friday, May 16: Hoʻonanea Spring Arts Showcase; Upper Campus
• Thursday, May 15 – Wednesday, May 21: Upper School Final Exams
• Thursday, May 22: Class of 2025 Baccalaureate Service; Davies Memorial Chapel (ticketed event)
• Friday, May 23: Class of 2025 Commencement Ceremony; Castle Gymnasium (ticketed event)
Food Feedback Survey
Please help us by completing this FLIK feedback form about this year’s food service.
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.
Residential Life
The end of the semester is almost here! As we move closer to the end of the semester, our focus in residential life is preparing our students for departure for the summer or beyond! Here are some important reminders for students and their families as you make plans for the end of the semester:
Travel Itineraries
Please make sure to send in your child’s travel itinerary as soon as possible to travel@hpa.edu so that we can make arrangements for transportation to the airport during our Travel Days after Final Exams. If you will be coming to collect your child from school directly, a simple email confirming that will suffice! You can refer to the letter you received on April 14, for more information!
Seniors
Many seniors will have family in town in advance of Graduation, and will want to stay with them off campus, which is great! However, seniors wishing to start staying off campus are required to completely clean and pack their rooms before spending the night off campus, starting the weekend of May 16, 2025.
Summer Storage
For students returning to HPA next year, you are allowed three (3) items in storage- suitcases, boxes, a rolling office chair- the items do not matter, but you are limited to 3 items in storage, as our storage rooms are not unlimited! Please think carefully about what you need to store, want to take home, or would like to donate.
Shipping Home
Students who wish to ship items home must make arrangements online, including ordering a label, packing the box, and preparing it for shipping. Packages that are packed, sealed, and labeled can be dropped off at the Student Life Office to be put in the outgoing mail.
Donations
Many students are growing! And their clothes no longer fit, or they have items that they no longer use. For the next two weeks, we will be running donation collections in each dormitory for any items that are in good condition and can be donated to local communities in need! This can be a good way to get rid of items you no longer want or need, and do some good! Please do not place useless junk, dirty or damaged clothes, or other unusable items in the donation bins!
Planning ahead and starting early can go a long way! Ideally, many of our students will begin packing up and preparing for summer move-out already, so that they can focus on Final Exams in the last week of school. Thank you for your support in getting them started early!
Student Life
Student Council Elections
Student Council elections are over! Please join us in congratulating the 2025-2026 Student Council. We had a spirited election season with many students showing their dedication and care for HPA and wanting to make it an even better place for their peers.
President: Carlyle Collinson
Vice President: Charlie Chang
Secretary: Chloe Jung
Treasurer: Kelan Kennedy
Executive Dorm Representative: Maggie Lu
Class Representatives:
Class of 2026 – Nina Cipriano, Christian Hunt, and Pemma Norbu
Class of 2027 – Jasmine Larson, Avery Lit, and Liliana Negulescu
Class of 2028 – Letsie Khabele, Iliana Mandaloniz, and Khloe Nakagawa
*Class of 2029 (incoming freshmen) election will take place in October 2025
Senior Privileges
If you are a senior parent and you have not already completed the senior privileges permission form in myHPA, please log into myHPA, and if it has not been completed, you will see a yellow bar at the top of the screen with blue writing, please click on that to complete the form – only one signature needed.
Ka Makani Athletics
Spring season is here! Check out the latest Spring Sports Athletics calendar here. You can also access the athletics schedule on the myHPA calendar. Go KA MAKANI!
Ka Makani Travel
Ka Makani Travel, HPA’s student travel program, is offering the following 2025-26:
Spring Break 2026 – The Alps and the Mediterranean Coast with EF Tours: March 2026, with a $200 early booking discount. Scholarships are available from EF’s Global Citizen Scholarship Fund. The deadline to apply for a scholarship with EF is August 12, 2025. You must be enrolled in an EF Tour to apply.
Spring Break 2026 – Galapagos Islands Ecology with Ecology Project International: March 2026, with a $200 early enrollment discount. Ecology Project International offers need-based student financial aid. Awards typically range from $300-600, so it won’t cover the full cost of the program, but it can help offset it. The student financial aid application opens on August 1, 2025, and can be found here.
The HPA Ka Makani Travel Grant application is open. The deadline to apply is May 5 at 10:00 pm. Students received an invitation to apply via email on April 22nd. Please contact Ka Makani Travel Coordinator Adrienne White (awhite@hpa.edu) for more information.
Hele-On Bus Passengers – Shuttle from Village Campus to Upper Campus
For students who take the late bus, the shuttle will be parked at the bus stop just past the Waiaka Bridge on Kawaihae Road by 8:20 am. For questions or more information, you can contact Auxiliary Services at 808-881-4041 or email auxiliary@hpa.edu.
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)
Class of 2025 – Seniors and families
Aloha e nā ʻohana 2025! Class of 2025 seniors and families, we are so excited to celebrate your upcoming graduation from Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy. The Class of 2025 Commencement Ceremony is scheduled for Friday, May 23, 2025, at 10:00 am in Castle Gymnasium, and there are many other end-of-year milestones to celebrate before then, as well.
We have recorded a presentation covering the important end-of-year events HPA has planned for the Class of 2025.
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 2025, including their culminating event — graduation!! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at graduation@hpa.edu.
E hoʻomaikaʻi kākou!
Links:
Class of 2025 Commencement & End-of-Year Events presentation
Upper School End-of-Year Events Resource Board
College Counseling
Senior Celebration and College Transition Day: May 14
We are excited about our upcoming Senior Celebration and College Transition Day on Wednesday, May 14. This annual event celebrates our seniors and supports their success and wellness in college.
We will start the day in Gates Performing Arts Center with an all-school Gratitude Assembly and Senior Celebration breakfast, and then follow with the transition to college programming. The program will conclude at Atherton House with a Head of School Luncheon for seniors.
8:30 am – Senior Gratitude Assembly; GPAC
9:30 am – Senior Celebration Breakfast & College T-shirt Photo, GPAC
10:15 am – Social & Emotional Well-being in College presentation, GPAC
10:45 am – Academic & Personal Success in College presentation, GPAC
11:15 am – Walk to Head of School Luncheon, Atherton House
Next Steps for Seniors: Committing to College
By now seniors should have received decisions from all of the colleges they applied to. Here are the next steps:
- Once a student has decided which college to attend, they should indicate their college of choice by marking it as “Enrolling” in their college list in Scoir. They must also complete the college’s enrollment process by May 1, including paying any applicable deposits.
- Seniors should update their admissions results for ALL of the colleges they have applied to in Scoir. College Counseling aggregates this anonymous data to benefit future Ka Makani in predict their chances of admission at individual schools.
- If you have any questions, or you’d like help weighing your options or interpreting your financial aid packages, please come see us. We’re here to help!
- Remember: May 1 is the universal reply deadline to make your final decision and submit your deposit.
Next Steps for Juniors
Free Upcoming Essay Writing Program offered for all Juniors!
HPA College Counseling has partnered with Ethan Sawyer, aka “The College Essay Guy,” to provide three virtual college essay boot camps this summer for our Juniors. These comprehensive bootcamps focus on three distinct topics
- Writing the Personal Statement: June 2, 4, 6 or June 16, 18, 20
- The University of California Personal Insight Questions – July 14 & 16
- The College Application and Supplemental Essays – September 21
Students can choose to log in live to attend these live boot camps or watch recordings of the programs. All Juniors will be registered by College Counseling to take part in the program and the course fees have been covered by HPA. Click on this link to learn more: College Essay Guy’s Essay 2025 Bootcamps.
Schedule Your Third Individual Meeting
Mr. Kelsey and Mrs. Montgomery are available for individual meetings. Please click below to select a 30-minute time slot for an individual appointment with your assigned counselor. All meetings should be scheduled during free periods and will be in the College Counseling Center.
If you need any help with scheduling appointments, please contact us directly at college@hpa.edu.
Complete Self-Input and Parent/Guardian-Input Forms
Juniors and their Parents/Guardians are requested to complete these two forms by the end of the Spring Semester. These input forms are used by our college counselors to assist in writing the counselor letter for college applications in the senior year. The specific details and insights shared in these input forms are always very helpful.
Driver Education
Students who are 15½ through 17 years old must meet stringent requirements to obtain a driver’s license in the state of Hawaiʻi. One of the major requirements is completing a state-certified driver education course and road time with both a certified driving instructor and parents before getting a license.
This course is offered to students with a valid (current) Hawaiʻi learner permit. The course includes 6 hours of “behind-the-wheel” practice driving sessions with the instructor, to be scheduled outside of class time. There is a mandatory Parent & Student Orientation on Saturday before the class begins, June 1, 9:00 to 10:30 am. 50 hours of driving time with a parent/guardian (including 10 hours of night driving) will be required before a minor (under 18) may apply for a Hawaiʻi Driver’s License. After 50 hours, the parent/guardian must submit a notarized statement to the teacher to receive the final certificate for this course. Certificates cannot be issued until 6 weeks after the beginning of the course, July 15.
Dates: June 2-13
Ages: 15 1/2 – 17
Times: 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
Cost: $550
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’.
HPA Today
Summer Academies at HPA
Do you have a passion you want to pursue this summer? Our specialized four-week academies are designed for day and boarding middle and high school students.
All-School
Need to know information for our entire Ka Makani ʻohana.
Admissions
In the event that you have family or friends who are still looking for placement at HPA for the 2025-2026 academic year, we have a few more spaces in our kindergarten, 6th, 7th, and 9th-11th grade levels for boarding. Please let them know to reach out to the admissions office at admissions@hpa.edu so the team can support their interest.
Advancement
May Day Challenge 2025
The 2025 May Day Challenge has been met! You, our ʻohana, contributed a total of $103,235 to help deliver the extraordinary programs that define HPA. Because you carried us successfully across the finish line, a generous donor has made a special contribution of $25,000 to our results for a grand total of $128,235. Mahalo nui!!
On behalf of all Ka Makani who learn and grow here, who carry HPA into the future… please accept our warmest aloha and gratitude! Eō Ka Makani!
If you intended to make a gift, no worries! It’s never too late to make a difference! Join the challenge!
Internship Opportunity: HPA Sustainable Agriculture and Community Outreach
The school is seeking applications for two interns for the Sustainable Agriculture and Community Outreach program. Successful candidates will apprentice at Ulu Mālama Terrace Farm and the Ulumau Garden at the HPA Upper Campus and Village Campus respectively. Interns will serve as our community food outreach coordinator; connecting the school gardens to our Waimea community.
Summer at HPA
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
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
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.